Samsung Electronics stated on Tuesday that it has turn into the most important shareholder of South Korea-based robotics maker Rainbow Robotics, growing its stake from 14.7% to 35% for KRW 267 billion (about $181 billion).
The electronics large, which paid KRW 86.8 billion for the 14.7% stake in 2023, stated it’s buying the stake to bolster its robotics division and velocity up growth of humanoid robots. Rainbow Robotics shall be built-in as a Samsung subsidiary, and the deal is anticipated to be accomplished in February 2025.
The corporate additionally stated it might set up a Future Robotics Workplace instantly reporting to the chief govt officer. The deal additionally permits Rainbow Robotics to increase to abroad markets by leveraging Samsung’s attain.
Rainbow, based in 2011 by researchers on the Korea Superior Institute of Science & Expertise (KAIST) Middle, has developed dual-arm cellular manipulators and autonomous cellular robots for purposes in manufacturing and logistics. It has 86 workers.
The founding member of Rainbow, Dr. Jun-ho Oh, the previous largest shareholder of the robotics firm earlier than the deal and an honorary professor at KAIST, will keep on board to steer a brand new effort referred to as the Future Robotics Workplace at Samsung, and function an advisor.
Samsung is simply the most recent to enter the race to develop humanoid robots that may do extra autonomously. Microsoft and OpenAI are planning to make use of their tech for a humanoid robotic, and Tesla earlier this yr confirmed off its personal tackle robots, Optimus. Nvidia, too, has plans to launch a brand new line of compact computer systems for humanoid robots, referred to as Jetson Thor, subsequent yr.
In 2022, Samsung stated that robotics, together with AI, 5G, and automotive electronics, can be a key a part of its future initiatives, suggesting that potential acquisitions in these fields could also be on the horizon.
