Smart Factories
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will increase the number of smart factories to 1,000 this year while exporting self-sufficient energy island technology and renovating old industrial complexes.
On Jan. 15, the ministry announced at its annual report to the President that it will build 700 smart factories this year, and increase the number to 4,000 by 2017 and 10,000 by 2020. The purpose of the project is to further sharpen the competitive edge of the manufacturing sector by means of information technology, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence. Testbeds will be set up and key technologies such as 3D printing will be developed to this end.
The ministry picked 10 main fields for the utilization of 3D printing, including dental medical equipment, smart molding, personalized articles, 3D electronic components, transport machinery parts, power generation components, 3D design services, and 3D content distribution services. Base technologies will be developed by 2017 before commercialization by 2020 and the development of advanced techniques starting from 2021. It is going to work on 15 strategic 3D technologies in the equipment, material, and software sectors, too.
At the same time, the ministry will move ahead with 13 new industrial projects for the development and utilization of safety and security robots, unmanned vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aerial vehicles, carbon materials, high-efficiency and micro power generation systems, and similar projects. A number of prototypes are expected to be available during the course, supported by the government. For example, the high-speed and unmanned VTOL aerial vehicle development project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2023, is slated to share its outcome for the development of tilt rotor UAVs for fish detection by 2017. Also, logistics robots for medical purposes are to be developed based on the intelligent robot project continuing until 2023.
In the meantime, 3,000, 10,000, and 30,000 electric vehicles will be supplied each year between this year and 2017 for the promotion of the energy industry. The total supply is increased to 200,000 by 2020 with research going on so the vehicles can drive at least 300 km at a speed of 150 kph or less after being fully charged once. The self-sufficient micro grid, which is a key part of the energy self-sufficient island project underway in Ulleungdo, is planned to be exported to Southeast Asian countries, with many island regions suffering from a power shortage based on the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Official Development Aid (ODA), and Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).