Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) has opened a research and development center in Suzhou, China, dedicated to manufacturing automation and robotics. It is the first overseas base for the production technology research institute under the company's Device eXperience (DX) division.
Samsung Electronics held an opening ceremony for the Samsung China Production Technology Research Institute at the Suzhou Industrial Park on Oct. 20, the Suzhou municipal government said on Oct. 22.
The center will focus on manufacturing automation, robotics and smart manufacturing technologies. The plan is to tap local manufacturing infrastructure and research talent to raise production efficiency, then apply the technologies developed there across the company's global production facilities.
Samsung Electronics has set a goal of converting its production facilities at home and abroad into artificial intelligence-driven autonomous factories by 2030. The new center is seen as a step toward raising automation levels at those facilities and securing the related technologies.
Lee Young-soo, executive vice president and head of Samsung Electronics' production technology research institute, and Pan Bo, Communist Party secretary of Suzhou, attended the ceremony. "We will strengthen technology cooperation with local industry and pursue joint research projects," Lee said. Pan pledged support for expanding Samsung Electronics' local investment and for industrial cooperation.