Local tenders and design work
The public push for Physical AI—artificial intelligence applied to physical systems and industrial environments—is translating in South Korea into a series of tenders and design studies spread across the country. ETNews reports this, citing the public procurement portal Nara Jangteo. In addition to the main AI transformation programs in the Gyeongnam and Jeonbuk regions led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, local initiatives are under way to create testing infrastructure and to plan research and development in the manufacturing and port sectors.
The Saemangeum Development Authority published on October 29 a tender for a basic study on a Physical AI support facility, with a budget of 110 million won. The stated aim is to support Hyundai Motor Group's investments and the bid to become a pilot city specializing in AI, through a guiding model of an AI-based future city. The study will serve to define guidelines and implementation methods for the facility and to link Physical AI functions to the water-city context, with the idea of making it a hub by 2035.
Defense, testing and industrial strategies
The city of Gumi, in Gyeongbuk Province, is promoting a study for an integrated validation hub for defense semiconductors based on Physical AI. The intention is to define the direction of a center that would support the entire path, from semiconductor design to prototyping and performance verification through to application in weapon systems.
Jeonbuk Technopark has launched public architectural design for a Physical AI testing complex in Wanju, which according to the plan should include an R&D center, test facilities for neural processing units (NPUs), and a meta-factory. The Ulsan Information Industry Promotion Agency, for its part, is drafting a sector development strategy to respond to local problems.
Alongside the facilities, the material points to research planning activities. The Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion is managing a study worth about 150 million won for an R&D program aimed at integrating Physical AI into port technologies. The Korea SMEs and Startups Technology Information Promotion Agency is working on a study on policies and projects to spread Physical AI among small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises.
From technologies to infrastructure: what is missing
The picture that emerges is a shift from an approach centered on technological development to one based on the creation of territorial testing infrastructure and application bases by sector. ETNews reports the position of an industry representative, according to whom the multiplication of tenders is positive for global competitiveness, but the government should coordinate their distribution to avoid duplication between regions, and local governments should secure budgets for the implementation phases, given that most of the tenders concern basic studies and research.
Several elements remain to be verified: the timing and outcomes of the tenders, the actual allocation of funds for construction of the facilities, and the relationship between these local projects and national AI transformation programs. The material does not indicate overall amounts or schedules beyond the 2035 horizon cited for Saemangeum.
