The "2025 World Robo Festa," a physical-AI convergence festival, was held at Sangmyung University in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, from August 5th to 6th. Approximately 1,400 participants, including youth from 16 countries, as well as domestic university and graduate school students, aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and investors, attended the event, establishing it as a platform for technological exchange and revitalizing the startup ecosystem.
The event was co-hosted by the Chungnam Content Promotion Agency and the International Youth Robot Federation, and major universities in Chungnam Province, including Kongju National University, Sangmyung University, Hoseo University, Korea University of Technology and Education, Sunmoon University, and Baekseok University, participated as organizing organizations.
The core program, the 'Physical AI Startup IR Competition,' saw eight technology-based startups win awards, focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics, and smart manufacturing. A.Cure Co., Ltd. took home the grand prize, receiving high praise for its healthcare solution that utilizes AI-based voice analysis technology to predict the risk of diseases such as heart failure. The grand prize went to DigoLabs Co., Ltd. and ChaRobotics Co., Ltd., for their AI plastic recycling platform and mobile manipulator-based automated robotics solution, respectively. In addition, D.Engineer Co., Ltd., Mobil8 Co., Ltd., and Ittles Co., Ltd. received excellence awards, while Heltasys Co., Ltd. and Gauss Lab Co., Ltd. received encouragement awards. Major domestic accelerators and venture capitals (VCs) attended the IR competition, and some companies even held follow-up investment discussions.
At the "Physical AI University (Graduate School) Student Startup Competition" held during the same period, 12 teams from across the country participated and presented their technological startup ideas. The grand prize went to the XYZ Innovation team (CEO Jang Min-seok) for developing a drone- and AI-based automated 3D forest survey service, while the "Growit" team from Kongju National University received the grand prize for proposing a floating autonomous fountain system to improve water quality. In addition, the PutTwo team from Korea University of Technology and Education and the sAI team from Sunmoon University received awards of excellence, while the Charvetier team from Chungbuk National University, Draw Me from Sangmyung University, and SWAGGER team from Kwangwoon University received awards of encouragement. The winning teams received a total of 15 million won in prize money.
This year's World Robo Festa garnered attention as a technology convergence platform that organically linked entrepreneurship, investment, education, and hands-on experience, going beyond simple competition. In addition to startup IR and the entrepreneurship competition, the event also featured various supporting programs, including the International Youth Robot Competition, the Robot & Mobility Technology and Promotion Exhibition, Tech Connect Chungnam 2025, the online and offline exhibition market "SHOW&SELL," an AI-based experiential exhibition, and government-supported project briefings. The event was operated as an open technology festival where residents, businesses, and students could all participate.
Kim Gok-mi, President of the Chungnam Content Agency, stated, "The 2025 World Robo Festa will serve as an opportunity for Chungnam to establish itself as a hub for the physical AI startup ecosystem." She added, "We will actively coordinate follow-up programs to help the winning teams achieve practical commercialization and attract investment." She added, "We will also work with local universities to focus on improving living conditions, fostering a youth startup ecosystem, and revitalizing technology startup platforms."
- See more related articles
You must be logged in to post a comment.