April 27, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said July 19 that the ministry will invest a total of 12.5 billion won (US$11 million) in the field of bio-inspired robotics, often called “soft robotics,” over the next seven years.

Soft robots are highly flexible and look like sea creatures. The research aims to build machines that handle tasks impossible with traditionally designed robots. 

A stingray-shaped bio hybrid robot (left), a joint research project of Korea’s Sogang University and Harvard University

Europe and Japan are leading countries where related research started in the mid-2000s. Korea has focused more on surgery robots.

The ministry plans to select research teams for the funding program by November and support their research work, including up to five prototypes in the coming years.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)