The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) stated that competition in the humanoid robot market is moving beyond technology demonstrations to the stage of actual adoption. KIMM estimated that the next five years or so will be the timeframe for Korea to concretize its response strategy amidst the rivalry for dominance between the United States and China.

In the 122nd issue of 'Machine Technology Policy,' published on the 8th, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) identified 2026 as the year when humanoid robots will move beyond the R&D-focused stage and begin limited demonstration and commercialization reviews in earnest. The report explained that in the industrial sector, the ability to demonstrate cost-effectiveness and efficiency when deployed in actual processes has recently become a more important criterion than the robot's operational performance itself.

Market expansion is proceeding in both price and supply. Citing forecasts from major investment firms, the report predicted that there is a high likelihood of simultaneous declines in manufacturing costs and increases in shipments over the next few years. It added that some companies are rapidly lowering sales prices to reduce market entry barriers, thereby increasing the conditions for humanoids to be considered as targets for facility investment rather than merely test equipment.

It was assessed that the competitive landscape by country is also distinct. The United States is striving to secure market dominance based on AI models, semiconductors, and computing infrastructure, while China is enhancing its production and price competitiveness by launching new products through numerous companies. On the other hand, it was pointed out that while Korea has strengths in semiconductors, batteries, and manufacturing automation infrastructure, its supply chain for general-purpose AI and humanoid specialized components is a relatively weak area.

However, it was noted that opportunities centered on domestic manufacturing sites still remain. Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to establish a robotic production system, and Samsung Electronics is also expanding its investment in the robotics sector. Based on these trends, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials explained that a strategy is needed to achieve results first in sectors with clear demand for specific manufacturing processes, such as semiconductors and automobiles, rather than competing on general-purpose platforms.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) proposed that the internalization of core components and global AI cooperation be pursued simultaneously as a response strategy. This suggests that while enhancing the competitiveness of key components such as actuators and control systems, AI capabilities must be supplemented through external collaboration. KIMM announced that it will operate a strategic research group from May 2025 to April 2030 to establish a standard platform, an autonomous growth brain, and data infrastructure, and is developing its proprietary humanoid robot, 'Kairos,' with the goal of an initial public unveiling in April 2027. Ultimately, KIMM explained that the competitiveness of the domestic humanoid robot industry depends not on the technology demonstration itself, but on how quickly demand for actual application in manufacturing sites can be secured.