Considering Technology Transfer from the Start when Developing Collaborative Robots

Professor Jae-Bok Song from the School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University has been developing collaborative robots since an industry-academe project started in 2007. After succeeding in developing a collaborative robot called the Korea University Dexterous Robot (KUDEX) series, Professor Song transferred the collaborative robot technology and has provided industrial advice to Hanwha Techwin, Doosan Robotics, and Higen Motor since 2012. He has contributed to the commercialization and export of collaborative robots.

Korea University’s Intelligent Robotics Lab, headed by Professor Song, has been successful in around 20 cases of technology transfer and guaranteed about KRW 2.5 billion in technology transfer fees. More than five technology transfers are scheduled for the near future. Although the fees are small compared with the number of technology transfer cases, they are considered an investment for the future and not for immediate gains, given the current situation in Korea’s domestic robot industry.

Professor Song pointed out, “Most labs think they can transfer technology if they stumble upon something good during their research, but if you do this way, it hardly leads to an actual technology transfer.” “Since we have experienced many times that a technology transfer actually happens only when we develop almost-final products on campus, our lab plans a technology transfer right from the start of our research and development,” he added.

An SME-Friendly Collaborative Robot is Key to Global Competitiveness

Because support for making small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) “smart” is provided at the government level, it is expected that demand for collaborative robots that SMEs can use easily will grow further.