DNV and KIRIA join forces to develop the Korean robotics industry

DNV and Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) have signed an extension to their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a program to collaborate in the area of cyber security and artificial intelligence in the field of robotics.

KIRIA, a South Korea government institution based in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and DNV, the independent assurance and risk management provider, have extended the MoU to share information and support the international development of Korea’s growing robotics industry.

The purpose of the MoU is to help the Korean robotics industry to enter the EU market through a reciprocal agreement, as well as to enable the parties to share technical and regulatory information about robots and relevant components; cooperate in technical exchange visits regarding safety standards; have the opportunity to work together on governmental projects run by the Republic of Korea and other institutions; look into developing and jointly providing advisory services, including public seminars, to the robot industry in Korea regarding safety standards; and to jointly participate in the standardization process of robots.

The European Commission recently introduced new legislation, the Machinery Regulation, intended to improve safety and performance of all machinery, specifically including robots.

This, along with the introduction of the new Artificial Intelligence Act, seeks to address the evolving technological landscape and adapt product safety legislation accordingly.

Manufacturers of machinery, and robots, will need to comply with more stringent product safety and sustainability requirements to access the European market, in addition to controlling new emerging risks in the areas of cybersecurity, human-machinery interaction, machinery with evolving capacity (AI/ML) and traceability of safety component and software behaviour in service.

Otto Hughes, global business development and sales enablement director at DNV Supply Chain & Product Assurance, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for DNV and KIRIA to further combine our expertise to drive the maturity and global growth of the Korean robotics industry.

“DNV’s expertise in developing technical standards and delivering assessments, certifications and training across areas such as artificial intelligence assurance, functional safety and cybersecurity will go hand in hand with KIRIA’s ambition to access regulated markets around the world by ensuring that adequate standards are in place and manufacturers are supported to meet them.”