Kobe-based Robotics Startup iPresence Receives METI's '300 Lively SMEs' Award

## Kobe-based Robotics Startup iPresence Receives METI's '300 Lively SMEs' Award

iPresence Inc. (Headquarters: Kobe City, Representative Director: Chris Francis Christophers) announced that it has been selected for the 2025 '300 Lively Small and Medium-sized Enterprises' award by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The award ceremony was held at METI on May 29 (Fri).

The '300 Lively SMEs' program selects and honors about 300 small and medium-sized enterprises from across Japan that act as 'models' by tackling business transformation or new business ventures, and are expected to contribute to the growth of local and national economies.

For the 2025 fiscal year, five fields were set: 'Growth Strategy/Productivity Improvement,' 'Overseas Expansion,' 'GX (Green Transformation),' 'DX (Digital Transformation),' and 'Investment in People/Environment Development.' The company received the award in the DX field.

### Reason for Award: Promoting Social Transformation across Multiple Fields with Tele-robots and Digital Twins

The company realizes a 'remote experience as if being on the spot' by integrating telepresence avatar robots (tele-robots) with digital twin technology. The following initiatives were evaluated:

### Business Initiatives

1. Construction of a Remote Welding Platform
- Developed a welding system that can be operated remotely even by inexperienced workers.
- Contributes to the transfer of skills from expert technicians and resolves critical labor shortages in the manufacturing industry.

2. Promoting DX in Medical and Educational Fields
- Achieved CO2 reduction through alternative mobility.
- Created new possibilities for telemedicine and distance education.

3. Supporting Social Participation of People with Disabilities
- Expanded opportunities for social participation for people with disabilities through mobility support using tele-robot technology.

### Representative Comment: Chris Francis Christophers (President and Representative Director)

'I am very honored to be selected for the prestigious '300 Lively SMEs' award. This award is thanks to everyone who has supported our challenges. Taking this as great encouragement, we will continue to contribute to the improvement of each person's quality of life and a sustainable future for the manufacturing industry while promoting technology that we can be proud of from Kobe to the world.'

### Future Outlook

In the upcoming 'Physical AI era,' we are facing the fundamental question of 'how should AI and humans coexist?' In a world where AI will take on all judgment processes, we believe the biggest challenge is how humans can intervene remotely and multiply 'human-unique values' such as intuition, sensibility, and ethics. We will take on this challenge, aiming for local economic revitalization and global expansion, and convey a new future where humans and AI live in harmony.