Robotics & Regional Initiative Networking Group (RING Project) Established to Solve Regional Labor Shortages

1. Robotics & Regional Initiative Networking Group (RING Project)

1. Background

The improvement of labor productivity using robots is key to solving the increasingly serious problem in Japan of workforce shortages.

Utilizing robots requires professional knowledge and experience, but most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have yet to create environments to enable the use of robots, hindering their widespread adoption.

Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has established the Robotics & Regional Initiative Networking Group (RING Project) to accelerate efforts for robot adoption in collaboration with local municipalities, support organizations, and robot-related institutions. An inaugural meeting was held to mark this occasion.

The RING Project will establish a nationwide system to support each region to adopt robots, develop an effective support system, and share knowhow of such support nationwide, thereby realizing sustainable regional societies through utilizing robots effectively across the country despite the labor shortage.

Image of the Robotics & Regional Initiative Networking Group

Examples of robot adoption projects

• Food factory support by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry
• Demonstration of robot operation for Sagamihara ROBOT SUPPORT CENTER

2. Regions

• List of areas participating in the Robotics & Regional Initiative Networking Group (in Japanese)(PDF:420KB)

3. Activities

1. Support localities to introduce robots
2. Foster robot coordinators
3. Conduct robot system competitions for solving local social issues
4. Hold events in order to create opportunities to introduce robots and other devices

2. Outline of Inaugural Meeting

1. Date

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday, June 30, 2025

2. Venue

12th floor, Takadanobaba Center Building (1-31-18 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)

3. Schedule

1. Opening remarks
   • Professor Akihiro Matsumoto, Toyo University
2. Guest speeches
   • Mr. Tomoaki Ishizone, Director, Robotics Policy Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
   • Mr. Ichiro Abe, Improvement for Stable Procurement of Ingredients and Quality Management Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
3. Photo session
4. Agenda (board members, regulations, action plan, budget, etc.)
5. Closing remarks
   • Mr. Kazuyuki Tagawa, Vice-chairperson, Japan Machinery Federation

3. Secretariat of the RING Project

The Robot Revolution & Industrial IoT Initiative (RRI) serves as the secretariat for the RING Project. Please refer to the RRI’s website if you are interested in our initiatives for local municipalities, support organizations, several groups, and private companies.

• Robotics & Regional Initiative Networking Group (RING Project) (Robot Revolution & Industrial IoT Initiative) (in Japanese)

Division in Charge

Robotics Policy Office, Manufacturing Industries Bureau