Japan planning to invest billions in service robots

Japan Robot Week 2016 was hailed “a great success” by the organisers, as the event finished. 

In 2015, the Japanese government announced “Japan’s Robot Strategy”, designating the subsequent five years as a term for dedicated focus on robotics innovation.

Leading up to 2020, the government pledged to invest approximately $1 billion in robotics-related projects, aiming to expand the service robot market to $14 billion – about 20 times today’s market value. 

Japan Robot Week, held in biennial alternation with the International Robot Exhibition (iREX), focuses primarily on service robotics, including various related technologies and components.

In a broad effort to stimulate business negotiations, industry cooperation, and technology exchange, this year’s event features The 7th Robot Award ceremony and exhibition, joint exhibitions from universities and laboratories, and other fascinating programs related to service robots.

The number of exhibitors at the show was around 200 companies and organizations with 465 booths.