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Gov't panel projects commercialization of nurse robots in 5 years+
[March 25, 2009]

Gov't panel projects commercialization of nurse robots in 5 years+


(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOKYO, March 25_(Kyodo) _ Robots designed to provide day-care and nursing services will be put into practical use at Japanese households in as soon as five years, a government panel said Wednesday.



Based on the projection, the government and the private sector will accelerate their efforts to formulate common safety standards for nurse robots in the years ahead, industry ministry officials said.

To create a new robot market, the officials said the establishment of safety standards by a third party in a neutral way will be essential.


The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, a government-backed entity, will launch a new five-year project in April that has a strong focus on improving safety technology and standards of the next-generation robots, they said.

A report prepared by the panel at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recommended that the government make efforts to turn the envisioned domestic standards into international ones in the future.

Japan's view is that robots will play a key role in supporting the country's rapidly aging population.

As about 70 percent of industrial robots in the world are made by Japanese companies, the government is hoping that expansion of the industry will also lead to a promising source of economic growth.

In Japan alone, the robot market is expected to total around 6.2 trillion yen in 2025, of which 4.2 trillion yen will likely be linked to day care and nursing, according to the officials.

Copyright ? 2009 Kyodo News International, Inc.

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