Prime Minster Shinzo Abe held the sixth meeting of the Robot Revolution Realization Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, discussions were held on a “New Strategy for Robots” and the strategy was compiled.

Based on the discussion in the meeting, the Prime Minister said,

“Thus far, Japan has led the world as a major player in robotics development.
However, competition to develop robots which are fused with IT, including Big Data, is intensifying particularly in the U.S. and Europe, and major changes are taking place, from our lifestyles through to our industries. In this new era, if we continue to sit idly by, we are likely to simply become subcontractors of the U.S. and Europe.
Now is the time when we must switch to a bold strategy, remove barriers in the industrial community, as well as ministry and agency barriers, share a strategy and path that fix their gaze on the world, and ensure the public and private sectors work as one.
Today’s “New Strategy for Robots” presents a genuine strategy and path for Japan to shine in the world in this new era.
Based on this New Strategy for Robots, we are aiming to make Japan the world’s most advanced robot showcase and achieve a society in which robots are utilized more than anywhere in the world, from nursing care and agriculture to small- and medium-sized enterprises. To that end, we are engaged in achieving a “robot barrier free” society through regulatory reform and establishing the highest level of artificial intelligence technologies in the world. As a first step, a new robot testing field will be established in Fukushima Prefecture. Individuals throughout Japan who are rising to the challenge of robot development will be recruited to create a testing base for next-generation robots that will be known throughout the world.
This year will be the so-called starting point of the robot revolution. I would like to thank all the Council members, including Chair Nomaguchi. Going forward, the Government intends to draw on the cooperation of a broad range of people in order to further elevate Japan’s position as a major player in robotics development, and I ask you all for your continued dedication.”