New GBIP in South Korea - Robotics & Automation in Manufacturing

  • Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Posted By The Growth Company

Innovate UK is inviting ambitious innovative companies to participate in a 9-12 month programme to help them grow in the South Korean market.

Applications are welcomed from new or established innovative technology providers with capability to deliver digital manufacturing solutions in the following technology areas:

  • Robotics and automation in manufacturing – including mobile robots & collaborative robots (cobots)
  • AI opportunities in Robotics and Automation – including adaptive control & vision systems
  • Associated technologies with clear links to robotics and automation such as:
    • End-of-arm-tooling/end effectors
    • Robotic control systems – including no-code, low-code programming
    • Systems integration and interoperability
    • Modular industrial robotic systems – including Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS)
    • Integration of humanoid robotics and human-centric design
    • Digital engineering and simulation – including digital twins and predictive maintenance

Why South Korea?

South Korea is quickly becoming a global leader in automation, especially in the manufacturing sector. Ranked 4th in the world in market size and 1st in robot density, a recent study by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) reported South Korea has reached a robot density of 1,012 units per 10,000 employees, a figure unmatched by any other country. Nearly one in every ten workers in South Korea’s manufacturing industry is a robot, highlighting the nation’s rapid strides in automation.

In January 2024, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced the “4th Basic Plan on Intelligent Robots” and an investment of USD 128 million (KRW 180 billion) with the aim to more than quadruple the size of Korea’s robotics industry by 2030 and lead the global robotics market.

Key dates

Application deadline – 30 October 2025
Application outcome – 19 November 2025
Get ready workshop – 12 & 13 January 2026
Market visit – 27 February – 7 March 2026
Exploit the opportunity workshop – 28 April 2026

Find out more and apply