Samsung now owns 35% of Rainbow Robotics after paying $181M to increase stake

Samsung Electronics is growing its influence in South Korea and the tech industry. The company announced that it had achieved the status of the largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics, a South Korean robotics manufacturer. It increased its stake to 35% for a total of KRW 267 billion ($181 billion).

The electronics company, which acquired the 14.7% stake in 2023 for KRW 86.8 billion, stated that it is acquiring the stake to enhance its robotics department. The move is expected to quicken its development of humanoid robots.

The transaction is expected to be finalized in February 2025. In addition, Rainbow Robotics will be incorporated as a Samsung subsidiary.

Samsung claimed in 2022 that robotics, AI, 5G, and automotive electronics will be integral components of its future initiatives. It has since progressively invested in those areas. 

In January 2022, the company acquired a 10.22% stake for 59 billion won ($40 million) and an additional investment of 27.8 billion won($18.8 million) in March 2022. This also implies that potential acquisitions in the other highlighted sectors may be approaching.

The Samsung initiative

Samsung’s strategic decision emphasizes its aspiration to establish robotics as a critical development factor. Concerning this acquisition, Samsung has established a Future Robotics Office that is directly accountable to the CEO. This newly established division will concentrate on the advancement of humanoid and other next-generation robotic technologies.

To maximize the partnership’s potential, Samsung will establish a synergy council with Rainbow Robotics to enhance its leadership in the global advanced robotics industry. The council is anticipated to act as a bridge to promote the growth of both companies by identifying and assessing market demand. It will also be developing future robot technologies and core business strategies.

A Samsung Electronics official said, “By becoming Rainbow Robotics’ largest shareholder, we anticipate significant synergy in future robotics development. This partnership will ultimately contribute to the mutual growth and success of both companies.”

In addition, Samsung intends to implement Rainbow Robotics’ collaborative, dual-arm, and autonomous mobile robots. It will aim to streamline manufacturing and logistics operations. 

These robots will be capable of analyzing environmental variables and data in real time, which will considerably improve their operational capabilities since they are equipped with AI algorithms.

Samsung said that Oh Jun-ho, a founding member of Rainbow Robotics and an honorary professor at KAIST, will serve as an adviser to Samsung. He will also be the head of the future robotics office after retiring from Rainbow Robotics.

Meanwhile, the tech giant’s global sales network provides Rainbow Robotics with a pathway to international markets. This will enable the company to pursue aggressive overseas expansion.

On the other hand, Hyundai Motor Group, Korea’s other main conglomerate, is also actively engaged in the robotics industry. In 2020, it acquired Boston Dynamics Inc., a US robotics firm, from SoftBank Group.

Microsoft and OpenAI are also preparing to implement their technology in the development of a humanoid robot. Tesla, on the other hand, revealed its robot, Optimus, earlier this year. Nvidia is also preparing to introduce a new line of compact computers for humanoid robotics, known as Jetson Thor, next year.

The Republic of South Korea, or is it the Republic of Samsung?

The family-owned conglomerates towering over Korea have long been hogging most of the economic oxygen. Samsung is Exhibit A for a competition-destroying system in obvious need of reform. Samsung is the only publicly traded company in South Korea with a market cap in the hundreds of billions. The company is set to change even in the upcoming year.

In addition to the robotic takeover, the company has been updating its phones for 2025. In the same light, its Galaxy is now more like the iPhone. This is to the extent that Samsung is rapidly closing the gap with the iPhone. Its most recent update renders it the most superior alternative to Apple’s devices in terms of privacy and security.

With Android 15, Apple has already implemented several innovations, thereby elevating the bar. Samsung has expanded its scope. And its most recent update indicates that Galaxy phones are on the brink of a permanent transformation.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics, a global technology leader, has recently experienced a substantial increase in its stock value. This has garnered the attention of both investors and tech enthusiasts. 

Samsung’s ongoing investment in innovative technologies, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), is a significant factor contributing to this upward trend.

However, the tech giant’s stocks closed at 53,200 won ($36), Monday, the last trading day of 2024, down 0.93 percent from the previous session. 

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