South Korea adds robot sensors, actuators and humanoid batteries to its flagship industries

South Korea will add sensors, actuators and humanoid robot batteries to its 15 flagship projects for an "ultra-innovative economy", the finance ministry said on 11 November. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il announced the plan at a meeting with other economic ministers.

Under the programme, which began last year, the government offers financial and tax support and regulatory help for testing and selling new growth areas. The first 15 areas include next-generation chips, solar energy and power grids. The ministry says the new additions respond to the rise of physical AI, meaning AI that works in robots and machines.

The ministry says it will promote sensor AI for robotics, defence and mobility, and develop durable actuators made with home-grown technology. For humanoid robots it will back high-output commercial batteries and next-generation solid-state batteries, with development and demonstrations.