Samsung just made a bold move to bolster its robotics ambitions. The company invested $181 million to become the largest stakeholder in Rainbow Robotics, a South Korean firm specializing in advanced humanoid robots and robotic platforms. Samsung also established a Future Robotics Office reporting directly to the CEO.
Samsung invests big in a domestic robotics firm to drive future innovation
In 2023, Samsung invested KRW 86.8 billion (approx. $59 million) to acquire a 14.7% stake in Rainbow Robotics. Earlier today, the company announced plans to exercise an option to increase its stake to 35%, investing another KRW 267 billion (approx. $181 million). With the latest round of investment, Samsung will incorporate the Korean robotics firm as a subsidiary.
The two companies expect the deal to close in February 2025. This strategic move advances Samsung into robotics technologies, including humanoid robots. The tech giant has already shown signs of its intent with a new Future Robotics Office that reports directly to the CEO. Dr. Oh Jun-ho, a founding member of Rainbow Robotics, will lead this group after retiring from his current role. Until then, he will serve as an advisor to Samsung.
For Rainbow Robotics, a deal with Samsung enables it to expand its footprint outside Korea. Founded in 2011 by researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the firm developed Korea’s first two-legged walking robot, Hubo. Samsung aims to combine its AI and software capabilities with the robotics company’s technologies to accelerate the development of advanced humanoids.
Samsung isn’t the only company showing interest in humanoid robots. Several industry giants like Nvidia, Open AI, Hyundai Motors, and Tesla are heavily investing in this futuristic technology. The market for humanoid robots has been steadily increasing and is estimated to reach $38 billion by 2035. Time will tell where Samsung stands in this market a few years down the line.
