Mitsubishi Research Institute and Dentsu Soken Jointly Launch Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the "Japan Robot Manipulation Application Promotion Council (Tentative Name)"

Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (President and CEO: Kenji Yabuta) and Dentsu Soken Inc. (President: Hirohisa Iwamoto) will jointly launch a preparatory committee on April 14 for the establishment of the 'Japan Robot Manipulation Application Promotion Council (tentative name).' To address labor shortages and strengthen the competitiveness of domestic industries, the committee will promote the expanded introduction and practical application of AI robots through technology demonstrations, alliance formation, and the creation of implementation roadmaps for robot manipulation technology in the service sector. 1. Background Worsening Labor Shortages and the Need for Sustainable Solutions In Japan, the working population continues to decline due to a falling birthrate and aging population. In addition to the manufacturing industry, a shortage of frontline workers has become a serious social issue in service sectors such as construction, housing and facility management, nursing care, and cooking. In this context, there are growing expectations for initiatives that leverage AI robot technology to increase productivity by supporting and augmenting tasks traditionally performed by humans. To effectively utilize the limited workforce and ensure the sustainability of domestic industries, a new approach is needed that combines relevant technologies while leveraging on-the-ground knowledge. Advancements in Robot Technology and Expectations for Manipulation Technology Robot technology is currently at a major turning point. In addition to the field of wheeled and legged mobile mechanisms, where social implementation has been leading, robot manipulation technology for handling and grasping objects is also becoming realistic for precise and delicate tasks. Japanese companies have strengths in manipulation technology, and in recent years, progress has been made in integrating it with robot foundational models and remote operation technologies to enhance the sophistication of robots as a whole. However, large-scale domestic initiatives to demonstrate this technology in the service sector and promote it through to social implementation cannot be said to be sufficient (*). The Need for a New Framework to Promote Social Implementation To connect manipulation technology to social implementation, a comprehensive approach is essential. This includes not only technological development but also on-site demonstrations, collaboration between users and suppliers, the design of sustainable revenue models and technology roadmaps, and even consideration of institutional and policy aspects. Based on this awareness of the issues, there is a need for a forum where stakeholders can discuss and demonstrate the implementation of manipulation technology in the service sector, with the goal of simultaneously solving social issues like labor shortages and strengthening the competitiveness of domestic industries. * Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. '[Proposal] AI Robotics to Pioneer the Future' (Published October 6, 2025) 2. Preparatory Committee Overview (1) Topics for Consideration The committee will specifically consider the proposed activities for the council. It will focus on use cases in service areas such as daily living support for the elderly, essential worker tasks, and maintenance of housing, facilities, and infrastructure. On the technical side, the focus will be on robot manipulation technologies (mechanisms, sensing, control, materials, etc.) and the integration of manipulation technology with robot foundational models and remote operation technologies. • Study group activities on the challenges, visions, and capabilities of both suppliers and users. • Support for alliance formation and the planning and promotion of demonstration experiments. • Examination and analysis of new markets and business models. • Organization of an implementation roadmap and outreach to government, industry, and other bodies. • Other activities necessary for the establishment of the council and the achievement of its objectives. Based on the discussions in this preparatory committee, the council is scheduled to be established during fiscal year 2026. (2) Promoters Dentsu Soken Inc. Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (3) Members (as of 4/14, in no particular order) Aomori Prefecture Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kajima Corporation Kansai Innovation Center Shibaura Institute of Technology, Dynamic Functional Device Laboratory Jizai Inc. Takenaka Corporation Toyohashi City Toyohashi University of Technology, Institute for Next-generation Semiconductor and Sensor Science, Human-Robot Symbiosis Field Nittetsu Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd. Hatapro Inc. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. YUASA Co., Ltd. Ritsumeikan University, Soft Robotics Laboratory Waseda University, Measurement and Information Engineering Laboratory 3. Future Plans This preparatory committee and the subsequent council will be conducted as an activity of the Future Co-creation Initiative (ICF) operated by Mitsubishi Research Institute. Through participation in this committee and council, ICF will contribute to accelerating the social implementation of AI robots, focusing on the use of robot manipulation technology in the service sector. The first meeting is scheduled for late May.