Samsung Electronics announced on Tuesday that it has become the largest shareholder of Rainbow Robotics, a South Korean robotics company, increasing its stake from 14.7% to 35% with an investment of KRW 267 billion (approximately $181 million).
The company initially acquired a 14.7% stake in 2023 for KRW 86.8 billion (around $59 million). This move aims to strengthen Samsung's robotics division and accelerate the development of humanoid robots. The acquisition will make Rainbow Robotics a Samsung subsidiary, with the deal expected to finalize in February 2025.
To support its robotics ambitions, Samsung plans to establish a Future Robotics Office, which will report directly to the CEO. Rainbow Robotics is set to leverage Samsung's global presence to expand into international markets.
Founded in 2011 by researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Rainbow Robotics specializes in dual-arm mobile manipulators and autonomous robots for manufacturing and logistics. The company employs 86 people.
Dr. Jun-ho Oh, a KAIST honorary professor and Rainbow's founding member, will remain involved, heading the Future Robotics Office at Samsung and serving as an adviser.
Samsung’s entry into the humanoid robotics race aligns with recent moves by tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, Tesla, and Nvidia, which are also exploring humanoid robot development. Tesla has showcased its Optimus robot, while Nvidia plans to release Jetson Thor, compact computers for humanoid robots, next year.
Robotics has been a focus for Samsung since 2022, alongside AI, 5G, and automotive electronics, hinting at further investments in these areas.