OTSIKKO
ALAOTSIKKO, KUUKAUSI VUOSITRENDS OF HEALTHCARE ROBOTS IN JAPAN

CHAPTER HEADING
SUMMARY
• This report provides trends of healthcare
robots in Japan and future views of
healthcare robots．
• Japan 's megatrends are a change in
population structure, advances in
technology, and social security reform.
• Development and introduction of
healthcare robots in Japan has been
progressed thanks to the positive
initiative and support from the
Government and the cultivation of the
market by private companies under the
Japan’s new robot strategy.
• Stakeholders of public and private sectors
such as MHW, METI, AMED, AIST and
JARA are participating in the promotion
framework.
Healthcare Robot In Japan, June 20172
• Government budget exceeding 60 billion
yen in FY 2016 is used for research and
development of health care robots.
• METI and WHLW jointly announced
“Priority areas of using robot
technologies in the nursing field” (revised
in February, 2014). It is stressed the
following 5 fields will create the new
market for healthcare robots.
1) Transfer aids (wearable/non-
wearable)
2) Mobility aids (outdoor/indoor)
3) Toileting aids
4) Bathing aids
5) Monitoring systems (nursing care
homes /private homes)
SUMMARY

CHAPTER HEADING
• We introduced the three advanced cases
in detail and outlines other healthcare
robots.
• The first is Softbank‘s “Pepper”. The
applications of Pepper in the healthcare
field are expected as encouraging the
patients for medical examination and
checkup in the hospital waiting room,
asking patients their conditions before
the actual consultation, giving orientation
of the hospital facilities, and offering the
recreational activities for the elderly.
• The second is Cyberdyne’s “HAL ®”. HAL®
is able to read “bio-electric signals [BES]”
by only attaching the originally developed
detectors on the surface on the wearer‘s
skin.
By consolidating various informations,
HAL® recognizes what sorts of motions
the wearer intends. This leads to “the
important first step” in walking of the
physically challenged person without
being assisted by HAL®.
• The third is Shinshu university’s “curara®”.
curara® is robotic wear which is light
wearable and easy to move and to take
off. It enables the power of motor given
to each joint. curara® is distinguished
itself from others that it realizes the
natural and smooth movement of wearer
even wearing curara® as if robot and
human being are merged.
SUMMARY

CHAPTER HEADING
• As future challenges in the spread of
healthcare robots, we list four points of
grasping on-site needs, application of
nursing reward, secure the safety, and
improvement of user’s acceptance.
• Finally, we analyzed the market access in
Japanese healthcare robots. Entry is easy,
but the fields where competition is
intense are communication aids,
monitoring systems, transfer aids, and
mobility aids. Toileting aids, bathing aids
and eating and drinking aids have high
technical difficulties. Competitiveness is
lower, if you have Innovative technology.
SUMMARY

1. Trends in Healthcare Robot’s policies in
Japan
・The future megatrends
・ Overview of “Japan’s New Robot
Strategy”
・Action Plan-5 years plan
・Promotion framework and Stakeholders
・ Government Budget
2. Trends in service robot in healthcare field
・Classification of healthcare robots by
purpose
・Advanced cases 1：Softbank “Pepper”
・Advanced cases 2：CYBERDYNE Inc.
“HAL®”
・Advanced cases 3：Shinshu University
“curara®”
・Introduction of various healthcare robots
3. Future view of healthcare robot
・Proper picture of needs and demands at
nursing site
・Application of nursing reward
Secure the Safety
・Improvement of user’s acceptance
・Market Access in Japanese Healthcare
Robots
Reference: Promotion to attract foreign
businesses

Kazuko YUMA
Chief Fellow
Institute for International Socio-Economic
Studies (IISE)

TRENDS IN HEALTHCARE
ROBOT’S POLICIES
IN JAPAN
THE FUTURE
MEGATRENDS

CHAPTER HEADING
MEGATRENDS 1 : CHANGES IN POPULATION STRUCTURE
The depopulation and growth of the
aging population
The lack of welfare and long-term care
human resources
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare “Annual Report on the
Aging Society :2016”
Supply
Demand
FY2000 FY2013 FY2025
550,000 1,710,000 2,150,000
FY2025
2,530,000
GAP
377,000
THE FUTURE MEGATRENDS

CHAPTER HEADING
MEGATRENDS 2 : ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY
Domestic IoT market
Expenditure forecast, 2016 to 2021
Rapid progress in AI Technology
Source: IDC Japan, 4/2017
Expenditure(1billionyen)
YoYgrowthrate
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “Study on the
impact of ICT evolution on employment and work style”
Image
recognition
Multimodal
abstraction
Robotics
Behavioral
abstraction
Symbol
grounding
Technology
development
Technology to improve
Knowledge
acquisition
Improvement
of image
recognition
accuracy
Emotional Understanding
Behavior Prediction
Environmental recognition
Autonomous
Robotics
Improvement of
Environmental
recognition
Natural
language
Understanding
Large scale
knowledge
understanding

CHAPTER HEADING
MEGATRENDS 3 : DRASTIC SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM
Establishment of integrated
community care system by 2025
Promotion of home medical care and
home long-term care
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
home
long-term
care
home
medical
care
FY2012
170,000
people (per day)
Residents‘ association・Volunteerorganization・NPOetc.
Medical care
Community General
Support Center
Home
Living support/Care prevention
Long-Term Care
290,000
people (per day)
FY2025
1.4
times
3,200,000
people (per day)
4,630,000
people (per day)
1.7
times

ROBOT’S POLICIES
IN JAPAN
OVERVIEW OF “JAPAN’S
NEW ROBOT STRATEGY”

CHAPTER HEADING
Robots which have been rapidly popular in Japan since the 1980’s primarily in the manufacturing
sector contributed greatly to the increase of productivity and the economic growth of Japan.
Japan, excellent in the field of robotics, has maintained its global position as the world’s number one
supplier of industrial robots in value, and also tops in the number of units in operation which
accounts for approximately 50% of the global share. Japan continues to maintain its status as
“Robotics Superpower ” and its world-renowned strengths.
On the other hand Japan has been facing with the issues of declining birth rate and ageing society
which are progressing at an unparalleled speed and thus Japan is encountering such challenges as a
decline in the number of working-age population, and higher social security costs as a result of the
issues above. Japan is now at reaching its major turning point.
In addition, there are myriad issues that require immediate systematic actions from the entire society
for protection of our lives including enhanced preparation against natural disasters and upgrading of
aged social capitals and infrastructures constructed in the era of high economic growth of Japan. In
order to progress the reform of the socioeconomic system the new technological innovation is
indispensable and highly expected.
BACKGROUND OF “JAPAN’S NEW ROBOT STRATEGY”
OVERVIEW OF “JAPAN’S NEW ROBOT STRATEGY”

CHAPTER HEADING
Facing with declining birth rate and ageing society and also decline in the number of working-age
population Robot and its technology have huge potential to solve a variety of social issues such as
lack of work force, excessive work and labor, insufficient productivity in the areas of production at
factory, medicine and nursing care, agriculture and construction and so on.
The Japanese Government proposed in its “Japan Revitalization Strategy revised in 2014”
achievement of a new Industrial Revolution driven by robots (hereinafter referred as “Robot
Revolution”) and set up a “Robot Revolution Realization Council”.
The Robot Revolution is based on the following concepts:
1) Turning what used not to be positioned as robot in conventional manners into robots through
the advancement of sensor and AI technologies (e.g. automobile, household appliance, mobile
phone or even housing will be considered a type of robots.);
2) Utilizing robots in the actual site of manufacturing as well as various scenes of daily life;
3) Forming a society where new added value, convenience and wealth are created through the
reinforcement of global competitiveness in the field of manufacturing and service as well as
settlement of social issues.
ACHIEVEMENT OF A NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION DRIVEN BY ROBOTS

CHAPTER HEADING
“Robot Revolution Realization Council” has been inaugurated on 11th September, 2014 and
published “New Robot Strategy “ on 23th January, 2015 after 6 sessions.
This New Robot Strategy is the principles how to utilize robots in Japan.
Based on these 3 pillars the actual and practical measures will be studied. Japanese Government is
aiming to promote robot projects in the budget level of 100 billion yen in public and private
partnership during the course of 5 years until the year 2020 by both deregulation and establishment
of rules by the Government sector and by the enlarged investment by the private sector.
Japan’s New Robot Strategy
NEW ROBOT STRATEGY LAUNCHED ON 23 NOVEMBER 2015
International
Hub for robot
innovation
World No. 1
Society of
utilization of
robots
Development and
progress of robot
revolution on
global
perspectives

CHAPTER HEADING
Robot has been so defined as the machine or mechanism consisting of 3 interrelated elements,
namely 1) sensor 2) intelligence･control mechanism 3) driving mechanism.
It is, however, to be remarked that lately robots without its own driving mechanism but with
independent intelligence and control mechanism can drive the other robots through access to a
variety of things or people in the progress of digitalization, enhancement of ICT network like cloud
and advancement of AI.
It is therefore becoming difficult and possible wrong to define the robot as the one with every 3
elements in a conventional manner.
DEFINITION OF ROBOT
Sensor
intelligence･
control
mechanism
Driving
mechanism

CHAPTER HEADING
Robot has been drastically changed in its image. In the first place robot has been changing from
simple industrial robot to intelligent robot which can study and act by itself, and, is becoming more
and more self-supporting. The change is largely influenced by advancement of sensor, software,
information processing technology and by substantial development of AI (image and voice
recognition, machine learning) including deep-learning.
In the second place robot is changing its function rapidly as the information terminal from the
conventional function of doing whatever it is ordered. Robot can be self-supporting to store and
utilize the information and data and can provide living aids to the people in the similar manner or
replacement of personal computers and mobile phones.
In the third place, robot is not functioning by itself but networked with each other . Robot will
function as one element of a variety of systems.
Consequently, it becomes essential to define flexibly the robot of next generation.
CHANGES IN ROBOT IMAGE

ROBOT’S POLICIES
IN JAPAN
ACTION PLAN-5 YEARS
PLAN

CHAPTER HEADING
In New Robot Strategy the action plan for next 5 years are summarized and proposed in 5 cross-
cutting issues and 5 particulars in sector.
Cross-Cutting Issues
1) Establishment of "Robot Revolution Initiative (RRI)"
2) Technology development toward the next generation
3) Policy on the Global Standardization of Robotics
4) Field-Testing of Robots
5) Human Resource Development
Particulars by Sector
1) Manufacturing Sector
2) Service fields
3) Nursing and medical fields
4) Infrastructure, disaster response, and construction fields
5) Agriculture, Forestry, Fishery, and Food Industry
5 CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND 5 PARTICULARS IN SECTOR.
ACTION PLAN-5 YEARS PLAN

CHAPTER HEADING
In order to make Japan as No.1 robot innovation base in the world and integrally promote and
maintain the structure and environment to continuously develop robots that lead to a social
revolution, "Robot Revolution Initiative (RRI)" will be established to serve as the center for wide-
ranging stakeholders who will clarify issues that they should work on by themselves, share progress
status and implement necessary improvement.
RRI’s major functions are summarized as follows:
• Promotion of matching such as needs and seeds and development of solutions
• Strategic planning and utilization of international standards and security measure
• Sharing and diffusing best practice
• Planning of international research projects for international deployment of Japanese robots. US-
Japan joint development of disaster responding robots
• Proactive use of research and development institutions in Japan and utilization of alumni
ESTABLISHMENT OF "ROBOT REVOLUTION INITIATIVE (RRI)"

CHAPTER HEADING
It is essential that research and development is further promoted in order to fight through data-
driven society and it is also indispensable that research and development of innovative next-
generation technology is promoted. It is important to continuously share the final, innovative,
assimilated "exit" image in addition to individual technologies by utilizing not only the technologies
of the field that has been studied as the core robot technology but also element technologies of
other extensive fields in the industry or society.
Following element technologies should be pursued.
• Artificial intelligence (AI): advancement and unification of data-driven AI and knowledge
representing and reasoning AI and brain-like AI
• Sensing and recognition technology: environment-learning vision sensor, voice processing and
recognition technology under low signal noise ratio(SNR), smell sensor, distributed touch
sensor system, and sensor fusion system and so on.
• Mechanism, actuator, and control technology: servomotors with low-cost and high power
weight ratio (PWR), multi-degree-of-freedom actuators imitating the human joint, high-
molecular light-weight artificial muscle and a control theory for smooth control of such a highly
non-linear system, and general-purpose hand system for bilateral control.
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT TOWARD THE NEXT GENERATION

CHAPTER HEADING
• OS, middleware, etc.: simulators simulate working environment, and OS and middleware that
can work with simulators
• Security and safety evaluation and standard: safety evaluation and risk prediction,
establishment and standardization of test methods, rules for handling information
collected by robots
In addition to the above technologies the development is also to be made for light-weight and long-
lasting energy source (e.g. battery) and wireless electricity supply technology.
It is also needed to promote competition among different technologies by cooperation and
information sharing among different technology through holding of workshop by research
institutions and by utilizing the award (competition) system such as challenge programs, and
facilitate research and development with the introduction of open innovation.

CHAPTER HEADING
It is expected that the number of the aged 65 years or older would increase by about 7.09 million
over 15 years from 2010 to 2025 and that population aging rate of the entire society (ratio of the
aged to the total population) substantially surges from 23% to 30%, giving rise to an increase in
needs of medical care and nursing.
In addition, the baby boom generation reached 65 years or older in 2012 to 2014 – an increase of
more than one million of the aged per annum. Consequently, the necessary number of care workers
is said to rise from 1.7 million of 2012 to about 2.5 million in 2025. However, it is reported that 70%
of nursing care workers who are currently working are suffering from a backache, calling for
mitigation of the workload at care-giving sites.
In the medical field, minimally invasive and precise-motion surgical robots and similar medical
devices have been developed in recent years and employed at many medical institutions.
PRIORITY AREA: NURSING AND MEDICAL FIELDS

CHAPTER HEADING
Japan is promoting the establishment of integrated community care system, under which people can
receive long-term care, medical care, preventive care, livelihood support and housing in an
integrated manner in communities and can continue to live in their home towns even when they
have come to need long-term care. So the utilization of robots should be in line with this basic policy.
Work environments where nursing workers can provide services with satisfaction will be created by
making the best use of robotic nursing equipment while maintaining the basic concept that care is
given by human hands, and a paradigm shift to enhancing the work efficiency and reducing the
number of workers will be aided by use of robotic nursing equipment at care sites. In the scene of
development, specific needs at care sites will be identified so that highly practical equipment that
can meet the needs at sites will be developed, research and development of such equipment will be
supported, and matching of care sites and development sites will be aided.
In addition, through accumulation of health and life data and communication with old people,
measures to promote introduction of robots with sensor technologies and artificial intelligence will
be pushed forward with an eye on looking after the aged and preventing them from falling prey to a
serious disease such as dementia.
To mitigate the workload of health care workers, efforts will be made to produce robotic wheelchairs
that, making the best use of sensor and network technologies, allow the aged to move around
indoors and outdoors independently and safely.

CHAPTER HEADING
A survey conducted in 2011 by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare with 220 nursing facility
managers and care workers, “Project for Helping Putting Welfare Equipment and Nursing Robots into
Practice”, found that needs of helping the aged transfer or move, excrete, and take a bath, and live
their everyday lives, and supporting the old with dementia were high in the field of supporting
nursing homes. In response, the Welfare of Health, Labor and Ministry and the Ministry of Economy,
Trade, and Industry will decide on important fields of these types of care where problems of using
robotic nursing equipment should be solved by using robot technologies, and move forward toward
solving those problems.
• Transfer support (wearing type)
• Transfer support (non-wearing type)
• Transfer support (outdoors)
• Transfer support (indoors)
• Excretion support
• Watching over those who have dementia (for institution)
• Watching over those who have dementia (for home)
• Bathing support
FIELDS WHERE USE OF ROBOTS SHOULD BE PUSHED (NURSING FIELDS)

CHAPTER HEADING
In the medical field, spread of minimal invasive, precise-motion surgical robots and similar medical
devices that are expected to alleviate the burdens of patients will be propelled.
• Deployment of medical devices as surgical robots
• Expedite procedure to inspect and approve medical equipment
FIELDS WHERE USE OF ROBOTS SHOULD BE PUSHED (MEDICAL FIELDS)

CHAPTER HEADING
Creating safe and stable work environments will be pushed forward by using robots that aid the aged
to lead self-sustaining life by helping them move around when they go out so that they can live in a
region to which they are accustomed even though they need care, and by introducing to medical
sites the nursing robots that mitigate the physical burdens of care workers by making it easy for
those who they look after to transfer. In addition, use of such robots for preventing people from
needing care, rehabilitation, and health promotion will be propelled. Moreover, encouraging
introduction of the robots that are applicable to medical institutions will also be considered.
Objectives to be achieved by the year 2020 are illustrated as follows:
Nursing Field
• The domestic market scale of nursing robots will be expanded to 50 billion yen by 2020 as sales
target
• Awareness of nursing methods using the newest robot technology will be changed to increase the
percentage of people who wish to use nursing robots for providing care to 80% from the current
59.8% and of those who wish to have robots used when undergoing care to 80% from the current
65.1%.
• More than 100 cases of support to put medical care-related equipment using robot technology
will be implemented in 5 years from 2015 to 2020.
OBJECTIVES THAT SHOULD BE ACHIEVED BY 2020 (KPI)

CHAPTER HEADING
Medical Field
• More than 100 cases of support to put medical care-related equipment using robot technology
will be implemented in 5 years from 2015 to 2020.
• The targets of standard total review period from the receipt of application of brand-new
medical device to its approval are to become 14 and 10 months for normal review item and
priority review item, respectively.

ROBOT’S POLICIES
IN JAPAN
PROMOTION
FRAMEWORK AND
STAKEHOLDERS

CHAPTER HEADING
• The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
(MHLW)
MHLW is undertaking the task to support the
practical utilization of the results of the
development of nursing robot based on the
actual needs at nursing sites.
One of the reasons why nursing robots are not
fully introduced and deployed is that there is
no reward from nursing care insurance in the
current system. In order to improve this
situation the “Committee to investigate the
effects of nursing care robot adoption” was
established in the financial year 2017 and the
operation and management is sub-contracted
to the 3rd party think tank institute to analyze
and propose the measures to lessen the
burden of nursing care workers and relevant
issues to be solved. Based on the results and
findings it is scheduled that the long-term care
fees to cover the adoption of nursing robots is
additionally discussed and calculated in 2018.
• The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(METI)
METI is responsible for making the
development of robots in nursing and medical
fields linked to the commercialization in the
market. In cooperation with the MHLW they
are supporting the development of the robots
in nursing field based on the opinions and
needs from the nursing sites collected through
the project of the MHLW “ Project to
accelerate the development of nursing care
robots” focusing on the priority areas in the
nursing fields for the utilization of robots
technology. They are also making long-term
measurement of the effects of the robots in
nursing sites.
The “Project to promote the development and
adoption of nursing robots and tools” carried
out during 5 years from FY 2013 to 2017 will
drive the uplift of market scale of nursing
robots to the level of 50 billion yen.
PROMOTION FRAMEWORK AND STAKEHOLDERS

CHAPTER HEADING
• Japan Agency for Medical Research and
Development (AMED)
AMED was established in 1st April, 2015 with
central role to promote integrated research
and development in the field of medicine, and
organize the appropriate environment for such
research and development. They are
responsible for the combined budgets which
used to be allocated separately to the Ministry
of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology, the MHLW and the METI for the
research and development in the medical field
and are responsible for basic research to
clinical trials, establishing, maintaining, and
providing funding for an environment for
integrated R&D through to practical
application.
Though this series of tasks and responsibilities
from basic research and development to practical
applications they are aiming to realize that the
world highest level of medicine and medical
services is provided and to establish the society
where people can enjoy their long and healthy
life.
The project implemented by AMED is “ the
Project to promote the development and
adoption of nursing robots and tools” where
they are supporting the development,
commercialization and adoption of nursing
robots and tools to assist elderly people and
nursing care workers to lessen their work load,
and they are also organizing and reviewing the
standards to be applied for the adoption of
nursing robots in the nursing sites.

CHAPTER HEADING
• National Institute of Advanced Industrial
Science and Technology (AIST)
AIST is one the largest public research
institutes and focuses on the creation and
practical realization of technologies useful to
Japanese industry and society, and on
“bridging” the gap between innovative
technological seeds and commercialization.
In its Robot Innovation Research Center they
analyze a target industry if robotics can
contribute to innovate it, to develop a protocol
for evaluating the benefit and safety of the
applied robotic devices, and to examine the
results of the application by storing and
analyzing the logs of the robot task.
They are progressing actual research to develop
human symbiotic robot for commercial
production, to promote the innovation of such
industry and to enhance the robotic service to
assist the self-standing of elderly people who
require nursing care, lessen the work load of
nursing care workers, and to assist indoor and
outdoor transfer of weak elderly people.
They are also running their portal site Robotic
Care Devices Portal for nursing robots at
http://robotcare.jp/?lang=en

CHAPTER HEADING
• Japan Robot Association (JARA)
JARA is the industry association to develop
robots with official members of 32 companies
and associated members of 128 companies (as
of 6th June, 2017). They aim to further the
development of the robot manufacturing
industry by encouraging research and
development on robots and associated system
products and promoting the use of robot
technology.

CHAPTER HEADING
THE HEALTHCARE ROBOTICS ECOSYSTEM IN JAPAN
Company‘s
unique
technology
Collaboration
with business
partners
API
Core technologies
(Robotics/Sensing/IoT/Image
recognition/Speech
recognition/AI/Bigdata analysis etc.)
OS/Middleware
Healthcare Robot companies
Healthcare
Provider
・Hospital
・Nursing
facility
Field test
Feed back
Automaker
ICT
Company
Carrier
SME/
Venture
Research
Institution
University
Collaboration
National research and
development investment
AMED/NEDO/JST
Incentive Incentive
Government
Subsidies from ministries
and agencies
Evaluation of public
insurance coverage
Application
Pay
Evidence of
introduction
effects
Panasonic, NEC,
Fujitsu, HITACHI etc.
TOYOTA, HONDA
Softbank, DOCOMO,
KDDI
Cyberdyne, Ory Laboratory,
Innophys, WHILL etc.
AIST,ATR

ROBOT’S POLICIES
IN JAPAN
GOVERNMENT BUDGET

CHAPTER HEADING
Nursing and medicine
Under experiment and
introduction
Project to assist the introduction of nursing robots and to verify the
effects (MHLW) (0.4 billion yen)
Project to accelerate the development of nursing robots
(MHLW) (0.3 billion yen)
Project to review and organize the approval guidance for next
generation medical systems and devices(MHLW) (40 million yen)
Project to assist consultation application, and approval procedures of
innovative medical systems and devices (MHLW) (20 million yen)
Under development and
commercialization of the
technology
Project to accelerate the development and introduction of nursing
robots (METI) (1.7 billion yen)
Project to promote the development of future medical
systems and devices (METI) (5.38 billion yen)
*Project to promote the development of systems and tools to assist the
self-activities of the disabled (MHLW) (0.29 billion yen)
Under development of
next-generation technology
-
Note: METI: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, MHLW: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
THE FY 2016 SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET AND FY2017 ROUGH ESTIMATED
BUDGET REQUEST
GOVERNMENT BUDGET

CHAPTER HEADING
• Project to assist the introduction of nursing
robots and to verify the effects (MHLW)
0.4 billion yen
The purpose of the project is to improve the
productivity with the assistance of nursing
robots by encouraging the introduction of
nursing robot and by verifying the effects of
improving the efficiency of nursing care work
and of lessening the work load of nursing care
staff.
• Project to accelerate the development of
nursing robots (MHLW) 0.3 billion yen
The purpose of the project is to accelerate the
development and introduction of nursing
robots by providing the appropriate support
based on the opinions or advices obtained
through the dialogues between developer and
nursing staff on site.
These opinions and advices are reflected back
to the development of nursing robots.
• Project to review and organize the approval
guidance for next generation medical systems
and devices (MHLW) 40 million yen
The purpose of the project is to shorten the
approval process and to improve the efficiency
of the development of the next generation of
nursing and medical system which are
considered highly demanded and practically
utilized by means of preparing technical
evaluation criteria and guidance for the
approval and making these figures available in
public so that most advanced nursing and
medical systems can be provided without
losing any unnecessary time to the actual
nursing and medical sites.
UNDER EXPERIMENT AND INTRODUCTION
GOVERNMENT BUDGET

CHAPTER HEADING
• Project to assist consultation, application, and
approval procedures of innovative medical
systems and devices (MHLW) 20 million yen
The purpose of the project is to lessen the
load of SME and start-ups financially and in
time-wise for their potential innovative
medical systems to be approved and ready for
commercial use as quickly as possible by
timely advice and consultation and by
reducing the application fees.
GOVERNMENT BUDGET

CHAPTER HEADING
• Project to accelerate the development and
introduction of nursing robots (METI)
1.7 billion yen
The purpose of the project is to support the
development of nursing robots which can be
possibly deployed in volume and to define the
regulations to facilitate the robot to be
introduced without trouble at nursing sites
with priority in cooperation with the MHLW:
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
• Project to promote the development of systems
and tools to assist the self-activities of the
disabled (MHLW) 0.29 billion yen
The purpose of the project is to motivate the
new comers to join and to make
commercialized and diffused the systems
acceptable financially and easy to use for the
disabled.
• Project to promote the development of future
medical systems and devices (METI)
5.38 billion yen*
The purpose of the project is to improve the
quality of medical services, prolong the
healthy life expectancy and to vitalize the
healthcare industry. In order to develop and
commercialize the world top class and
innovative medical equipment and system
based on the robot technology and diagnostic
technique which Japan is advanced for we
should make concentrated efforts on focused
areas such as surgical aid robot, artificial
tissue organs, Less-invasive Therapies,
Diagnostic Imaging, Home healthcare
equipment.
UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY
Note:*The total amount is posted as a robot-related
budget. Including projects other than robots in part
GOVERNMENT BUDGET

TRENDS IN SERVICE
ROBOT IN HEALTHCARE
FIELD
CLASSIFICATION OF
HEALTHCARE ROBOTS BY
PURPOSE

CHAPTER HEADING
Healthcare robots contribute greatly to support or aid those who need nursing care or living aids and
to lessen physical and psychological load of caregiver or caretaker.
In the actual nursing care or living aids caregiver have to support care receiver of the similar weight
to walk together or hold care receiver to move or transfer.
It gives physical burden to caregiver. Toileting aids also give high mental burden. Healthcare robots
will eliminate such burdens and change the nursing site for caregiver more comfortable to work.
They also contribute to make the work or job more efficient and solve the lack of nursing workers. It
is expected also that care receivers may lessen their psychological burden of “Shameful” or “Sorry”
for the aids because they rely not on human beings but on robots.
BENEFITS
CLASSIFICATION OF HEALTHCARE ROBOTS BY PURPOSE

CHAPTER HEADING
There are many kinds of healthcare robots designed for a variety of purposes, but, they are classified
largely into 7 categories. For details please refer to the table 1.
METI and WHLW jointly announced “Priority areas of using robot technologies in the nursing field”
(revised in February, 2014). It is stressed there that out of following 7 fields the support for the
robots to be used specially in the fields from 1 to 5 will create the new market for healthcare robots.
1) Transfer aids (wearable/non-wearable)
2) Mobility aids (outdoor/indoor)
3) Toileting aids
4) Bathing aids
5) Monitoring systems (nursing care homes/private homes)
6) Eating and drinking aids
7) Communication aids
Support for
development
and introduction
of robots from
the Government

CHAPTER HEADING
Application
Transfer Aids (Wearable) ・ Wearable transfer aids are devices that are worn by the caregiver and uses
robot technologies to provide powered assistance to him/her.
・ Reduce the load on the back of the caregiver during transfer assistance.
・ Wearable by oneself without help.
・ Help the user transfer a person, for example, from the bed to the wheelchair
to the toilet.
Transfer Aids (Non-wearable) ・ Non-wearable transfer aids use robot technologies and provide powered
assistance to the caregiver in lifting motions.
・ Operational by one person in transferring the care-receiver.
・ Usable in transferring the person between the bed and the wheelchair.
・ Provide full or partial powered assistance to the caregiver.
・ Require no additional work for the installation, such as building a foundation
for the device.
・ Exclude hanging-type transfer lifts from this category
Mobility aids (Outdoor) ・ This category includes mobile support equipment and walking support
devices that provide mobility and luggage assistance to the elderly outside
their home.
・ A rolling walker that the user can use alone.
・ The device can assist the elderly or other people to walk on their feet.
・ Powered assistance is provided using a motor (propulsion for climbing hills
and braking for descending hills).

CHAPTER HEADING
Application
Mobility aids (Indoor) ・ Indoor mobility aids helps elderly and other physically-challenged people to
get up and down and move around their home. The devices below use robot
technologies and are specifically designed to assist them in going to the
bathroom and getting down on and up from a toilet all by themselves.
・ The devices should be usable by a single person without any help or with
some help from a helper.
・ The devices can assist the elderly or other users to walk on their feet.
・ The devices should be designed for the user to use them when getting up
from a chair in a dinning or living room or getting up from the bed. They
should help the user to get up from a chair-sitting position or a bedside-sitting
position.
Toileting aids ・ Toilet aid devices should be movable and can be placed anywhere in the
room.
・ They should also maximize robot technologies for effective waste treatment.
・ Toilet aid devices should be: Capable of preventing odor problems by
flushing the waste outside the room or remove it into an airtight container or
bag.
・ Movable and be placed anywhere the user wants it in the room.
・・

CHAPTER HEADING
Application
Bathing aids ・ Bathing aids are devices using robot technologies to provide support for
elderly people in a series of motions required for getting in and out of bath
tubs.
・ Be usable by a single person without help or with some help from a helper.
・ Assist care receivers in a series of motions: e.g. getting in and out of the
bathtub, stepping over the rim to soak in the bathtub, etc.
・ Be designed to let the user soak in the bathtub at least up to his/her chest.
Monitoring System (Nursing
care homes)
・ Equipment and platforms using sensor and external communication facilities
to support monitoring of patients at long-term care facilities.
・ Multiple patients can be monitored simultaneously.
・ Allow the sharing of information amongst caregivers within a facility.
・ Usable both in daytime and nighttime.
・ No reliance solely on voluntary actions to seek help by patients (e.g.
pressing a button or calling out).
・ Capable of detecting a patient who has left their bed or is attempting to do
so, and alerting the caregiver.

CHAPTER HEADING
Application
Monitoring (Private homes) ・ Monitoring systems for private homes are devices and platforms that use
robot technologies with sensors and external communication functions to
monitor elderly and other people in private homes.
・ Monitor multiple rooms at the same time.
・ Be usable in bathrooms.
・ Work in the dark.
・ Not be solely dependent on care-receivers’ voluntary actions for help (e.g.
pressing a button or calling out for help).
・ Not require the care-receiver to carry or wear a device with him/her.
・ Send an alarm to the caregivers when the care-receiver falls.
Eating and drinking aids ・ Eating and drinking aids devices are medical device controlled by the user
with disabled upper limbs to provide them mealtime independence and
dignity
Communication aids ・ Communication aids are devices to assist the communication among
members of family, caregiver and care receiver with the voice recognition
technology and through multi-modal interface and dialogue.
・ Pet robot or humanoid robot can give care receivers a healing effect and
contributes to prevent dementia.

TRENDS IN SERVICE
ROBOT IN HEALTHCARE
FIELD
ADVANCED CASES 1
SOFTBANK “PEPPER”

CHAPTER HEADING
Softbank started their medicine and healthcare business back in 2008 and the first service they
offered was the service using 3G mobile communication. Thereafter the evolution in the networking
and mobile terminals encouraged them to go further into medicine and healthcare field with cloud
technology and iPad. Lately they are offering their service with most advanced technology as
humanoid robot Pepper and cognitive computing.
“Pepper”, communication robot developed by Softbank , was released in public from June, 2015 and
the rental business started in Oct, 2015 as “Pepper for biz” at the monthly rental price of 55,000 yen
(Rental of robot 27,500 yen+ Basic plan 27,500 yen).
The applications of Pepper in the healthcare field are expected as encouraging the patients for
medical examination and checkup in the hospital waiting room, asking patients their conditions
before the actual consultation, giving orientation of the hospital facilities, and offering the pastime.
Further applications of Pepper are expected in the scene of addressing or speaking to the elderly at
home and of collaboration with the service in nursing care facilities. More and more enquiries are
coming for possible application in the medical field. It is therefore expected that further potential
application in the medical field are made such as medical consultation and rehabilitation support. In
the case of brain training to prevent dementia the use of Pepper results in many cases in showing
better performance than Tablet PC training.
UTILIZATION OF PEPPER IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD
ADVANCED CASES 1 :SOFTBANK “PEPPER”

CHAPTER HEADING
Source: Document provided by Softbank
Encouraging the patients for medical
examination
Asking patients their conditions before the
actual consultation
Offering the Recreational Activities for the
Elderly
Orientation of the hospital facilities
Are you
suffering
from hay
fever?
Please enter
your
consultation
number
The ward is
on the front
left

CHAPTER HEADING
Softbank is enhancing the better performance and functions of Pepper in partnership with outside
partners. They initiated “Pepper Partner Program” on 1st December, 2015 to provide overall
assistance to such partners as application developer or designer for robots for “Pepper for biz” ,
commercialized model for corporations.
“Pepper Partner Program” is to authorize 3 categories of partners and to assist them, namely, “Robot
Application Partner” who develop robot applications, “Design Partner” who design the user
experiences with robots, “Consulting Partner” who give consultation to the corporations who
introduce Pepper for Biz.
Through this partner program Softbank is organizing the system and infrastructure to assist
developers in a variety of areas and to cope with a wide range of requirements and demands from
corporations who introduce Pepper for Biz.
Applications judged as excellent out of applications developed will be widely promoted for sales to
those corporations who introduce Pepper for Biz through “Robot Applications Market for Biz”.
Currently 5 healthcare robot applications have been authorized and registered.
PEPPER PARTNER PROGRAM

CHAPTER HEADING
Source: Robot Application Market for Biz http://bizapp.robot.softbank.jp/shopbrand/ct13/
Application Name Outline of Application
Bism for Pepper
5,400 yen
（tax included）
Isana.net,inc.
“Bism for Pepper” is the application to measure Physical conditions.
Pepper will give guidance how to measure and the health literacy
Mainichi ROBOREC vol2
19,440 yen
（tax included）
LOGOS INC
“Mainichi ROBOREC vol2” is the application to provide recreation to the
elderly and nursing care receivers mainly at nursing care facilities.
Every process is arranged and performed by Pepper, so no special care is
needed by care giver.
Care-Tree Asobu for Pepper
9,720 yen
（tax included）
Good Tree Co
Care-Tree Asobu for Pepper is the robot application to undertake a part of
nursing care service on behalf of care giver.
The application enables Pepper to communicate with the elderly
and to lessen the work load of care giver.
Kenkou Ookoku Talk for pepper
10,800 yen
（tax included）
Xing Inc.
“Kenkou Ookoku (or Health Kingdom) Talk for Pepper is the robot application
to enable friendly communication between Pepper and nursing care
receivers at nursing facilities
Kenkou Ookoku REC for pepper
10,800 yen
（tax included）
Xing Inc.
Kenkou Ookoku REC for Pepper is the music recreation application to enable
Pepper to encourage the elderly with music
HEALTHCARE APPLICATION FOR PEPPER

CHAPTER HEADING
Not only in the area of recreation support but also in the area of efficiency improvement applications
are developed remarkably. “LYKAON for Pepper” is the solution developed in the joint movement of
Pepper and with face recognition technology. “LYKAON for Peppers” has unique feature and ability of
recognizing faces of nursing care receivers.
It can prevent dementia patient from wandering about and going out without authorization from
nursing site. It does not need to watch up nor restrain them by force It can also release them from
the psychological stress or pressure that they are always under surveillance. As a result work load or
burden of care givers for watching up or searching care receivers who leave without authorization
nursing site and wonder around is greatly reduced. Pepper recognizes the face of care receiver who
are listed as potential wanderer and leave nursing site without any permission and speaks to them by
name and attract their attention for a while to stay as they are when they are about to leave nursing
site. In the meantime proper protection of care receiver is organized and made.
Application of nursing support for Pepper is scheduled for release in April,2017.
EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT APPLICATIONS

“LYKAON FOR PEPPER”
ROBOT APPLICATION
TO RECOGNIZE FACES
OF CARE RECEIVERS
AND PREVENT THEIR
WANDERING
Source: Website of LYKAON Inc.

CHAPTER HEADING
BUSINESS MODEL
For medical facility and Nursing facility
For Personal Use
Softbank
medical facility and
Nursing facility
User
Rental Fee
APP
Rental Fee
Pepper
Softbank User
App Development
Company
Pepper
Fee

TRENDS IN SERVICE
ROBOT IN HEALTHCARE
FIELD
ADVANCED CASES 2
CYBERDYNE INC. “HAL®”

CHAPTER HEADING
CYBERDYNE Inc. was established in June, 2004, as university-originated venture in order to
disseminate the research result of Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai, Chief of “Cybernics” Research Center,
Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, for the benefit of
public.
They have developed the cyborg-type robot HAL® made full use of “Cybernics” technology for the
medical, nursing, welfare and heavy-duty work, entertainment. HAL is named with first initial letter of
words Hybrid Assistive Limb and is cyborg-type robot to improve, support and enhance, bodily
functions. Wearing of HAL® leads to a fusion of “man”, “machine” and “information”. HAL® assists a
physically handicapped person to move and enables them to exert bigger motor energy than usual. It
is expected that scope of functions of HAL ® can extended widely from movement assist in the
welfare and medical field to the support for heavy duty work and for rescue activities in the disaster.
ABOUT CYBERDYNE INC.
ADVANCED CASES 2 :CYBERDYNE INC. “HAL®”

CHAPTER HEADING
When we move the body, we first thinks about the motions in our brain. By thinking “I want to walk.”
the brain transmits necessary signals to muscles necessary for the motions through nerves. In the
healthy body, each muscle is able to receive signals destined from the brain and move as strongly
and fast as so intended.
Signals sent to muscles by the brain leak on the skin surface as very faint signals, so called “bio-
electric signals [BES]”. HAL® is able to read BES by only attaching the originally developed detectors
on the surface on the wearer‘s skin. By consolidating various informations, HAL® recognizes what
sorts of motions the wearer intends.
Even for the handicapped users paralyzed by brain damage, nerve damage, muscle disease including
spinal cord injury and stroke HAL○R can provide the assistance for the training for them to move their
body, sit and get up and walking if bio-electric signals can be detected.
When HAL® has appropriately assisted the motions of “walking”, the feeling “I could walk!” is fed
back to the brain. By this means, the brain becomes able to learn the way to emit necessary signals
for “walking” gradually. This leads to “the important first step” in walking of the physically challenged
person without being assisted by HAL®.
HAL®’S MOTION PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER HEADING
HAL® for Living Support - Lower Limb is the robot for living support for user’s self- support when sit
and stand up, or walking and received the world’s first ISO13482 certificate concerning safety of
personal care robots.
When a person moves its body, the brain sends various signals to muscles via nerves. At that time,
the signals leak out on the skin surface as BES. HAL® for Living Support – Lower Limb Type Model
reads a wearer’s BES and reinforce the lower limb’s muscle power accordingly. Consequently Robot
Suit® assists the wearer to walk, stand up and sit down by self-support of the user.
Status of movement is displayed and checked on the display monitor so that not only care giver or
operator but also HLA○R user can observe visually the training status.
HAL® FOR LIVING SUPPORT (LOWER LIMB)

HAL ® FOR LIVING
SUPPORT (LOWER
LIMB)
Source: Nikken Digital
Healthhttp://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/NEWS/20150413/414026/?ST=health

HAL® FOR LIVING
SUPPORT (LOWER
LIMB) MONITORING
SYSTEM
Source: Web of Cyberdyne Inc.

CHAPTER HEADING
HAL® for Living Support (Lower limb) has its dedicated application software which can be fit and
adjusted to each user. By fine tuning a wide variety of users can be served by HAL® for Living Support
(Lower limb).
• Users with weaker foot power due to the age and injury
• Users with lower limb paralyzed by stroke
• Users partially paralyzed by Spinal cord injury
• Users affected by Parkinson’s disease
• Users affected by related disease with Parkinson’s disease
• Users affected by Myogenic disease
• Users with difficulty to keep body balance etc.
TARGET USERS

CHAPTER HEADING
Cyberdyne Inc. is now offering the products on rental or lease basis but limited only to medical and
care facilities only and not for individual user. Process for introduction is illustrated as below.
PROCESS OF INTRODUCTION OF HAL® FOR LIVING SUPPORT (LOWER
LIMB)
•
Enquiry
By Enquiry Form
on the web or by
Telephone
Visit
Staff responsible
gives detailed
Explanation
Demonstration
To be arranged at
wherever a
customer wished
Contract
With medical /care
facilities (Delivery:
3 months after
order. Build-to-
order system)
Delivery
At the time of
delivery training
course for the
safety use is
organized , and
certificate will be
given for those
who finish the
course and pass
the test.

CHAPTER HEADING
For example, the rental price of double-leg is 550,000 Yen for the initial installation fee and 188,000
Yen for the monthly fee on the 6 months rental.
RENTAL FEE OF HAL® FOR LIVING SUPPORT (LOWER LIMB)
Initial
Installation
fee
Rental Period（Monthly Fee）
6 months 1 year 3 years 5 years
Double-leg 550,000Yen 188,000Yen 178,000Yen 168,000Yen 158,000Yen
Single-leg 400,000yen 139,000Yen 132,000Yen 125,000Yen 118,000Yen

CHAPTER HEADING
HAL® for Care Support – Lumbar Type is wearable robot and mitigates risks for backache of
caregivers, one of their occupational disease, by reducing loads on their lumbar during the assistance
to elderly or disabled people such as the transferring care aid, moving posture care aid, and toileting
aid. By wearing HAL, the caregivers can perform heavy assistances tirelessly. The device assists both
caregivers and care receivers.
As the device is battery-driven, it can be used in various places without restrictions on locations of
use. As a battery lasts 45 minutes after 3 hours recharge and is replaceable and the device is light
[approximately 2.9 kg], the caregiver can work for a long time putting it on.
The device was designed for female caregivers as the main target.
Replying to the many request HAL® for Care Support - Lumbar Type is now designed with water-proof
so that it can be used for bathing service which needs heavy burden on lumber.
Since the announcement in March 2015 this wearable robot has been installed at 75 domestic
nursing care facilities and total 260 devices are in operation. (as of February 2016)
HAL® FOR LIVING SUPPORT (LUMBAR TYPE)

HAL® FOR CARE
SUPPORT (LUMBAR
TYPE)

CHAPTER HEADING
HAL® for Care Support – Lumbar Type is offered in two types, purchase plan and rental plan. In case
of purchase plan the fixed maintenance contract is required during the course of max 5 years.
Purchase Plan：Total price for the initial year of installation = (A) + (C) x (Period in month for
maintenance)
Rental Plan：The rental price varies depending on the contract period and a number of devices. The
rental price includes maintenance support fee.
PRICE/RENTAL FEE OF HAL® FOR LIVING SUPPORT (LUMBAR TYPE)
Name of Device（at the time of
purchase of one device）
Unit Price (tax
included)
(in Yen)
HAL® for Care Support –Lumbar
Type
１ 2,000,000
Initial Installation Fee １ 100,000
Consumption Tax８％ 8,000
Total（Ａ） 2,108,000
Maintenance Fee（Ｃ） Unit (month) Unit （Yen）
Monthly fee／set（ex Tax）１ 20,000

CHAPTER HEADING
HAL® was long approved as medical device in EU, but, the approval has not been given in Japan until
2015.
In November 2015 Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare finally approved HAL® as medical device.
HAL® was the first care robots eligible for the public medical insurance. Since then rental service of
HAL®for Medical Use - Lower Limb Model started.
It is assumed that more than 3 thousands patients or potential care receivers are eligible for use of
this device under public medical insurance. They are those patients who are suffering from rare
neurological and muscle incurable diseases such as ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and Muscular
dystrophy.
APPLICATION OF PUBLIC MEDICAL INSURANCE

CHAPTER HEADING
BUSINESS MODEL
HAL® for Living Support (Lower limb)
Cyberdyne
Nursing facility
User
Rental Fee
HAL®
HAL® for Medical Use
Cyberdyne
Nursing facility
User
Rental Fee
Insurance
Public medical
insurance
HAL®
application
Self-payment
amount
Self-payment
amount

TRENDS IN SERVICE
ROBOT IN HEALTHCARE
FIELD
ADVANCED CASES 3
SHINSHU UNIVERSITY
“CURARA®”

CHAPTER HEADING
Professor Minoru HASHIMOTO of Shinshu University, faculty of Textile Science and Technology has
been long working and studying the control technology of robot which can achieve quick and
accurate control. After moving to the faculty of Textile Science and Technology of Shinshu University
he started the development of wearable robot curara® in 2008.
curara® is Wearable Motion Assist Robot wearable like ordinary cloth using light weight and soft
textile. He progressed the development in the project with the partnership with SANYO Electric Co.,
Ltd. and Harmonic Drive Systems Inc. under 4 years subsidies and support from Japan Science and
Technology Agency (JST).
ABOUT CURARA®
ADVANCED CASES 3 :SHINSHU UNIVERSITY “CURARA®”

CHAPTER HEADING
Challenges of wearable walking support robots are summarized as below. It is expected that these
challenges are met in commercialized robots. For example, wearable robots which must detect
myoelectricity to move the part require the precise positioning of electrode so that it is difficult for
non-professional person to wear such wearable robot.
• Robot is of heavy-weight.
• A patient with wearable robot feels disturbance to the free movement
• Not easy to wear and time-taking
• Only for single function, not covering multiple functions
• Insufficient stability when walking
• Expensive
The important thing is that the wearable robot react the movement of the wearer; a person who
wear the wearable robot. In the daily life it is required that the wearable robot cope with a variety of
movements of the wearer, not only walking but also climb up stairs, lift up something heavy. curara®
is robotic wear which is light wearable and easy to move and to take off. It enables the power of
motor given to each joint. curara® is distinguished itself from others that it realizes the natural and
smooth movement of wearer even wearing curara® as if robot and human being are merged.
CHALLENGES OF WEARABLE WALKING SUPPORT ROBOTS

CHAPTER HEADING
The reason why people can shake hands with each other and play three-legged race is that people
have the ability to adjust themselves with the movement of other people. For example, when walking
on the treadmill people detect the speed of moving belt and judge and adjust the speed and rhythm
of walking unconsciously. This function is produced by neural circuit called CPG (Central Pattern
Generator ) in the spinal cord.
The first feature of curara® is its structure. Robots with own frame, Exoskeletal Robot, can have much
stronger power than human being, but, as explained above, they have problems such as difficult to
move, heavy, taking time and trouble to wear or take off. curara®, Non-Exoskeletal Robot, has the
feature and advantage on the other hand that it is light in weight, is smooth in movement and is easy
to wear and take off as it does not have frame of its own.
The second feature of curara® is its control technology with Neural oscillator. The neural oscillator is
modeling the CPG (Central Pattern Generator ) in the spinal cord. It has characteristic of changing
and adjusting itself to the input from outside with its own frequency. curara® is adopting the tuning
control method that robot and human can adjust and match the movements as curara® can assist or
support the movement by detecting the movement of human with interaction forces between robot
and human, Because of this curara® can offer the feature and advantage that it is easy to wear.
FEATURES OF CURARA®

CHAPTER HEADING
The third feature of curara® is its uniqueness of adopting interaction torque detection method with
sensor technology. In most cases the Biological potential signal is used for wearable robot to detect
the movement of human. This method, however, gives extra burden to stick electrode when wearing
the robot. curara® does not require electrodes to be stuck because it employ the control methods of
using interaction forces between robot and human to adjust its movement with human. It also
reduces the time to wear the robot.

CHAPTER HEADING
NO. 1 FEATURE: STRUCTURE: WEARABLE ROBOT（NON-EXOSKELETAL
ROBOT）
Hard to
move
Heavy weight
Not easy to
wear
(Augmentation)
to transfer the movement of whole robot
Frame to human frame
Easy to move
Light
Weight
Easy to wear
(Rehabilitation)
to support the movement of joints using human
frame
Exoskeletal Robot Non-Exoskeletal Robot
Source: Courtesy of Professor Hashimoto “Challenges and future outlook of wearable robots in the medical and
nursing field”

CHAPTER HEADING
Conventional model of curara® is to attach and fit it’s motor and controller on trousers or pants. The
problem was, however, that it needed substantial time to adjust to the positioning of hip joint and
knee joint. They developed in July 2016 a new pants type curara® which is integrated or in ensemble
with trouser so that wearers can wear and take off curara® wearable robot on their own.
They are now trying to make commercialization of this pants-type curara® for the market.
The first feature of this pants-type curara® is that the time is considerably shortened to wear. As the
positioning of hip joint and knee joint can be adjusted in advance, the time to adjust the positioning
has been reduced by 55%, thus making it possible to wear just in one minute.
The second feature is the improvement of wearing and fitting feeling. When walking, the perimeter
varies, so, in order to follow the change of perimeter the motor is fixed with flexible rubber material.
Rubber material is flexible to keep tightening the motor with reasonable strength and adjust the
perimeter, so, wearers can feel comfortable to wear.
WEARABLE ROBOT “CURARA® PANT-TYPE”, EXPERIMENTAL MODEL

CHAPTER HEADING
CURARA® PANT-TYPE, EXPERIMENTAL MODEL
nursing field”

CHAPTER HEADING
In order to enhance the development of control program to realize more stability in walking by
analyzing the walking patters curara® has been under test to verify the effects and influence of curara
® during the rehabilitation training of stroke patients.
In the round-trip walk for the distance of 10m 3 walking patters are evaluated to record walking time,
step length, and symmetry, namely 1) Without curara® 2) With curara® but no control 3) With
curara® and with control program. Evaluation results show that in every point the pattern 3) are the
best in improving the performance. In the questionnaire many positive opinions or comments are
collected for the utilization of curara® such as “I could walk as I wish”, “No fear or concern” “Felt
supported properly.
EFFECTS OF CURARA®
nursing field”
●Walked as wished? ●Felt concerned ●Felt assisted
Yes,
definitely 0
Yes,
maybe
3
Neither
4
No
1
No,
maybe
0
Yes,
maybe
1
No
12
No,
maybe
0
Neither
2
Yes,
definitely 3
Yes,
maybe
3
Neither
2
No
4
No,
maybe
1

CHAPTER HEADING
Persons for rehabilitation training are mainly Stroke patients. New stroke patients count as 300,000
yearly and 60% of the stroke patients are suffering from aftereffects. The rehabilitation training is
normally phased as Acute Phase, Recovery Phase, and Maintenance Phase. It is planned that curara®
covers the phases from outbreak of illness to Rehabilitation. It is hoped that curara® can be possibly
used also at home supporting the ordinal life there. There are challenges for wearable robot to
provide not only walking assist but also assist for climbing stars or lifting something heavy which are
necessary in a daily life at home, The use of curara® or wearable robots at home for normal living will
open the door for the new opportunities for the wearable robots to contribute to the care receivers.
curara® is designed that a patient can wear by itself, thus reducing the work load of care giver like
physical therapist, and also with the combination of other tools and devices the rehabilitation
becomes more effective to realize the earlier return for patients to the society, which leads to the
favorable results of reducing total cost of social welfare.
They are further trying to verify how curara® can contribute the earlier improvement and recovery
of the patients during the rehabilitation. They are planning to verify the effects of curara® through
walking tests and to identify the stage of recovery and improvement and the best possible measure
for each patient to adopt depending on their status.

CHAPTER HEADING
Shinshu University established their own venture company “Asistmotion” in January 2017. They are
challenging the commercialization of curara® in the market.
They are now in cooperation with business partners, research institutes, and Nagano Prefecture to
improve the performance of curara® specially in further weight saving or reduction. They are now
planning to start their releasing business of curara® to hospitals in 2019, and, in the near future to
expand the business areas to the manufacturing and agriculture industry as well.
ESTABLISHMENT OF VENTURE COMPANY

TRENDS IN SERVICE
ROBOT IN HEALTHCARE
FIELD
INTRODUCTION OF
VARIOUS HEALTHCARE
ROBOTS

CHAPTER HEADING
• Innophys Inc. was established in December,
2013 as university-originated venture of Tokyo
University of Science.
• “Muscle Suit®” developed by Professor Hiroshi
Kobayashi is the wearable exoskeletal robot for
movement assist. It does not use mechanical
motor but artificial muscle “McKibben-style”
which shrinks by strong pneumatic or air
pressure. Supporting power of 25kgf to 35kgf
is created and reduces the burden of user to
lift heavy article or care-receiver. By applying
interface between user and device the user
through blowing a breath into the tube
connected to the device to activate the muscle
is free to use both hands without being
bothered by the activation of the device.
• Rental service is available for nursing sites and
companies. The rental price is 30,000 yen for 2
weeks and 60,000 yen for one month. Rental
period is fixed for the initial period of 2 weeks,
thereafter the minimum rental period is for
one month.
• New device was announced for sale in
February 2017. New “Muscle Suit®” lumber
support Stand Alone is available in 2 versions,
one is “Tight-Fit version” with sales price of
700,000 yen(tax excluded) , and the other is
“Soft-Fit version” at 800,000yen (tax excluded).
TRANSFER AIDS (WEARABLE)
INNOPHYS INC. “MUSCLE SUIT®”
INTRODUCTION OF VARIOUS HEALTHCARE ROBOTS

CHAPTER HEADING
Source: Innophys Inc. web-site
Source: DEJIMONO web site
https://www.digimonostation.jp/0000077669/
(blowing a breath into the tube connected to the device to
activate the muscle)

CHAPTER HEADING
• The system is a new concept of bed combining
electric nursing care bed with electric full
reclining wheel chair. The bed is split to the
wheel-chair. Only one care giver can take care
of the transfer of the care receiver from bed to
wheel-chair or vice versa easily, safely and
smoothly.
1) Care giver do not need to lift the care
receiver, making the transfer aid safe and
smooth without concern of dropping the care
receiver from the bed.
2) During the transfer aid the care giver can
have full watch up of the care receiver without
any unnecessary concern.
3) Operation to separate bed and wheel-chair
is done easily
• It has been observed that efficiency for
transfer work is improved, and number of staff
is halved (2 persons ⇒1 person) , the time
taken for the work has been reduced by 59%.
• The device is intended for use in nursing care
facility. Suggested retail price is 900,000 yen
(Tax excluded, delivery and assembly cost to
be separately charged)
TRANSFER AIDS (NON WEARABLE)
PANASONIC AGEFREE CO. LTD “TRANSFER ASSIST ROBOT RISHONE PLUS”
Source: Corporate web-site of Panasonic AgeFree Co. Ltd

CHAPTER HEADING
• Honda Walking Assist Device is to support
people with weakened muscle to walk
effectively and efficiently with the inverted
pendulum technology. The control computer
activates motors based on information
obtained from hip angle sensors while walking
to improve the symmetry of the timing of each
leg lifting from the ground and extending
forward and backward, and to promote a
longer stride for easier walking.
• The device consists of 3 parts, namely Hip
Frame, Motor, and Femur Frame. Both sides
of Hip Frame are equipped with motors and
the back part of the device contains control
computer and battery.
• Leasing price for the medical and care facilities
is monthly 45,000 yen/device on 3 years lease
contract (including a periodical maintenance
/year and training fees for 2 persons for the
lecture using the actual device.)
• Honda Walking Assist Device have been
installed and in operation at 153 medical and
care facilities (as of 13th May, 2017)
MOBILITY AIDS (INDOOR)
HONDA “WALKING ASSIST”
Source: Web-site of Honda Motor Co., Ltd

CHAPTER HEADING
• Tree is a walking practice aid robot at the
recovery and maintenance phase.
• The device is especially helpful for those
patients who need walking practice after being
affected by paralysis on one side of the body
caused by cerebrovascular disease, disabled
lower limb, and disuse syndrome.
• The target foot position is displayed on the
monitor and instructions are played through
the speaker. Assistance is provided in
accordance with the user’s walking rhythm.
• Settings can be input for each user individually
and the robot accurately operates/gives
instructions according to the settings.
(Settings: foot size, body weight, step length,
stride width, gait speed, etc.)
• Practice data can be recorded and managed.
Even if the trainer changes, users can always
train with an appropriate practice menu .
• Main place for use is Medical and nursing care
facilities. The device is not for the individual
but only for the company. The price is
available only upon request.
MOBILITY AIDS (INDOOR)
REIF CO., LTD. “ASSIST ROBOT FOR WALKING REHABILITATION TOOL TREE”
Source: Website of Reif Co., Ltd.

CHAPTER HEADING
• “WHILL Model C” is the personal mobility
vehicle in completely new category to attract
people regardless whether they are wheel-
chair users or not.
• Special Omni wheel (Front wheel) enable the
omni-directional mobility to go round in
vertical and horizontal directions, spin around
and clear the obstacle up to 7.5 cm.
• The device can be connected with smartphone
via Bluetooth and can be controlled remotely
for fine tuning of the speed, acceleration and
deceleration. The device is also equipped with
the mechanism to guide by voice for safety
operation in case that there appears sudden
uphill in the front and with wireless keys.
• The sale is available at the price of 450,000
yen (No levy) in the website of WHILL.
MOBILITY AIDS (OUTDOOR)
WHILL “WHILL MODEL C”
Source: Corporate web-site of WHILL

CHAPTER HEADING
• This is the walking supporting robot with
robotic and network technology.
• On the upper hill the device activates
automatically the power assist to climb up
smoothly and on the down hill the device can
detect the movement of user to automatically
decelerate the speed. The device also can
detect the level of the speed.
• If the speed gets excessive, the device
activates automatic brake to prevent the
collapse.
• The device records walking distance and
calories consumed and these records can be
monitored and confirmed by smartphone and
tablet. This function is to keep control of the
health. Moreover with the GPS function the
user using this device can be located remotely
by family where and how the user has walked.
• The device is eligible for the public nursing
care insurance and is available on rental basis.
MOBILITY AIDS (OUTDOOR)
RT.WORKS CO., LTD. “ROBOT ASSISTANT WALKER RT2”
Source: Corporate web-site of RT.WORKS co., ltd.)

CHAPTER HEADING
• DFree is the device to predict and notify the
timing of excretion by detecting and
monitoring the movement of bladder with
supersonic waves through the small sensor
affixed by medical tape to user’s lower
abdomen. When the urine is getting full, the
device notifies it to care givers to their
personal computer or tablet, then, user will be
guided to the toilet to avoid incontinence of
urine
• The device’s weight is 20g, continuous
operation time is about 60 hours, recharged
by USB cable. Connection with smartphone is
by Bluetooth.
• Now the device is under development for
commercialization.
• The device is eligible for the public nursing
care insurance and is available on rental basis.
TOILETING AIDS
TRIPLE W JAPAN “DFREE”
Source: Corporate web-site of Triple W Japan

CHAPTER HEADING
• This is the toileting aid robot which can be
fitted to the western-style toilet with washing
function separately at the later stage.
• The robot will tear off a length of toilet paper
and wipe off the water drops remaining on the
ass of the user, thus assisting nursing care
receiver or people with some disability at their
hands or legs.
• The robot is designed to serve for those who
have the difficulty to wipe off the water drop
or to tear off the toilet paper to wipe their ass.
• Price is quoted on request.
TOILETING AIDS
OKADA SEISAKUSHO “RAKURAKU KIRETTO”
Source: Corporate web-site of OKADA SEISAKUSHO

CHAPTER HEADING
• MARO is eating and drinking aids robot to
assist several elderly persons to take meal by
themselves only with the assistance of one
caregiver.
• It is specially designed to assist elderly people
and Parkinson's disease patients who can
hardly enjoy the meal because of the weak
grip strength to hold a spoon and trembling of
the hands.
• The aim of this living aids robot is to provide
care receivers with the confidence that they
are utilizing the robot to take meal with their
own will and that they are being helped by
robot to take meal.
• Under R & D.
EATING AND DRINKING AIDS
MIE UNIVERSITY YANO MECHATRONICS LABORATORY “MARO”
Source: MIE University ,Mechatronics Laboratory,
Professor Kenichi YANO “Development of healthcare
robots to overcome the Super-Ageing Society”

CHAPTER HEADING
• “OriHime” communication robot is a shadow
robot of the people who have difficulty to
travel and visit wherever they wish because
they are busy with parental care or they are
living away from home on business, or they
are hospitalized. “OriHime” is equipped with
camera, microphone and speaker and people
can put “OriHime” at home or office and
operate “OriHime” through internet.
“OriHime” can look around and speak to
people there as if people can actually speaking
with the other people at remote place.
• Rental started from July, 2015. Rental Price is
quoted on request.
COMMUNICATION AIDS
ORY LABORATORY “ ORIHIME”
Source：Web site of Orylab

CHAPTER HEADING
• Toyota presents a new compact-sized
communication partner with the same heart
that won the robot astronaut Kirobo* legions
of fans. While its form may differ from that of
the ultimate companion (the automobile),
Kirobo Mini was created to be able to
accompany its owners everywhere and
communicate with them in a meaningful way.
• Our aim is for Kirobo Mini to communicate
with people through expressions and gestures,
bringing smiles to their faces through daily
exchanges that chart the course of an evolving
relationship.
• Reservation acceptance will be accepted from
WEB only from 13:00 on May 10. The product
will be handed over at the shop and limited to
the area, it will become a part of dealers in
Tokyo and Aichi prefecture.
• The price is 39,800 yen (tax not included) for
the robot itself, 350 yen / month (tax included)
as a special application fee is required
separately.
COMMUNICATION AIDS
TOYOTA “KIROBO MINI”
Source：Web site of KIROBO mini

CHAPTER HEADING
• Dialogue robot capable of training to maintain
and improve the ability of elderly people to
talk.
• Elderly people who can not speak language
properly due to linguistic disorders due to
sequelae such as cerebrovascular disease and
muscle weakness due to aging.
• The Users read the words and short sentences
according to the voice guide of Papero.
• “Papero i ” is scheduled to be offered for
rental this year for enterprises that consider
and deploy services to maintain and improve
the health of elderly languages.
• The price is expected to be several tens of
thousands of yen per month.
COMMUNICATION AIDS
NEC SOLUTION INNOVATORS, LTD. “PAPERO I”
Source： Corporate web-site of NEC Solution Innovators,
Ltd.
Hello！
Let's practice
with me.A,I,U,E,O

FUTURE VIEW OF
HEALTHCARE ROBOT

CHAPTER HEADING
Development and introduction of healthcare robots in Japan has been progressed thanks to the
positive initiative and support from the Government and the cultivation of the market by private
companies. The market scale of healthcare robots in Japan is estimated as 1076 million yen in 2015
with the annual growth of 549.0% against the previous year and is estimated to reach the level of
14,950 million yen in 2020.
Japanese Government, however, announced the target KPI of much bigger scale of domestic
healthcare market in 2020 as 500 billion yen. As it is still too early to see the drastic growth of the
market, we summarize as below challenges to expand the healthcare robots market.
PROGRESS AND ESTIMATES OF THE MARKET SCALE OF HEALTHCARE
ROBOTS IN JAPAN
FUTURE VIEW OF HEALTHCARE ROBOT

CHAPTER HEADING
Source: “Survey results of the market scale of healthcare robots (2016) by Yano Research Institute
Growth vs prev. year %
Amount
Unit: Million yen
vs prev.
year
(Forecast) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate)

CHAPTER HEADING
One of the reasons why healthcare robots have been slow in introduction and deployment is that
actual needs and demands from care givers, care receivers, nursing sites, and their family who are all
involved in daily nursing care have not been properly reflected in the current healthcare robots. It
tends to happen that the research and development institute or development companies are rather
focused on the advanced technology, but, less focused how actually healthcare robots are being used
at sites.
At nursing sites many people tend to be non-engineering and be reluctant to the new innovative
tools or devices.
It is, therefore, required that the usability and accessibility separately from needs and demands
should be considered in the development process taking into consideration their level of information
literacy.
Actually the environment where healthcare robots are used is completely different from that of
research and development institute. Specially such points as “whether the space is enough to
operate the robots” or “whether the robots can actually contribute in the actual nursing site should
be evaluated and analyzed sufficiently.
PROPER PICTURE OF NEEDS AND DEMANDS AT NURSING SITE

CHAPTER HEADING
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare started the project and initiative “Support and subsidy for the
introduction of healthcare robots” where the subsidy with maximum of 3 million yen is paid to those
nursing care sites or companies who introduce the healthcare robots with the cost of more than
200,000 yen. This encourage also the robot development companies to collect the opinions and
views from the users at nursing site how their robots are used.
It is essential and important that through these exercises needs and demands are collected and
reflected back for the improvement of performance of health care robots, and it should be the first
step to take to expand the market for healthcare robots.

CHAPTER HEADING
The largest obstacle is the cost to introduce the healthcare robots.
There is the national nursing care insurance system regulated in Japan and a person who wish to be
eligible for nursing care has to be so authorized and qualified in the assessment by the government
agency. The assessment will judge and decide whether an applicant is eligible for the care and
classify the applicant in the appropriate stage depending on the level of need of nursing care, namely
5 stages from Stage 1 to Stage 5.
For each stage it is specified what kind of maximum nursing care service each applicant can receive.
Nursing care service is compensated by the nursing reward from the budget of is the national nursing
care insurance system. Currently it is regrettable that the use of healthcare robots is not subject to
this nursing reward, so, it is hoped that the decision is made as early as possible
that the healthcare robots can be compensated by this nursing reward to encourage the
expansion of the market.
APPLICATION OF NURSING REWARD

CHAPTER HEADING
Council on Investments for the Future chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is important council to
debate and decide Japan’s growth strategies and on 14th April, 2017 the debate took place on the
theme of “the construction of new medical, nursing care, and preventative health systems”. The
direction of initiatives on “Utilization of Big Data”, “Utilization of AI” and “Promotion of the
introduction of healthcare robots” was presented in the Council. It was decided also that the nursing
reward for the use of healthcare robots would be put on the table for discussion in the course of
Review of nursing reward (review every 3 years) in 2018 taking into consideration the results of study
on the effects of introduction of healthcare robots now undertaken by Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare.
It is appreciated that it encourages further expansion of healthcare robots market if nursing rewards
is authorized to be paid for the use of healthcare robots, but, it is required that the effects of
introduction of healthcare robots are identified and shown properly as an evidence to secure such
authorization. Every efforts and preparations are requested for healthcare robots developing
companies for 2018.

CHAPTER HEADING
Healthcare robots is creating a new market, so, in order to expand new market it is requested and
required by nursing sites or home that the quality and safety is guaranteed and secured, which is one
of the obstacles to prevent the introduction of the healthcare robots there. In Japan the medical
devices is regulated in the “Pharmaceutical Affairs Law” and nursing support devices and tools are
regulated in “national nursing care insurance law”. In Europe and USA there is only one law to
regulate medical and nursing support devices and tools. They are all categorized as medical devices
and tools.
Healthcare robots are not regulated either as medical devices or as nursing support devices, so,
completely new regulations need to be arranged for their safety and reliability.
NEDO, therefore, coordinated the project “Project to develop personal care robots”, and, based on
the results of the projects the proposal and request was made to ISO and finally ISO13482 (Robots
and robotic devices -- Safety requirements for personal care robots) was agreed as international
standards and issued officially on 1st February, 2014.
ISO13482 covers the robots which perform tasks to improve the quality of life of intended users,
irrespective of age or capability and 3 personal care robots are specifically defined namely, mobile
servant robot; physical assistant robot; and person carrier robot.
SECURE THE SAFETY

CHAPTER HEADING
Certificate Authorities in Japan for ISO13482 are two, Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA)
and Japan Electrical Safety and Environment Technology Laboratories (JET).
In Japan increased number of applications has been registered for the safety certificate based on ISO
13482. In order to expand the world market for personal care robots it is required that further safety
measures for users should be secured by specifying more detailed safety requirement categorized in
each type of personal care robots incompletely covered in the current international safety
regulations.
In order to progress this JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) were newly published on 20th April, 2016
to specify the requirements to secure the safety of personal care robots. Based on these JIS
standards the promotional activities are now progressed by Japan to encourage the review ISO
13482 to cover more categorized and detailed specifications.
Thanks to these JIS the standards to regulate the safety and reliability of personal care robots we can
now have clear picture and guide line for the development and commercialization of the healthcare
robots while users are left assured of the safety and high quality of robots.

CHAPTER HEADING
JIS Number outline
JIS B 8445:
Safety requirements for
personal care robots-Robot
and robotic devices
This specify the category of robots and the area of risk source
and risk conditions related to the specified robots because
robots and robotic devices for personal care (hereinafter
referred as Robot) are closely interrelated and jointly working
with human and physical contacts are assumed
JIS B 8446-1:
Safety requirement for
personal care robots-Part 1:
working robots statically stable
and autonomously moving
This specifies the safety requirements for Robots with
autonomous moving capability and with stable self-standing
capability at the power-off condition designed for the purpose
of transporting, cleaning, and guiding work but do not have any
manipulator. mechanism
JIS B 8446-2:
Movement assist robot
wearable with low power
output
This specifies the safety requirements for Robots wearable with
low power output to assist the movements of human, namely
movement assist (stand, sit, walk, run), posture assist (hold
weight, hold upper limbs) working assist (transport, lift up and
down, hold, operate etc.)
JIS B 8446-3;
Self-Balancing person carrier
robot
This specifies the safety requirements for Single- seater robot
with inverted pendulum control system to assist user to move

CHAPTER HEADING
In order to expand the market for healthcare robots they should be much more acceptable for the
nursing care receiver and nursing care giver (nursing care operators, family).
Tokyo Metropolitan conducted awareness survey “Awareness Survey of Tokyo citizens for the policies
for the elderly 2015”. They questioned the potential use intention of nursing robots and obtained
positive replies such as 77.7% positive for the use of monitoring system, 72.7% positive for the use of
mobility aids robots, 69.2% for the transfer aids robot, and finally lowest among others, but 45.7%
positive for communication robots.
Reasons for Negative answers varies depending on the purpose of use. In case of Transfer-aid and
Mobility aid many people are concerned about the cost and safety. In case of monitoring aid negative
answer are focused on the privacy issue. In case of communication robots many people question the
role shared between robots and human. As detailed, there are a variety of opinions and views among
users depending on the purpose of use, so, more careful approach are necessary to make users
accept the robots.
As so explained already, improvement and enhancement has been progressed in national level as far
as healthcare robot’s cost and safety issues are concerned. It is hoped that further efforts are made
to cope with the negative reasons why users are reluctant to use health care robots.
IMPROVEMENT OF USER’S ACCEPTANCE

CHAPTER HEADING
Source: Tokyo Metropolitan “Awareness Survey of Tokyo citizens for the policies for the elderly 2015”.
Positive Negative Don’t know No Reply
①Transfer Aids
(n=2602)
②Mobility Aids
（n=2602)
③Monitoring Aids
(n=2602)
④Communication
Aids
(n=2602)
QUESTIONS FOR THE USE OF NURSING ROBOTS

CHAPTER HEADING
①REASON OF NEGATIVE ANSWER FOR THE USE OF TRANSFER-AIDS
ROBOTS
Expensive Price
No Reply
Safety concern
Reluctant to be cared by the robots
(Family may not want robots)
Difficult Operation
Human care is enough
Others

CHAPTER HEADING
②REASON OF NEGATIVE ANSWER FOR THE USE OF MOBILITY-AIDS
ROBOTS
Expensive Price
Safety concern
Difficult Operation
No Reply
Others

CHAPTER HEADING
Remarks: “Privacy Concern” (Concern if the privacy is properly secured) is applicable only to the question items ③ and ④
③REASONS OF NEGATIVE ANSWER FOR THE USE OF MOBILITY ROBOT
Expensive Price
Safety concern
Difficult Operation
No Reply
Others
Privacy concern

CHAPTER HEADING
④REASON OF NEGATIVE ANSWERS FOR THE USE OF COMMUNICATION
ROBOTS
Remarks: “Privacy Concern” (Concern if the privacy is properly secured) is applicable only to the question items ③ and ④
Expensive Price
Safety concern
Difficult Operation
No Reply
Others
Privacy concern

CHAPTER HEADING
MARKET ACCESS IN JAPANESE HEALTHCARE ROBOTS
Competitiveness of market HighLow
TechnologyReadinessLevel
practical
use
R&D
Toileting
Aids
Bathing
Aids
Eating &
drinking
Aids
Commu
nication
Aids
Monitori
ng
Systems
Mobility
Aids
Transfer
Aids
Market access is easier,
competitiveness is
more severe.
High technical difficulty.
Competitiveness is
lower, if you have
innovative technology.

CHAPTER HEADING
In order to attract industries to foreign-affiliated companies, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry has been implementing the "Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers" since FY 2015.
The Subsidy Program for Global Innovation Centers was supported projects with the promise of
bringing high novelty and added value in the IoT or regenerative medicine fields where foreign
companies work in collaboration with Japanese companies, universities and organizations. The
program assisted with expenses for the establishment of R&D centers, experimental studies and
feasibility studies in Japan for the purpose of introducing technologies and products new to the
Japanese market.
A number of new products and services to be realized through these projects that combine state-of-
the-art technologies of foreign companies and Japanese companies and organizations in various
fields—such as medicine, tourism, agriculture, finance, disaster prevention, manufacturing,
transportation, communication and architecture—are expected to give birth to true innovation in
Japan capable of addressing societal problems (e.g. resolving the labor shortage, improvement of
productivity, sophistication of industries and reduction of medical expenses). This program was
conducted from January 2016 to March 2017 under the 2015 supplementary budget.
REFERENCE: PROMOTION TO ATTRACT FOREIGN BUSINESSES
REFERENCE

CHAPTER HEADING
Company
name
Nationality
Industrial
Field
Project
category
Partners, collaborators,
cooperating organizations
Contents
GE
Healthcare
Japan
Corporation
USA
IoT
(Manufacturi
ng, medicine)
Experimental
study
•Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
•Okabe Marking Systems Co.,Ltd
•DAIKO DENSHI TSUSHIN,LTD.
•Keepdata Ltd.
Improvement of factory
productivity and asset
optimization in hospitals
using industrial IoT platform
and sensing technology
Siemens
Healthcare
K.K.
Germany
Regenerative
Medicine
Experimental
study
•Kyoto University
Monitoring of regenerative
medical treatment by latest
7T-MRI.
Philips
Electronics
Japan, Ltd.
Netherlands
IoT
(Medicine)
Experimental
study
•Nagasaki University
•Kobe University
•Computer System Laboratory
Co., Ltd.
Development of remote
digital pathology report
system
Philips
Electronics
Japan, Ltd.
Netherlands
IoT
(Medicine)
Establishment
of global
innovation
center,
experimental
study
•Showa University Hospital
•Showa University Toyosu
Hospital
•NEC Networks & System
Integration Corporation
•Daishin-Giken Co., Ltd.
•Ryoyo Electro Corporation
Research and development
of remote intensive care
patient management
program
SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR GLOBAL INNOVATION CENTERS COMPANY LIST
(EXCERPT)
Source: JETRO “Subsidy Program for Global Innovation”.
REFERENCE

CHAPTER HEADING
Philips Electronics Japan, Ltd. set up a research
and development base of remote intensive care
patient management program within Showa
University.
The intensive care unit (ICU) is connected to the
control center and remotely monitor the patient
status / data (biometric information, medication
history, information from two-way video camera,
etc.).
This system can estimate the patient‘s condition
and inform the doctor by using unique
algorithm created based on enormous clinical
data.
REFERENCE
Source: JETRO “Subsidy Program for Global Innovation”.
Source: http://www.philips.co.jp/
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS JAPAN, LTD. “ESTABLISHMENT OF GLOBAL
INNOVATION CENTER, EXPERIMENTAL STUDY”

Teppo Turkki
Counsellor for Science, Technology
and Innovation
Tekes Tokyo
teppo.turkki@tekes.fi
Kazuko YUMA
Chief Fellow
Institute for International Socio-
Economic Studies (IISE)

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