Chinese robotics firm builds new base

JAKA Robotics Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Chinese robotics company JAKA Robotics, has recently launched a new base in Japan to expand its market presence and reinforce its position within the global high-end industrial supply chain, amid the rising demand for industrial automation.

The new base is located in Toyohashi, a city in Aichi Prefecture.

"We chose Toyohashi to be closer to our Japanese customers, respond swiftly to their needs, harness local industrial and human resource advantages, and foster technical collaboration to raise our brand's profile," said Makoto Watanabe, vice-president of JAKA Robotics Japan.

The Toyohashi site will function as a scenario-based robot technology center, promoting localized applications of robotic technologies. It will also feature a local solution verification platform to develop flexible systems for industries such as automotive, 3C (computer, communication, and consumer electronics), and new energy sectors.

Additionally, JAKA Robotics Japan plans to foster regional talent development through partnerships with institutions like Toyohashi University of Technology, strengthening industry-academia-research collaborations to cultivate specialized talent.

"We look forward to the strong vitality that JAKA Robotics can bring to our regional economy through close collaboration with local and domestic companies," said Naoto Nagasaka, mayor of Toyohashi. "What's even more exciting is that JAKA is actively advancing industry-academia collaborative research with local universities, which we believe will not only cultivate highly creative and technically skilled professionals, but also inject new driving force into the city's development."

In recent years, due to factors like Japan's declining labor force and insufficient adoption of robots by small and medium-sized enterprises, Aichi Prefecture has implemented training sessions aimed at SMEs to enhance the skills necessary for the utilization of robots. Against this backdrop, it is believed that the entry of JAKA Robotics into the prefecture carries significant importance, said Takeaki Katou, general manager of the trade and industry division under Aichi Prefecture's Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The Chinese high-tech company, specializing in next-generation collaborative robots, first entered Japan by establishing a technical center in Tokyo in 2021, followed by the founding of JAKA Robotics Japan in Nagoya in 2023.

In Japan, demand for automation solutions is rising, with a growing number of inquiries about robotic deployment in the manufacturing sector.

The experience and insights gained from operating in Japan will be leveraged across Chinese and other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, significantly enhancing JAKA Robotics Japan's technological capabilities and enabling the company to better serve a broader range of customers, Watanabe said.

Speaking on JAKA's roots, he emphasized that the company's "Chinese DNA" empowers it to swiftly translate innovation into market-ready products, thanks to a rich talent base, significant R&D investments and a robust industrial ecosystem.

"By capitalizing on China's extensive market scale and industrial experience, we continuously iterate and optimize technologies, carving out a distinctive path in high-end manufacturing innovation."