Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho opened FIX 2026 at EXCO on Wednesday morning, October 21, announcing that 531 companies were taking part, the most in the show’s history. He said more large corporations and global companies had joined this year alongside smaller firms.
A Ceremony Focused on AI and Manufacturing
The mayor spoke first. “Today, the world is entering a great transition, as industrial structures and everyday life are being completely reshaped around AI,” he said. “Beyond boosting productivity, AI is breaking down boundaries between industries and offering clear solutions to problems facing humanity, such as healthcare, safety, and education.”
Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho inside the Volocopter during the line tout
Choo tied that message to this year’s theme, “AI, beyond Tech into reality,“ and said AI adoption would make materials, parts, and equipment makers more competitive
This is the third edition of the Future Innovation Tech Expo, which bundles Daegu’s mobility, robotics, ICT and startup exhibitions into one event. Ubergizmo’s FIX 2026 preview breaks down the four shows.
Kim Yong-seok, President of the Metropolitan Area Transport Commission, spoke next.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan, who did not attend in person, followed in a video message shown on the main screen. “The world is now locked in a battle for AI supremacy,” he said. “How quickly we can roll out AI across manufacturing sites will determine the outcome.”
He called Daegu’s role as “the cradle of Korean manufacturing” crucial.
Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do were designated last month “for the first time in the robotics field, as a national high-tech strategic industrial cluster,“ he said. “Under the regional growth engines announced this August, we have decided to develop the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region into a hub for advanced mobility components and AI robotics.” He also pledged support to help more than 2,800 auto parts companies in Daegu and Gyeongbuk move into future vehicles and robotics.
Superintendent Kang Eun-hee of the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education congratulated the organizers on the opening and pointed to student work on the show floor: 59 second-year students from Daegu Software Meister High School prepared 10 booths. “As Superintendent of Education, I especially want to highlight our students,” she said, calling their projects work she is “very proud of.” The students are set to present their projects on Thursday afternoon.
Ha Jung-woo, Vice Chairperson of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee, closed the speeches with what he called “a very significant piece of news” from the previous day: Boston Consulting Group‘s annual AI Maturity Matrix. He said Korea had been in a strong group of fast followers last year. “This year, we have risen to the ranks of leading AI nations,” he said. Ha added that BCG saw the key task ahead as being “to rapidly achieve tangible results in industry and in physical AI,” and said Daegu’s role is “crucial as a place that can drive those changes in the real economy.”
Organizers expected about 100 government and industry guests at the ceremony. Attendees who joined the speakers on stage at the close of the ceremony included HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Cho Seok, HD Hyundai Robotics President and CEO Kim Wan-soo, Doosan Robotics CEO Kwon Young-min, Hyundai Motor Group Vice President Lee Hang-soo, Representative Woo Jae-jun and GMTCK President Brian McMurray.
After the ceremony, the VIP guests took a guided tour, “Line Tour,” of the main exhibition areas, starting at the UAM Special Pavilion.
Volocopter and Hyundai Showcase the Future of Mobility
Volocopter at FIX 2026 – DIFA exhibition
Among the most eye-catching exhibits is Volocopter’s aircraft, displayed in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Special Pavilion.
The company’s VoloCity electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft represents a vision for future urban transportation, aiming to carry passengers over congested metropolitan areas.
Visitors can take part in a boarding experience, offering a closer look at the aircraft and its passenger cabin. The display offers an opportunity to explore the concept of electric air taxis, though it does not demonstrate commercial flight operations.
Toff Mobility, a South Korean startup
Hyundai Motor Company is another major attraction, presenting its ATRIA AI autonomous-driving technology and an unmanned firefighting robot. The latter illustrates how robotic vehicles could potentially operate in hazardous environments without exposing human firefighters to the same risks.
NT1, the Korean partner of Chinese autonomous vehicle manufacturer Neolix, is demonstrating its RoboVan autonomous delivery vehicle, designed for automated logistics and last-mile transportation.
Industrial Robots Take Center Stage
HD Hyundai robotics – the dual arm robot at ROBEX exhibition at FIX 2026
Robotics is another major focus of FIX 2026, with several leading Korean manufacturers demonstrating technologies designed for industrial applications.
HD Hyundai Robotics is showcasing dual-arm robots and highlighting advances in robotic manipulation and manufacturing automation.
Doosan Award-winning Scan & Go physical AI solution
Doosan Robotics is presenting Scan&Go, a robotic solution recognized with a CES 2026 Best of Innovation Award.
Meanwhile, MegazoneCloud, a major Asian cloud management service provider, represents the software and cloud infrastructure supporting enterprise AI adoption.
Beyond these exhibitors, visitors can discover AI-powered unmanned convenience stores, robotic navigation systems for fracture surgery, and AI-based odor mitigation technologies.
Interactive demonstrations include robots preparing ice cream and drip coffee, drone piloting challenges, and generative AI experiences at the KT AI Station.
From Physical AI Research to Real-World Applications
The conference program brings together experts including Seoul National University Professor Kyujin Cho, whose keynote, “The Age of Discovery for Physical AI Robots,” explores the next phase of robotics.
Other speakers include GMTCK President Brian McMurray, Vector Institute researcher Xiaoxiao Shaun Li, and PAL Robotics CEO Francesco Ferro.
Visiting FIX 2026
The show runs through Saturday, October 24, from 10 AM to 5 PM daily, closing at 4 PM on Saturday. Shuttle buses run between Dongdaegu Station and EXCO every 30 minutes to an hour, and admission details are on the visitor information page. Ubergizmo also covered FIX 2025.
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