On 22 April 2015, the Embassy of Japan in the UK held a seminar on the new landscape of robotics research and future Japan-UK collaboration, which was co-sponsored by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

Global competition to develop robots which are fused with ICT, including Big Data, is intensifying. Under such circumstances, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched the “Robot Revolution Realisation Council” last September.

The council discussed specific measures, including the development of technology, regulatory reforms and the global standardisation of Japan’s robot technologies, and published a report entitled “Japan’s New Robot Strategy” in January. Meanwhile, the UK Government, having prioritised “robotics and autonomous systems” as one of the “Eight Great Technologies”, published its strategy for stimulating growth in July 2014.

This event was organised with a view to introducing recent policy and research trends regarding robotics in Japan the UK, and to explore future collaboration between the two countries, by promoting both research and practical applications which will lead to significant future benefits for our societies.


Programme of the day was as follows:

- Opening Remarks by Ambassador Keiichi Hayashi, Embassy of Japan in the UK.
- Keynote speeches: 

The New Robot Strategy in Japan
By Mr Kazuyuki Imazato, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan

Robotics in the UK
By Mr Geoff Pegman, UK Trade & Investment

Trends of R&D and Utilisation of Robot Technology in Japan
By Professor Hajime Asama, University of Tokyo

Building the UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Innovation Pipeline
- Strategy and Exemplar
By Professor David Lane FREng FRSE, Director, Edinburgh Centre for Robotics

Mr Kazuyuki Imazato

Professor Hajime Asama

Professor David Lane

Discussion and Q&A

With the participation of over 90 researchers, government officials and business representatives of Japan and the UK, there were lively discussions, referring to themes, such as “aging society”, “decommissioning nuclear power stations” and “advanced manufacturing,” in which Japan and the UK could expect to collaborate in the field of robotics.

The discussions were followed by a networking session for future cooperation. For more information, please refer to the seminar handout.

The Embassy of Japan