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 Fukuoka aims to create a leading next-generation robotics industry! |
The Japanese Government has declared the robotics industry to be one of the seven most critical industrial fields in its Strategy for Creating New Industry in May 2004 and proactively promotes the establishment of the systems needed to conduct research and development on robotic technology and ensure security. According to the Japan Robot Association, the market size of the robotics industry is expected to reach 8 trillion yen in 2025. Owing to high latent demand for service robots in the medical and welfare industries, the security and disaster-relief fields, and for personal robots that act as companions, commercialization of such robots is greatly expected.
Responding to this demand, Fukuoka Prefecture
has applied and received the first designation nationwide as
a Special Zone for Development and Practical Experiment with
Robotics and promotes the research and development of next-generation
robots that cooperate and coexist with humans. |
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Fukuoka is home to many companies in the robotics
field as well as several academic research institutions. Systems
for research and development on robotics and for promotion of
industrialization have been developed through government-industry-academia
collaboration, furthering progress toward the goal of developing
the next-generation robotics industry. |
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Fukuoka was designated the first Special Zone for Development and Practical Experiment with Robotics nationwide and has supported pioneering activities such as robot demonstrations and experiments on public streets, which to date have been conducted 88 times, the largest number in Japan. |
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In universities such as Kyushu University and
the Kyushu Institute of Technology, a great number of researchers
are actively conducting a wide range of robotics research in
fields ranging from artificial intelligence to the use of robotics
in surgery. |
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In Kitakyushu City, the manufacturing industry
accounts for over 20% of the gross production and includes several
manufacturers of robot parts. |
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Fukuoka Soft Research Park is one of the strongest
concentrations of information technology businesses in Japan,
with 110 firms and more than 6,500 employees located there.
The Research Park is strong in its development of applications
indispensable to the robotics industry. |
| Support |
The
Robotics Industry Development Council (RIDC)
 RIDC consists of about 200 members including about 120 companies and 13 universities and is engaged in the development of the next-generation robotics industry through government-industry-academia collaboration. It conducts joint research and development
of robots and robot demonstration experiments on public
roads, and promotes the establishment of a social system
in which people and robots can coexist, supporting robot-related
activities in an effort to develop the robotics industry. |
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| Major Companies |
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Yasukawa Electric Corporation
The world's leading manufacturer of robots for industrial use.
The cumulative number of products produced surpassed 130,000 in 2005. |
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tmsuk Co., Ltd.
Established in 2000 as one of the world's greatest next-generation
robot manufacturers. It has developed remote-controlled robots,
security robots, house-sitter robots, and rescue robots. |
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