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Call for applications for The 4th Robot Award
- METI to recognize robots with the potential to contribute to the future market -

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is striving to develop the robot industry to nurture it to become a key industry in the future.

As part of this effort, METI will present “The 4th Robot Award” to recognize robots that excel the most in terms of their contribution to or potential for future market development. The program aims to foster innovation in robotics technology, expand the applications of robotics technologies, and arouse demand for such technologies.

If you wish to apply, please visit the official website for the 4th Robot Award and read the application procedure (http://www.robotaward.jplink). *The application period is from August 9 to September 30.

1. Outline

METI is striving to develop the robot industry with the aim of growing it to become a key industry in the future.

As part of this effort, METI has been conducting the Robot Award program in cooperation with the Japan Machinery Federation (JMF) since FY 2006 to select robots at excel the most in terms of their contribution to or potential for future market development and to present them with the Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Award. For the 4th Robot Award this year, applications will be accepted from Monday, August 9.

2. Application and selection procedures

(1) Eligibility

A robot is defined as an intelligent mechanical system that incorporates three technological elements: sensing, intelligence and control, and drive. All robots, as well as their parts and software, that have provided outstanding service in Japan during the target period*1 are eligible for application by the recommendation of either the owner or others.

(i) Service Robot category
Robots designed for service in offices, homes and public facilities
(ii) Industrial Robot category
Robots designed to take part in manufacturing processes on the shop floor, such as factories
(iii) Public and Frontier Robot category
Robots designed to work for special purposes, such as survivor search and recovery operations at disaster sites and space and deep-sea exploration
(iv) Parts and Software category
Parts and software used in robot manufacture

*1: From September 2008 to September 2010.

(2) Application

The official website has opened (http://www.robotaward.jp). Applicants should first make an entry via this website, then download and fill out an application form, and submit it by postal mail together with reference materials (for example a video, etc.). For more information, please read the application procedure posted on the official website.
Applications are accepted from Monday, August 9 to Thursday, September 30 (date of postmark).

(3) Selection

A jury consisting of experts evaluates the applications from the viewpoint of their contribution to and potential for future market development. The selection criteria consist of aspects such as (a) social needs, (b) value from the user’s point of view, and (c) technological innovativeness.

In the first screening, the jury selects about ten First Prize winners (one to four in each category) based on application documents and videos. In the second screening, the winners of the 4th Robot Award and the Best SME Venture Prize are determined, based on a technical evaluation separately performed by technical advisors and presentations by applicants (developers, etc.). At the same time, the winners of the Japan Machinery Federation President Award, the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Award, and the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Chief Executive Director’s Award will be selected. Any robot that has missed the Robot Award by a narrow margin will be given the Jury’s Choice Prize by the consensus of the jury.

(4) Award presentation and exhibition

A First Prize winner that is found to be the most outstanding will receive the 4th Robot Award (Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Award). Among the small and medium enterprise (SMEs) and venture companies*2 granted the First Prize, one that is found to have produced an excellent robot with flexible ideas unique to SMEs will receive the Best SME Venture Prize (Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director-General Award). The Japan Machinery Federation President Award, the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Award, and the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Chief Executive Director’s Award will also be presented to those selected from the First Prize winners.

First Prize-winning robots will be on public display and perform demonstrations at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo), where the award ceremony will take place.

*2: These refer to small and medium enterprises defined by Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Small and Medium Enterprise Basic Law, but do not include subsidiaries of large companies.

3. Future schedule

August 9 (Mon.) Commencement of application
September 30 (Thu.) Closure of application
Mid-November Announcement of First Prize winners
November 26 (Fri.) Announcement of winners of METI Minister’s Award and other awards, and award ceremony (at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation)
November 27-28 Exhibition (public display) and symposium

Release Date

August 9, 2010

Division in Charge

Industrial Machinery Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau