MegaChips Corporation and Acumino Inc. have established Japan’s first demonstration environment for AI-powered robot worker solutions, reflecting a deeper partnership aimed at easing the country’s acute labor shortage and driving industrial productivity.
The facility, located at MegaChips’ premises, showcases Acumino’s hardware-agnostic, scalable AI robotics system. The platform is designed to transfer human skills directly to robots, enabling manufacturers and service providers to test and adopt automation solutions in real-world settings. By creating a practical environment for proof-of-concept demonstrations, the companies hope to accelerate adoption across multiple industries, including manufacturing, logistics, and services.
The system can shorten automation deployment from months to weeks, according to the companies. In certain cases, workflows can be reconfigured daily, allowing robots to adapt dynamically to shifting requirements. This flexibility eliminates dependence on individual workers for repetitive or skill-specific tasks, while improving productivity, reducing costs, and addressing skill gaps.
Japan’s rapidly aging population and shrinking workforce have heightened demand for technologies that can sustain productivity levels. Automation and robotics have become strategic priorities for companies under pressure to fill labor shortages while remaining competitive globally.
“Robot workers equipped with hardware-agnostic, scalable AI systems can significantly enhance production and address the pressing challenges many companies face,” said Tetsuo Hikawa, chief executive officer of MegaChips. “The environment we have built with Acumino is the optimal place to feel that potential. We will continue contributing to industrial growth in Japan and globally, while advancing toward a more comfortable future.”
Acumino, a robotics company specializing in AI-driven skill transfer, emphasized the milestone for its entry into Japan. “By establishing this demonstration environment, we are enabling companies to see firsthand how quickly robots can be trained, deployed, and adapted to real-world tasks,” said Minas Liarokapis, Acumino’s chief executive officer. “Japan is at the forefront of industries grappling with labor shortages, and we believe our solutions can turn this challenge into an opportunity for innovation and growth.”
The collaboration will initially focus on industrial automation but is expected to expand into sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and agriculture, where shortages are particularly severe. Both companies said they plan to customize system configurations and scale deployments to accelerate robotics adoption across business segments.
The demonstration site is set to serve as a springboard for the broader rollout of AI-powered robot workers in Japan, aligning with the government’s goals of leveraging digital technologies to offset demographic headwinds.
