Less than six months after Korea became the second country in the world to roll out Intuitive’s da Vinci 5 surgical robot -- following its U.S. debut -- the company is doubling down on its presence in Seoul.

Intuitive Surgical Korea on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to invest an additional $10 million over the next five years. 

The new funding will expand the company’s DMC Surgical Innovation Center in Seoul and support new business initiatives, with plans to hire 100 additional staff across both operations.

The company’s Seoul facility was designated as Seoul’s first foreign investment district in services in 2017 under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, and remains the largest by footprint at 3,624.5 square meters. By the end of 2024, Intuitive had invested 10 billion won (roughly $7 million) through the center, trained over 2,200 medical professionals in robotic surgery, and created 149 jobs.

“Through this MOU, we aim to create quality jobs and support Seoul’s continued growth,” said Glenn Vavoso, senior vice president and president of Asia Pacific at Intuitive, in a statement. “We’re excited to continue building here in partnership with Seoul.”

Seoul, in turn, will offer regulatory support through the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. City officials said the move reflects Seoul’s broader strategy to attract high-tech companies in robotics, AI, and quantum computing.

“The added investment reinforces Seoul’s economic stability and global competitiveness,” said Joo Yong-tae, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Future Hangang Project Headquarters. “We’ll continue to support companies like Intuitive that are shaping the future of healthcare.”