Last week, the 2025 Future Innovation Tech Expo (FIX 2025) wrapped up in Daegu with record-breaking attendance, a surprise presidential appearance, and clear signs that South Korea is positioning itself as a global leader in AI, robotics, and mobility innovation.
Held under the theme “The Future Already Begun: All on AI,” from October 22–25 at EXCO in Daegu, South Korea, the expo drew more than 115,000 visitors and featured 585 companies across 2,000 booths—20% of them international participants. Exhibitors from across the globe showcased cutting-edge advances in AI, humanoids, and next-generation mobility technologies.
A Presidential Surprise
The highlight came on Friday, October 24, when President Jae Myung Lee made an unannounced visit following a town hall meeting at the venue. Touring the robot exhibition hall, President Lee stopped by booths including AeiROBOT, where he met engineers and encouraged entrepreneurs driving Korea’s AI and robotics industries forward.
His visit underscored the administration’s national priority: advancing Korea into the world’s top three AI-powered economies.
Keynote speech by Seyoung Lee, CEO of Wrtn Technologies | Photo provided by Daegu Metropolitan City
From Regional Showcase to Global Stage
FIX 2025 continued its evolution into a truly global innovation expo. Highlights included the humanoid boxing demo from Unitree, XPeng’s UAM (urban air mobility) aircraft X2, and HL Robotics’ Parkie, the world’s first indoor autonomous parking robot—all making their Korea debuts after major international showings at CES and MWC.
The event’s export consultation program, organized with KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), generated over $2.17 billion in on-site consultations and $790 million in potential contracts, tripling last year’s totals. Global buyers included GM, Continental, Mercedes-Benz, and Rivian, highlighting growing international interest in Korea’s innovation ecosystem.
AI Mobility and Robotics Take Center Stage
AI-powered transportation stole the spotlight in the East Wing’s AI Mobility Innovation Hall, featuring technologies from Valeo, Beyless, Daedong, Mobinn, and others. Collaborations with KIAPI (Korea Intelligent Automotive Parts Promotion Institute) and KATECH (Korea Automotive Technology Institute) emphasized the country’s expanding footprint in autonomous driving and smart mobility.
Meanwhile, the West Wing’s Robot Hall showcased Korea’s growing humanoid ecosystem. AeiROBOT’s “Alice”, Robocare’s “Cami”, and Unitree’s “G1” demonstrations drew crowds eager to glimpse the future of human–robot interaction.
The Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement and Daegu Mechatronics & Materials Institute joined forces in a “Joint Company Hall,” highlighting collaboration across academia and industry to accelerate humanoid R&D.
Keynote speech by Jae-kwon Han, Co-founder and CTO of AeiROBOT | Photo provided by Daegu Metropolitan City
Thought Leadership and Global Insight
FIX 2025’s conference program featured a who’s who of global tech visionaries. Wang Tan, co-founder of XPeng Aero, shared insights into the future of UAM, while Seyoung Lee, CEO of Wrtn Technologies, discussed Korea’s role in generative AI. Professor Gautam Kamath of the Vector AI Lab—co-founded by deep learning pioneer Geoffrey Hinton—offered a glimpse into the frontier of AI research.
In a particularly memorable session, former Go champion Sedol Lee reflected on his legendary match with AlphaGo, exploring the intersection of human intuition and machine intelligence.
Building Korea’s “AI Robot Capital”
Beyond the numbers, FIX 2025 represented Daegu’s bold vision to become Korea’s “AI Robot Capital.” Major European player Fincantieri joined with Plug and Play to meet local firms such as Zio Robot and Yujin Mechatronics, while regional innovators like Enerpia, Chaevi, and UND (Magbot) signed export deals worth over $7 million.
Visitors also experienced Daegu’s cultural offerings through curated tours of the Gansong Art Museum, the Opera Festival, and Sayuwon, reflecting the city’s broader ambition to merge technology, business, and lifestyle into one innovation ecosystem.
A Platform for What’s Next
Daegu Acting Mayor Jeong-gi Kim summed up the event’s impact:
“FIX 2025 wasn’t just another exhibition—it marked a new start for AX innovation in regional industries. The President’s visit symbolizes national support for Daegu’s re-emergence as a global tech hub.”
With its successful conclusion, FIX 2025 reaffirmed South Korea’s growing influence in the AI and robotics arena alongside Daegu’s role as a launchpad for the next generation of smart mobility and humanoid technology.
