Press Release for the Establishment of AI Robot Association (AIRoA)

The AI Robot Association (AIRoA), a general incorporated association (Chairman: Tetsuya Ogata, Location: Bunkyo, Tokyo), was established in December 2024 with the aim of creating a robot data ecosystem through the fusion of AI and robotic technologies. From the fiscal year 2025, the association will begin full-scale activities, and we would like to report that the first media press conference for the establishment of AIRoA was held on March 27, 2025.

■Background of Establishment
In recent years, with the evolution of AI technologies, there has been a growing need for foundational models that enable large-scale data integration and efficient learning in the robotics field. Currently, the market lacks a framework that allows for the sharing and utilization of such large-scale data, leading to inefficiencies as each company and research institution handles data separately.

To address this, AIRoA promotes open and large-scale data collection and the development and publication of foundational models across industries. The association aims to build a scalable robot data ecosystem that will contribute to the realization of advanced, general-purpose robots. With the establishment of AIRoA, we expect to accelerate innovative technological development and societal implementation in the robotics industry and enhance Japan's international competitiveness in this field.

Establishment Press Release:
The AI Robot Association (AIRoA) has started its activities with the goal of building a robot data ecosystem in the AI × robotics sector.

■Details of the Event
This event was co-hosted by AIRoA and the Waseda University Next-Generation Robotics Research Institute AI Robotics Laboratory.

At the beginning of the event, we were honored to hear words from Professor Aiji Tanaka, President of Waseda University, and Professor Teruo Fujii, President of the University of Tokyo, who has become a Special Advisor to AIRoA.

In the first part of the event, a press conference was held to announce the establishment of AIRoA, and in the second part, a panel discussion featuring seven AIRoA directors took place.

First Part: AIRoA Press Conference

• Opening Remarks by AIRoA Chairman, Tetsuya Ogata

• Overview of the Association by AIRoA Director, Aiko Nogi

• Development Activities of AIRoA by AIRoA CTO, Tatsuya Matsushima

• Q&A Session

• Robot Demonstration (10:45-11:00)

Second Part: Panel Discussion on the Need for AI Foundational Models for Robots

Additionally, demonstrations of the Human Support Robot (HSR) and AIREC-Basic, which are expected to be utilized within AIRoA's robot learning ecosystem, were held, followed by a photography session.

Member Companies
As of March 2025, the following companies are members of AIRoA. (Listed in alphabetical order)

Regular Members (14 companies)
These companies have the voting rights to influence the direction of the design and development of foundational models.

• ABEJA Inc.

• GMO Internet Group Inc.

• KDDI Corporation

• PKSHA Technology Inc.

• SB Intuitions Inc.

• Telexistence Inc.

• Kawada Technologies Inc.

• Sakura Internet Inc.

• Toyota Motor Corporation Frontier Research Center

• Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

• NEC Corporation

• Fujitsu Limited

• Matsuo Laboratory Inc.

• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Development Members (8 companies)
These companies contribute to the development of robot foundational models through support.

• Algomatic Inc.

• FastLabel Inc.

• Jizai Inc.

• Preferred Robotics Inc.

• ugo Inc.

• RT Inc.

• Connected Robotics Inc.

• Tokyo Robotics Inc.

[For inquiries about membership]

please contact: Email: info@airoa.org

Additionally, the event was covered by various media outlets, such as:

https://businessnetwork.jp/article/26728/

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250327/k10014762371000.html

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250327_18/

https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2001880.html

https://txbiz.tv-tokyo.co.jp/wbs/newsl/post_315018