Qualcomm Technologies has revealed an intent to establish a long-term investment initiative designed to accelerate innovation across Japan’s tech ecosystem.
Qualcomm Technologies’ investment framework is designed to support the entire robotics innovation lifecycle, from early stage technology development through to commercial deployment and global expansion. The firm aims to work alongside industry, academia and startups to help position Japan at the forefront of the intelligent robotics era.
The initiative combines four strategic pillars spanning innovation, ecosystem development, commercialisation and deployment to help accelerate the development, deployment and global scaling of next-generation robotics services. It is also aligned with Japan’s national policy priorities to address labour shortages, strengthen industrial competitiveness and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics across key industries.
In what is described as “a cornerstone” of this effort, the technology firm will establish the Qualcomm Japan Robotics Centre, a hub for collaborative research, development, ecosystem collaboration and engagement, workforce enablement, and robotics innovation. Among its aims will be advancing innovation, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and accelerating the development and deployment of next-generation physical AI and robotics offerings.
An ecosystem scaling programme is designed to accelerate ecosystem growth by providing startups, developers, researchers and industry with access to Qualcomm Technologies’ products, technical expertise, enablement resources and what could be collaborative innovation opportunities.
A global go-to-market accelerator is designed to help Japanese robotics innovators scale beyond domestic markets by connecting them with global customers, partners and deployment opportunities.
Finally, a lighthouse initiative is designed to support the deployment of flagship physical AI initiatives that demonstrate the transformative potential of next-generation robotics and intelligent automation across Japan.
Organisations supporting the initiative include AI Robot Association, Amatama, APTO, Fanuc Corporation, Fixstars Corporation, Fujitsu, Kawada Technologies, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, KDDI Corporation, Minebea Mistumi, NEC Corporation, NTT Docomo, Panasonic Industry, Preferred Networks, Robotics, Sony Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation. In addition, academic institutions such as The University of Tokyo’s Fukui Lab will help support research, talent development and next-generation robotics.
Nakul Duggal, executive vice-president and group general manager of automotive, industrial and embedded internet of things and robotics at Qualcomm Technologies, stressed how long Japan has been a global leader in robotics and industrial innovation.
“Through this investment initiative and the establishment of the Qualcomm Japan Robotics Centre, we are intending to create a foundation for deeper collaboration across industry, academia and startups,” he said. “Together, we aim to help accelerate the development, deployment and global scale-up of next-generation physical AI and intelligent robotics solutions.”
Amatama CEO Yuichi Kachiyama added: “Physical AI will not scale on cloud compute alone. Intelligence has to be arranged hierarchically inside the machine: at the periphery where the sensors sit, at the intermediate layer where coordination happens, and at the centre where intent is formed.
“Through the Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators, we have already completed a proof of concept for nHOS on Qualcomm Dragonwing AI 100 Ultra and confirmed its feasibility. We look forward to extending that work at the Qualcomm Japan Robotics Centre, and to proving out from Japan an open foundation for robotics that the world can build on.”
