Samsung Electronics has officially become the biggest shareholder of South Korea's Rainbow Robotics, as revealed in a regulatory filing on Tuesday. The tech powerhouse, which had already invested in the robotics company, has now purchased a stake worth 267 billion won (around $181 million). This means Rainbow Robotics is now a subsidiary of Samsung.

In addition, Samsung is launching a Future Robotics Office that will report directly to the CEO. Oh Jun-ho, one of the founders of Rainbow Robotics, will take on the role of advisor and head of this new office.

Samsung first invested in Rainbow Robotics back in January 2023, acquiring a 10.2% stake for 59 billion won (about $40 million). By March 2023, they increased their stake to 14.99% after signing a call option contract to buy shares from Rainbow's largest shareholder if they became available.

Founded in 2011 as part of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Rainbow Robotics has created cutting-edge technologies like the Hubo humanoid robot. The company also collaborates with Hyundai Rotem on various robotic projects, including quadruped robots and autonomous mobile systems.

Before this shift, Oh Jun-ho and related parties were the largest shareholders of the company. This move solidifies Samsung's position in the booming robotics industry as it continues to expand its reach in advanced technologies.

Samsung plans to combine its AI and software strengths with Rainbow Robotics' know-how to speed up the creation of smart humanoid robots. This partnership will also allow Samsung to improve its manufacturing and logistics processes using Rainbow's robots.

Samsung's Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee has played a key role in pushing this initiative forward, having set up a dedicated robotics business team in 2022. Meanwhile, competitor Hyundai Motor Group is also making strides in the robotics field with its acquisition of Boston Dynamics and a partnership with Toyota to develop humanoid robots.