It was pointed out that South Korea’s robot industry’s competitive edge is far less superior than that of Japan, U.S., and Germany. Its competitive edge has been overtaken even by Chinese robot industry, which jumped into this market later than South Korean robot industry. Robot industry is considered as an important industry along with AI (Artificial Intelligence) for Industry 4.0. It is urgent for South Korean Government to come up with plans to vitalize its robot industry as its competitive edge in future industry falls short compared to other advanced countries.
According to an ‘Investigation Report on Competitive Edge of Robotic Industries in 2017’, which was written by Korea Association of Robot Industry (KAR) and Kwangwoon University’s Industry-Academic Collaboration Foundation, it was shown that South Korea’s robot industry’s competitiveness index is 16 to 17 points lower than that of Japan, U.S., and Germany. If its score was 100 points in a field of manufacturing robots, scores of Japan, U.S., and Germany were 116.91 points, 116.20 points, and 115.94 points.
This report was done through 87 experts from universities and research institutes along with professionals from South Korea’s robot industry. It includes an offline survey that was done on experts from industries, universities, and research institutes that visited ‘2017 Robot World’, which was held in last September, and online surveys that were done on experts and professionals, who are part of KAR, in last October and November.
Looking at South Korean technologies as 100 points, experts were asked to grade level of technologies from other countries. These surveys were composed of price, quality, manufacturing, manpower, and technology.
Japan was placed first with 116.93 points in personal service robot field such as cleaning robot. Germany and U.S. were given 113.86 points and 112.89 points respectively.
Even in professional service robot field such as medical robot, advanced countries such as Japan, Germany, and U.S. proved their strength once again as they were given 116.42, 113.51, and 112.39 points respectively.
In robotic parts field, Japan was far superior than other countries with 120.15 points. Germany and U.S. followed Japan with 118.53 points and 116.93 points respectively.
Out of 4 fields, South Korea was placed behind of China in 3 of them. China was given 100.79 points, 103.77 points, and 101.90 points in manufacturing robot field, personal service robot field, and professional service robot field respectively. It was only placed behind of South Korea in robotic parts field with 99.10 points. Although South Korea has more advanced base technologies than China, it falls behind of China in other areas such as services and where robots are used.
“It is very shocking that South Korean robot industry’s competitive edge was scored so low in recent surveys.” said a representative for KAR. “These surveys showed that South Korea needs to work on its competitive edge of current main industries as well as future industries or else it will fall behind of other up-and-coming countries.”
Experts emphasized that South Korean robot industry needs to localize robots that have been imported and secure basic competitive edge. They also suggested that robot manufacturers and companies that demand robots need to be connected and that there needs to be systems that support such connections. Surveys pointed out that there needs to be government support that can help connect robot manufacturers, robotic parts manufacturers, and system companies.
Staff Reporter Oh, Daeseok | ods@etnews.com