NAIRL Discusses Physical AI and Robotics Ecosystem at Seoul Forum

Kee-Eung Kim, Director of the National AI Research Lab (NAIRL) and Professor at KAIST, participated in the Seoul Forum 2026 Robotics Venture Forum held at The Shilla Seoul on May 28, where he moderated the session “Growth of the Robot Startup Ecosystem and Opportunities for Global Expansion.”

The session was organized to examine the growth trajectory of Korea’s robot startup ecosystem and its potential for global expansion, as Physical AI and robotics continue to move from research settings into real-world industrial environments. The panel brought together participants from Raion Robotics, RLWRLD, CarbonSix, AIDIN ROBOTICS, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The discussion covered a wide range of technology areas, from legged robots and robotics foundation models for humanoid robots to Physical AI solutions for manufacturing automation and tactile and force sensors for robots. Each company shared how its technologies could be applied in industrial settings and global markets.

As moderator, Director Kim led the discussion on what robot startups need in order to expand beyond research-driven technologies into real products, businesses, and industrial ecosystems. Panelists noted that the robotics industry requires more than technology development alone, emphasizing the need to connect demonstration, mass production, field deployment, certification, customer acquisition, and investment.

The panel also highlighted that competitiveness in the era of Physical AI will come not only from individual robot products, but from a broader ecosystem that combines data, sensors, actuators, batteries, AI semiconductors, foundation models, and deployment capabilities in manufacturing environments. Participants also discussed how Korea’s manufacturing base and industrial data can be connected to robotics innovation.

Through its participation in the forum, NAIRL reaffirmed that Physical AI and robotics are emerging as important axes of research and industrial transformation within Korea’s AI ecosystem. NAIRL will continue to support research collaboration and ecosystem-building in robotics foundation models, industrial AI, manufacturing AI, and Physical AI through ongoing exchanges with universities, industry partners, startups, and government institutions.