Seoul National University's College of Engineering and the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a three-year cooperation agreement on October 30, 2026, to establish the H-PAIR Physical AX Center at the Seoul AI Hub in Yangjae. The planned center will test and support commercialization of human-centered physical AI technologies, including household and care robots, by linking university research with Seoul's startup support infrastructure.
First lab plans
The first phase is a 338-square-meter H-PAIR daily-assistance living lab on the fourth floor of the Seoul AI Hub main center, scheduled to open in the first half of 2027. Full-scale living room, kitchen, and bedroom settings, with adjustable lighting and obstacles, will allow household and care robots to be evaluated for performance, safety, and user acceptance. The partners plan to support approximately five companies each year with robot testing and validation.
Research base
Seoul National University's Human-centered Physical AI Robotics (H-PAIR) National Research Laboratory was selected under the NRL 2.0 program in 2026. Its research program is set to receive KRW 95 billion in government funding through 2035 and involves 41 full-time professors from 16 departments and graduate schools. The laboratory, based at SNU's Gwanak Campus, develops core technologies, while the planned Yangjae center will focus on testing and commercialization.
Industry validation path
The center will connect Seoul National University researchers with companies and public-sector organizations seeking robotics solutions. A Physical AX consortium will identify problems in care facilities and other real-world settings, support technology development, validate prototypes in the living lab, and conduct on-site proofs of concept. One pilot consortium is planned for 2027, followed by approximately two new collaborative projects annually.
The partners plan to offer physical AI training four times a year for 10 to 20 company employees per session, alongside student internships and an annual engineering design camp or hackathon. Seoul National University also plans to work with Seoul National University Tech Holdings on an H-PAIR startup seed fund to support research-based ventures and early-stage investment. The center may later expand to include startup incubation and workspace.