Slovakia invites Korean companies for robotics collaboration

State Secretary Ingrid Brockova of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic delivers a speech during a Slovak-Korean business forum at a hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia, May 30. Courtesy of Embassy of Slovakia in Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

In an era when strategic international alliances are crucial, the Embassy of Slovakia in Korea is setting the stage for enhanced cooperation and shared growth between Korea and Slovakia, especially in the field of technological innovation.

The embassy invited a Korean delegation, including representatives from Korean companies Doosan Robotics, Hanwha Aerospace, Neuromeka, Daliworks, Curexo, Brils, RIFA Asset Management, Vrillar and Yonsei University, to Slovakia from May 29 to June 2 to explore bilateral collaboration and investment opportunities.

The mission began with presentations at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU) and continued with visits to governmental offices, the GLOBSEC Forum and business briefings on the Danube Tech Valley Initiative. The Korean delegation also paid visits to Slovak companies such as MATADOR to learn about Slovakia's technological advancements, while networking sessions fostered direct interaction with business representatives and officials.

They also made a trip to the city of Zilina, where Korean car manufacturer Kia operates a production plant, to explore investment opportunities and potential partnerships.

During the visit, Yonsei University and STU signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of streamlining admissions procedures for students interested in pursuing master's or doctoral programs in the field of robotics.

Michal Bordean, head of Economic & Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of Slovakia in Korea who organized the mission, said the embassy sees great potential in cooperation, especially in collaborative and service robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), green technologies including batteries as well as in cooperation between universities.

"The Slovak Embassy in Seoul, in cooperation with the honorary consulate of Korea in Zilina, created the concept of robotic cooperation between the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Korea with the aim of achieving the systematic development of Industry 4.0 in Slovakia," Bordean said.

"Slovakia has its own development and production of robotic drive units, which belong to the absolute top and are supplied by the most important robot manufacturers."

Bordean noted that though the Slovakian domestic market may be small, the country can be a gateway to the EU, as the Kia factory in Slovakia shows.

"The robotic technology of Korean production is currently mainly in Korean manufacturing plants (industrial robotics). However, the market will grow significantly with collaborative robots in all areas of services, packaging, gastronomy and transport. And it is precisely in these sectors that the potential for growth is enormous. In addition, Korea is at the top of the world ranking in collaborative robotics," the diplomat said.

A delegation from Korea engages in a meeting with city officials from Zilina, where Korean car manufacturer Kia operates a production plant, during its mission to explore investment and cooperation opportunities in Slovakia, May 31. Courtesy of Embassy of Slovakia in Korea

Theodore Jun Yoo, Yonsei University professor and non-executive director at virtual reality company Vrillar, said the visit provided him with valuable insights into Slovakia's roles in the EU as well as EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, opening up plans for joint projects.

"Being able to personally see the country at the ground level and networking with local businesses certainly afforded us a chance to learn about the country, its assets and culture in new ways," he said.

Yoo expressed that the participants' knowledge of Slovakia was constrained to sparse internet information and he expressed disappointment at the current shortage of details about Slovakia on Korean and English websites.

"This mission certainly facilitated in providing a new perspective of Slovakia," he said. He proposed several collaborative initiatives, including the development of an online travel guide and a daily life database on Slovakia as well as more cultural exchanges.

He added that the experience in Slovakia boosted his confidence to establish collaborative R&D labs in both countries.

"I am happy to report that we have been able to identify key research questions that are broad enough to tackle local/global issues but yet critical interventions for industry," Yoo said. "We came to a basic understanding of cooperating but prioritizing certain research agendas that will help us build a sustainable ecosystem and profitable for both sides."

Bordean said the mission facilitated an exchange of knowledge and fostered academic cooperation as well as opening the doors for investment and partnership between Korean and Slovak businesses and he hopes to bridge more Korean and Slovak companies through more two-way initiatives in the future.

"The Embassy of Slovak Republic is preparing many more business meetings for Korean and Slovak robotic entrepreneurs in Slovakia, such as B2B meetings, matching or business trips to Slovakia in order to see the potential of robotics in Slovakia," he said, encouraging the Korean robotics industry looking for expanding opportunities for close cooperation with Slovakia to contact the embassy.