Samsung Electronics has secured its position as the largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics, a South Korean robotics startup, to strengthen its robotics capabilities. The company raised its stake to 35% by exercising a call option, following its initial investment of KRW 86.8 billion in 2023, which granted it a 14.7% share.
This investment is part of Samsung’s broader push to advance its robotics technologies, a key growth area for the company. By increasing its shareholding, Samsung aims to accelerate future robot innovations and integrate Rainbow Robotics’ capabilities into its operations.
Founded in 2011 by researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Rainbow Robotics is known for its innovations in humanoid robotics. The company developed Hubo, Korea’s first two-legged walking robot, and continues to work on technologies, including bipedal and quadruped robots. Samsung plans to leverage Rainbow’s expertise in robotics alongside its own AI and software capabilities to drive advancements in intelligent humanoid robots.
The collaboration between Samsung and Rainbow Robotics is expected to accelerate the development of advanced robotics, particularly in manufacturing and logistics automation. Samsung will utilize Rainbow’s collaborative robots, dual-arm mobile manipulators, and autonomous mobile robots in its own operations. These robots, powered by AI, can improve efficiency by learning from data and adapting to various situations in real-time.
To further strengthen this partnership, Samsung will establish a Future Robotics Office reporting directly to the CEO. Additionally, a synergy council will be created to facilitate collaboration between the two companies. The council will focus on developing future robot technologies, refining business strategies, and identifying new market trends both in Korea and internationally. This will help foster growth and expand their combined robotics capabilities.
Dr. Jun-Ho Oh, a founding member of Rainbow Robotics and an honorary professor at KAIST, will serve as an advisor to Samsung and lead the Future Robotics Office following his retirement from Rainbow Robotics. With his extensive experience in both industry and academia, Dr. Oh will provide valuable insights into robotics technology and business strategies, supporting Samsung’s efforts to strengthen its position in the robotics market. This initiative is part of Samsung’s broader strategy, led by Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee, to position robotics as a central pillar for future growth.
