Gyeongsangbuk-do has accelerated the planning of its mega-special zones centered around physical AI and the robotics industry. On the morning of the 21st, the provincial government held the "Gyeongsangbuk-do Mega-Special Zone Planning Governance Launch Ceremony" at the Stanford Hotel Andong, launching a co-planning framework that connects manufacturing site challenges faced by companies directly with actual investments and procurement.

This governance system allows companies to propose onsite challenges, after which corporations, investment institutions, and local governments jointly design business models and investment structures, all the way through to execution. The province is reviewing three major mega-special zone candidate projects: Manufacturing AX/Physical AI, East Coast Carbon-Neutral Energy, and Agri-Bio. Through this governance, it is substantiating the physical AI-centered joint project.

Innovating Manufacturing Sites with Physical AI: Laying the Foundation for Cooperation with POSCO DX and HT Robotics

Gyeongsangbuk-do selected physical AI as its top priority among the three mega-projects and gathered opinions from provincial companies and related organizations.

POSCO DX is driving the artificial intelligence transformation of manufacturing sites by combining AI and robot automation technologies with Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) for industrial facility operations. The company is independently developing and advancing agentic AI technologies applicable to office work and manufacturing sites, planning to support the implementation of intelligent factories for POSCO Group's core businesses through the dissemination of physical AI technology.

Gumi-based representative robotics company HT Robotics is expanding its footprint into the precision robot parts market, building upon 25 years of accumulated precision manufacturing technology. Its strategy is to grow into future manufacturing driven by physical AI and robotics by expanding its core robotics components business.

Promoting Robot Foundry in Pohang and Quantum Foundry in Gumi to Foster Advanced Manufacturing Hubs

Gyeongsangbuk-do is also materializing robot and quantum system foundry projects that combine corporate technological capabilities with regional manufacturing strengths.

In Pohang, following the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed last September between Gyeongsangbuk-do, Pohang City, and Neuromeka, the province is pushing to establish a robot foundry and system house in the Yeongilman Industrial Complex. This will lay the groundwork to support the in-house production of collaborative robots and humanoids as well as contract manufacturing for robot companies, while materializing follow-up measures such as investment structures utilizing regional revitalization investment funds and administrative permits.

In Gumi, based on the MOU between Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gumi City, IonQ, and SDT, the establishment of a quantum system foundry is underway. By combining IonQ's quantum technology with SDT's manufacturing capabilities, the project aims to build a foundation for quantum component manufacturing, packaging, system assembly, and integration, thereby linking Gumi's electronics and semiconductor industries to the global quantum industry supply chain.

Supporting Corporate Investment Execution Through Regulation, Finance, and Infrastructure Packages

The province plans to create a "Physical AI Manufacturing Innovation Mega-Special Zone" that provides a comprehensive package of regulatory, industrial, technological, financial, and administrative support tailored to corporate investment plans and schedules.

It will promote business-centric regulatory innovation and back industrial infrastructure and facility investments with policy financing. By linking AI computing foundations with robot data factories, industrial complexes will be fostered as AX (AI Transformation) demonstration hubs.

Yang Geum-hee, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do, stated, "We will jointly create projects ranging from robot development, component supply, mass production, to adoption, starting from the manufacturing site challenges needed by enterprises." She added, "By bundling regulations, finance, talent, and infrastructure support, we will ensure that corporate proposals lead to actual investment and procurement, and that these outcomes translate into enhanced competitiveness for provincial small and medium-sized enterprises and improved safety for onsite workers."

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