Splash247: Busan launches bid to become the Silicon Valley of maritime AI

Published by Splash247

Busan Port Authority (BPA) is embarking on an ambitious drive to turn the world’s seventh-largest container hub into a centre for maritime artificial intelligence, with plans to develop port-specific robots and physical AI technologies as part of a broader national strategy.

The South Korean port authority announced yesterday that it has joined forces with the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency to launch the “K-Maritime AI Belt” initiative, a project designed to accelerate AI transformation across the country’s maritime industries.

The initiative aims to apply AI technologies across sectors including ports, shipbuilding, defence and maritime culture, with Busan positioned at the centre of a new national maritime AI ecosystem.

A kickoff briefing for the strategy development programme was held in Busan last week, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Busan Metropolitan City Government, the National AI Strategy Committee, the Korea Maritime Institute, the Republic of Korea Navy and industry representatives.

The study will focus on identifying leading physical AI projects, establishing a comprehensive maritime AI ecosystem and developing strategies covering talent development, startup support and infrastructure investment.

For BPA, a key objective is the development and commercialisation of physical AI and robotics specifically tailored to operations at the Port of Busan. The authority said it will use the research to support future state-backed projects, secure funding, strengthen industry-academia collaboration and create specialised AI training programmes.