Is Doosan Jensen Huang's next Korean pick? Robotics investment remarks and a ceremonial first pitch signal closer ties

Korean robotics companies are drawing fresh attention after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang highlighted the importance of Korea's robotics industry and raised the possibility of investment in the sector.

Doosan has emerged as a particular focus, given that the conglomerate has been in ongoing discussions with Nvidia on physical AI cooperation.

Adding to the buzz, Huang is scheduled to visit Korea this week, where he is expected to meet Doosan Group Chairman Park Jung-won and throw a ceremonial first pitch at a Doosan Bears baseball game — moves analysts say signal a deepening partnership between the two companies.

According to industry sources Monday, Huang told reporters at "Korea Partner Night" — a dinner with Korean business partners held Sunday at a restaurant in Taipei — that he sees robotics as a key area for investment in Korea. "I think robotics is very important for Korea," he said. "I hope Nvidia can contribute to the development of Korea's robotics industry."

Nvidia executives also said Sunday, following Huang's GTC Taipei keynote address, that the company plans to work with robot companies in the United States, Europe and Korea, in addition to China's Unitree Robotics.

As Nvidia signals growing interest in Korea's robotics sector, analysts expect Doosan to be among the primary beneficiaries. The group founded Doosan Robotics in 2015, staking out robots as a future growth engine. The unit, which has primarily produced collaborative robots, is now developing intelligent robot solutions — integrating collaborative robot hardware and software with AI capabilities — as part of a broader portfolio expansion. The company also plans to introduce humanoid robots down the road.

Doosan moved early to align itself with Nvidia in a bid to strengthen its position in the global robot market. Late last year, the group announced a strategic partnership with Nvidia to advance physical AI. In September of that year, Vice Chairman Park Ji-won visited Nvidia's headquarters with senior executives to discuss AI collaboration.

In April, Madison Huang — Jensen Huang's eldest daughter and Nvidia's senior director of product marketing for Omniverse and robotics — visited Doosan Robotics' facility. The visit focused on building a joint robot execution platform combining the two companies' technologies, specifically linking Doosan Robotics' agentic robot operating system, currently under development, with Nvidia's AI and robotics simulation tools. Doosan Robotics CEO Kim Min-pyo also attended Sunday's Korea Partner Night in Taipei.

To keep ties with Nvidia strong, Doosan is arranging for Huang to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Doosan Bears home game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday — a nod to his well-known love of baseball. If the appearance goes ahead, a meeting between Huang and Bears owner Park Jung-won is also seen as likely. Park is also expected to attend a samgyeopsal, or grilled pork belly, dinner that Huang is organizing in Seoul's Seongsu-dong neighborhood on Friday.

Through its collaboration with Nvidia, Doosan plans to roll out an intelligent robot solution based on the agentic robot operating system next year, followed by an industrial humanoid robot product in 2028. The company is also considering unveiling the results of its Nvidia partnership at CES, the world's largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, in the United States next January.

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https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10760727

2025-12-06

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https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10760727