South Korea will widen autonomous driving AI pilot programs beyond Gwangju to gather more real-world data and sharpen performance against U.S. and Chinese rivals.
The Ministry of Science and ICT approved a road map that adds larger-scale tests and sets up cooperation between transport firms, unions, autonomous driving companies, and platform operators to smooth commercialization and address regulatory hurdles.
Alongside the self-driving push, the government will expand support for deep-tech startups in AI, semiconductors, and biotech by funding demonstrations, creating regional hubs, and offering AI agents to guide researchers through the startup process.
Long-term investment will be encouraged through deep-tech-focused ultra-long-term funds and R&D programs tied to commercial outcomes.
