A New Leap for Collaborative Robots: Global Manufacturing Innovation by 2026 and the Strategic Position of Korean Companies
Editor
As of January 2026, the collaborative robot (cobot) market is witnessing unprecedented growth, drawing significant attention from the global manufacturing industry. According to the latest report by market research firm Technavio, the global cobot market size is expected to expand from $1.6 billion in 2025 to $5.8 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.4%. This rapid growth is not merely a result of technological advancement but signifies cobots as a practical solution to the structural changes faced by the manufacturing industry. Particularly, the accelerated demand for automation post-COVID-19 pandemic and the global labor shortage have positioned cobots as an essential element rather than an optional one.
The key differentiator of collaborative robots is their ability to work alongside humans in the same workspace without safety fences, unlike traditional industrial robots. Cobots that comply with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066 ensure safety even during physical contact with human workers through features like force limitation, speed monitoring, and safety stop functions. This safety aspect not only demonstrates technical excellence but also provides a realistic pathway for small and medium-sized manufacturers to adopt automation without significant initial investment. The cobot technology, first commercialized by Universal Robots in Odense, Denmark, in 2008, is now operational with over 75,000 units worldwide, accounting for approximately 60% of the total cobot market.
The entry of Korean companies into the cobot market is particularly noteworthy. Doosan Robotics, based in Incheon, has solidified its position in the global cobot market through continuous technological innovation since its listing on KOSDAQ in 2019. According to the company’s Q3 2025 performance, revenue increased by 47% year-on-year to 18.9 billion won, with overseas sales accounting for 73% of the total, demonstrating its global competitiveness. Doosan Robotics’ M series and A series cobots support a precision level of 0.1mm and a payload of up to 25kg, receiving high praise particularly in the automotive parts assembly and electronics manufacturing sectors. Additionally, Hyundai Robotics, based in Seongnam, is securing competitiveness in various applications such as welding, handling, and assembly through its YS080 and YS003 series, leveraging Hyundai Motor Group’s manufacturing expertise.
Current Status and Impact of Cobot Adoption in Manufacturing Sites
Real-world cases of cobot adoption in manufacturing sites clearly demonstrate the practical value of this technology. KUKA’s LBR iiwa (intelligent industrial work assistant) series, based in Augsburg, Germany, is utilized in production lines of German automotive manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, implementing human-level delicacy in sensitive assembly tasks. At BMW’s Dingolfing plant, KUKA’s cobots work alongside human workers to install door seals on the BMW 7 Series, reportedly improving work accuracy by 15% and reducing musculoskeletal strain on workers by 40%.
Panasonic’s FANUC CRX series, based in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is also achieving notable success in the Asian market. According to the company’s 2025 annual report, the cobot division’s revenue increased by 28% year-on-year to 124 billion yen, with significant demand growth in China and Southeast Asia. Panasonic’s CRX-10iA model offers a 10kg payload and a reach of 1,249mm, achieving a repeatability of 0.02mm in electronic component assembly lines, reducing defect rates by 67% compared to traditional labor-intensive processes. These achievements suggest that cobots are creating added value beyond merely replacing human labor, improving quality and productivity.
In the U.S. market, the adoption of cobots by small and medium-sized manufacturers is particularly active. According to the 2025 statistics from the Robotics Industry Association (RIA), cobot sales in the U.S. increased by 41% year-on-year to 8,950 units, with 78% purchased by small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 250 employees. Notably, Johnson Controls, an automotive parts manufacturer in Detroit, Michigan, adopted 12 units of Doosan Robotics’ M1013 model to automate seat assembly processes, reducing annual labor costs by 32% and increasing production by 18%. Michael Thompson, Vice President of Manufacturing at Johnson Controls, stated, “After adopting cobots, workers can focus on higher value-added tasks, and overall job satisfaction has significantly improved.”
The adoption pattern of cobots in the Chinese market shows another characteristic. According to data from the China Robot Industry Alliance (CRIA), the cobot market size in China reached 2.3 billion yuan (approximately $320 million) in 2025, a 52% increase from the previous year. This growth, led by electronics manufacturers in Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces, is further accelerated by the Chinese government’s ‘Made in China 2025’ policy. Foxconn, based in Shenzhen, introduced 200 units of ABB’s YuMi cobots from Zurich, Switzerland, into its iPhone assembly line, automating precision component assembly processes, improving assembly accuracy by 25%, and reducing production cycle time by 20%.
Technological Innovation and the Evolution of Next-Generation Cobots
As of 2026, the most notable advancement in cobot technology is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. Next-generation cobots are implementing adaptive intelligence that goes beyond merely repeating programmed tasks, enabling them to perceive the environment in real-time and adjust their work methods accordingly. Doosan Robotics’ next-generation AI cobot platform ‘DART-Platform,’ unveiled in December 2025, integrates computer vision, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning technologies to understand voice commands from workers and learn complex assembly tasks independently. This system reduces programming time by 75% compared to the traditional teaching pendant method, allowing non-experts to complete basic task settings within 30 minutes.
Universal Robots, with its UR30 model launched in October 2025, offers a 30kg payload and a reach of 1,300mm, expanding the application range of cobots in the heavy-duty handling sector. The Force/Torque sensor equipped in this model provides a force detection precision of 0.1N, ensuring safety even in assembly tasks involving delicate materials like glass or ceramics. Additionally, the built-in safety system complies with ISO/TS 15066 standards, limiting maximum contact pressure to 150N during human contact and performing a safety stop within 0.4 seconds. These technological advancements lay the foundation for expanding the application range of cobots into previously inaccessible heavy industries.
Hyundai Robotics has significantly improved the operational efficiency of cobots through its self-developed Hi-Robotics OS. This operating system provides real-time task monitoring, predictive maintenance, and remote diagnostics, showing an average improvement of 23% in the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metric. Additionally, through cloud-based data analysis, it realizes system optimization in production lines with multiple cobots installed. In a pilot project at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant, 12 Hyundai Robotics cobots were networked to share real-time task data, improving the throughput of the entire production line by 17%.
ABB’s latest GoFa series is particularly noted in the food and medical device manufacturing sectors. With IP67-rated dust and water resistance and FDA-approved food-safe materials, it can be safely operated in hygiene-critical environments. At Nestlé’s Vevey plant in Switzerland, the GoFa CRB 15000 model operates on the chocolate packaging line, improving packaging accuracy from 98.7% to 99.8% compared to manual processes and increasing hourly throughput by 35%. These achievements demonstrate that cobots can be an effective automation solution even in traditionally labor-dependent food manufacturing.
The competitive landscape of the global cobot market is becoming more intense in 2026. According to analysis by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), Universal Robots still holds the top market share (42.3%), but companies like Doosan Robotics (8.7%), KUKA (7.2%), and ABB (6.8%) are rapidly catching up. Particularly in the Asian market, Doosan Robotics and Hyundai Robotics are expanding their market share by providing customized solutions that accurately meet the requirements of local manufacturers. As of 2025, Doosan Robotics recorded an 18.5% market share in the Asia-Pacific region, ranking second after Universal Robots (34.2%).
From an investment perspective, the growth potential of the cobot market is highly regarded. According to data from venture capital research firm CB Insights, the proportion of cobot-related companies in global robotics startup investments reached 31% in 2025, a significant increase from the previous year (24%). Investment in startups developing AI-based cobot technology is surging, with U.S.-based Redwood Robotics raising $45 million in a Series B round and Germany’s Franka Emika receiving a €28 million investment from European investment funds. This influx of investment is accelerating further innovation in cobot technology, particularly focusing on the development of next-generation products through the convergence of AI and sensor technologies.
Despite the growth of the cobot market, challenges remain to be addressed. One of the biggest obstacles is concerns about initial adoption costs and the payback period. According to a survey of small and medium-sized manufacturers, 68% of respondents are considering adopting cobots, but 43% cited initial investment costs (averaging $80,000 to $150,000) as a major barrier. In response, major cobot manufacturers are introducing the Robotics as a Service (RaaS) model. Universal Robots started a subscription-based cobot rental service in 2025, and Doosan Robotics is preparing a similar service for small and medium-sized enterprises in Korea. This diversification of business models is expected to significantly improve the accessibility of cobots.
Another important challenge is the shortage of skilled robot engineers and programmers. According to a report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), global robot-related jobs are expected to reach approximately 4.8 million by 2025, but 27% of these positions, equivalent to 1.3 million, remain vacant. The shortage of specialized personnel capable of installing, programming, and maintaining cobots is a constraint on market growth. To address this, major cobot companies are investing in expanding educational programs. Doosan Robotics has signed MOUs with 20 domestic universities in 2025 to operate cobot specialist training programs, and Hyundai Robotics is producing 500 robot engineers annually through its in-house technical training center.
The outlook for the cobot market in 2026 is very bright. The expansion into fields beyond manufacturing is expected to accelerate. In the medical field, the use of cobots is increasing in areas such as surgical assistance, rehabilitation therapy, and drug dispensing, while in the service industry, the automation of customer service in hotels, restaurants, and retail stores is spreading. According to analysis by market research firm McKinsey, the demand for cobots in non-manufacturing sectors is expected to account for 35% of the total market by 2030. This diversification provides new growth opportunities for Korean companies, and Doosan Robotics and Hyundai Robotics are expected to further solidify their positions in the global market based on their respective technological strengths. The continuous growth and technological innovation of the cobot market will be a key driver in accelerating digital transformation across all industrial sectors, not just manufacturing.
