Company News
Sep 23, 2019
British Robotic Hands Programmed for Success in Japan
Published 23rd September 2019
- From: Business Leader
- London-based Shadow Robot Company are celebrating international success as they announce export wins worth £783,000 following support from the Department for International Trade (DIT) as International Trade Secretary Liz Truss lands in Tokyo.Experts in the field, the company has worked with some of the world’s leading science and technology organisations, including NASA, GSK, Siemens, MIT and Qualcomm.Now, the company has turned their focus to Japan where they have just secured a contract with a large industrial client in Japan worth £150,000.Shadow Robot is also participating in a development project with a well-known Japanese corporation that has already brought in half a million pounds and is expected to do the same over the next 6 months.The company produce the world’s finest anthropomorphic dexterous robotic hands which have been used as a testing tool for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as well as in research and development at Tokyo and Akita universities.Shadow’s teleoperation technology enables remotely operated robots to be used for a variety of sensitive and risky tasks such as for use with nuclear-decommissioning operators and in disaster response teams.The company are now building up to a high-profile consumer electronic event in Tokyo in October, CEATEC, where they will be launching their new Tactile Telerobot, showcasing the best of British technology on a Japanese corporate stand.Rich Walker, Managing Director of the Shadow Robot Company said: “Japan is a key target market for us, there is a solid business culture and the country has a great respect for investing in exciting and cutting-edge technology such as that used in our products.“We have found that the nation takes a very long-term view of business and it is refreshing to see how Japan is open to exporting innovation and expertise from abroad.
“Thanks to DIT’s support we have secured new deals overseas and have further opportunities on the horizon. Our DIT International Trade Adviser (ITA) has been an invaluable source of information over the years and provided us with extensive support such as alerting us to trade shows and trade mission events, providing us with embassy contacts and trusted advice on breaking into new markets.”
This news comes as the International Trade Secretary Liz Truss visits Tokyo this week to launch her ‘call for input’ to underline the government’s commitment to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.
The UK and Japan have already committed to seeking an economic partnership which is just as ambitious, high standard and mutually beneficial as the existing EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). We expect a new partnership would go even further in areas of shared interest.
International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said: “I am in Tokyo today to deliver the message that the UK is ready to trade. Businesses should be reassured that there is huge political will on both sides to begin negotiating a new free trade agreement with Japan as soon as possible.
“The Shadow Robot company are a great example of a company flying the flag for British expertise and innovation and shall continue to do so for years to come.”
The call for input allows businesses, interest groups and members of the public across the whole of the UK to tell the government what their priorities are for our future trade relationship with Japan.
Japan is the world’s third largest economy and in the last year alone and trade between the UK and Japan was worth £29.5bn last year, up 11% on 2017. It is estimated that there are nearly 1,000 Japanese firms based in the UK, employing over 150,000 people.