Thinker Executives to Speak at "Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Salon for the AI Era" Supported by All-Kyoto: Introducing Next-Generation Robot Hand Use Cases and Backcasting Investment Considerations for the Future
Executives from Thinker Inc., developer of the next-generation robot hand, will speak at an all-Kyoto manufacturing event on April 17, discussing robot usability and backcasting management strategies.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 23:48
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 15:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 15:45 (120h 13m after Collected)
Thinker Inc. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director and CEO: Hiromichi Fujimoto, hereinafter 'Thinker'), which develops robots that can be used as easily as home appliances, will take the stage at the 'Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Salon for the AI Era', supported by all of Kyoto, on Friday, April 17, 2026.
The 'Kyoto Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Salon for the AI Era' is an event operated and promoted by all of Kyoto, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of local industries through advanced technologies such as AI and semiconductors. As a place for networking among industry, academia, and government and creating new businesses, the possibilities that the evolution of AI and robots brings to the front lines of manufacturing companies, along with practical examples serving as hints, will be introduced.
From Thinker, CTO Nakano will take the stage under the theme of 'Robot hands that can be used easily like home appliances', introducing the potential for robot hand utilization while sharing use cases of 'Think Hand F'. Additionally, CEO Fujimoto will speak on the importance of backcasting thinking—considering the path to take and investments to make by calculating backward from the future state the company aims for, leading to future-oriented management.
Going forward, Thinker will continue to face on-site challenges in the manufacturing and logistics sectors, making robots more accessible and easy to use, and contributing to the creation of production sites where humans and robots can truly collaborate.
■ Overview of 'Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Salon for the AI Era'
This is an event to outlook the future of the manufacturing industry through frontline examples of AI x Robots.
Date and Time: Friday, April 17, 2026, 14:00 - 16:30
Venue: Kyoto Economy Center 3-F Conference Room
(78 Kankoboko-cho, Muromachi Higashi-iru, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City / Right outside the North Ticket Gate of 'Shijo Station' on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line, directly connected to Exit 26 of 'Karasuma Station' on the Hankyu Kyoto Line)
Organizer: Kyoto Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Executive Committee for the AI Era
(General Incorporated Association Kyoto Industrial City Creation Research Institute, Local Independent Administrative Agency Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Kyoto Industry 21, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Advanced Software Technology & Mechatronics Research Institute of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City)
Participation Fee: Free
Capacity: About 30 people
https://www.ki21.jp/startup/aimonozukuri/aizidainimuketamonozukurisaron0417/
■ Company Profile
Name: Thinker Inc.
Address: Osaka Center Building 6F-188, 4-1-3 Kyutaro-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 541-0056
Representative: Hiromichi Fujimoto, Representative Director and CEO
Established: August 2022
Company Description: Aiming for a society where humans and robots orchestrate and evolve while elevating each other, we are working on the development of robot hands that think and judge for themselves.
URL: https://www.thinker-robotics.co.jp/
Remarks: The company name 'Thinker' embodies the thoughts of a 'group that thinks deeply', 'thinking robots', and 'accelerating the evolution of robots'.
■ Related Links
- From suits that can fly in the sky to nursing care reform! [The Secret to Future Development] Grasp the future first!
(TV Osaka News Kansai Neo Leaders broadcasted on October 30, 2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm31yDrmJxw
- How to make the future learned from Star Trek [Kansai Neo Leaders]
(Osaka NEWS [TV Osaka News] published on November 30, 2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LESNxCxN5dk
- 'Thinker selected for Forbes Japan 100 NEXT GENERATION LEADERS'
(PR TIMES December 1, 2025)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000060.000106143.html
- 'Will next-generation robot hands that replicate human dexterity become mainstream in manufacturing? Thinker's challenge in automating high-mix, low-volume production' (xTECH Powered by MITSUBISHI ESTATE November 25, 2025)
https://xtech.mec.co.jp/articles/11724
- The Japanese government introduces Thinker as 'Japanese Innovation' ~ New Robot
The 'Kyoto Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Salon for the AI Era' is an event operated and promoted by all of Kyoto, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of local industries through advanced technologies such as AI and semiconductors. As a place for networking among industry, academia, and government and creating new businesses, the possibilities that the evolution of AI and robots brings to the front lines of manufacturing companies, along with practical examples serving as hints, will be introduced.
From Thinker, CTO Nakano will take the stage under the theme of 'Robot hands that can be used easily like home appliances', introducing the potential for robot hand utilization while sharing use cases of 'Think Hand F'. Additionally, CEO Fujimoto will speak on the importance of backcasting thinking—considering the path to take and investments to make by calculating backward from the future state the company aims for, leading to future-oriented management.
Going forward, Thinker will continue to face on-site challenges in the manufacturing and logistics sectors, making robots more accessible and easy to use, and contributing to the creation of production sites where humans and robots can truly collaborate.
■ Overview of 'Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Salon for the AI Era'
This is an event to outlook the future of the manufacturing industry through frontline examples of AI x Robots.
Date and Time: Friday, April 17, 2026, 14:00 - 16:30
Venue: Kyoto Economy Center 3-F Conference Room
(78 Kankoboko-cho, Muromachi Higashi-iru, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City / Right outside the North Ticket Gate of 'Shijo Station' on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line, directly connected to Exit 26 of 'Karasuma Station' on the Hankyu Kyoto Line)
Organizer: Kyoto Manufacturing Industry Growth Strategy Executive Committee for the AI Era
(General Incorporated Association Kyoto Industrial City Creation Research Institute, Local Independent Administrative Agency Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Kyoto Industry 21, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Advanced Software Technology & Mechatronics Research Institute of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City)
Participation Fee: Free
Capacity: About 30 people
https://www.ki21.jp/startup/aimonozukuri/aizidainimuketamonozukurisaron0417/
■ Company Profile
Name: Thinker Inc.
Address: Osaka Center Building 6F-188, 4-1-3 Kyutaro-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 541-0056
Representative: Hiromichi Fujimoto, Representative Director and CEO
Established: August 2022
Company Description: Aiming for a society where humans and robots orchestrate and evolve while elevating each other, we are working on the development of robot hands that think and judge for themselves.
URL: https://www.thinker-robotics.co.jp/
Remarks: The company name 'Thinker' embodies the thoughts of a 'group that thinks deeply', 'thinking robots', and 'accelerating the evolution of robots'.
■ Related Links
- From suits that can fly in the sky to nursing care reform! [The Secret to Future Development] Grasp the future first!
(TV Osaka News Kansai Neo Leaders broadcasted on October 30, 2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm31yDrmJxw
- How to make the future learned from Star Trek [Kansai Neo Leaders]
(Osaka NEWS [TV Osaka News] published on November 30, 2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LESNxCxN5dk
- 'Thinker selected for Forbes Japan 100 NEXT GENERATION LEADERS'
(PR TIMES December 1, 2025)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000060.000106143.html
- 'Will next-generation robot hands that replicate human dexterity become mainstream in manufacturing? Thinker's challenge in automating high-mix, low-volume production' (xTECH Powered by MITSUBISHI ESTATE November 25, 2025)
https://xtech.mec.co.jp/articles/11724
- The Japanese government introduces Thinker as 'Japanese Innovation' ~ New Robot