Toward the Social Implementation of Care Technology: The Role of Academia
and the Future Enabled by Industry-Academia Collaboration
[Profile of Professor Tomohiro Shibata] Graduate School of
Bioengineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology; Chair of the Care Robot Research Committee, The Robotics Society of Japan.He is dedicated to accelerating innovation in caregiving by striving to establish “Caregiving Robotics,” a discipline that systematizes the social implementation of caregiving robots as an academic field. He is also actively engaged in field-based demonstration research and support for living labs.
In Japan, where the declining birthrate and aging population are accelerating, the social implementation of care technology is an urgent issue. However, there are many cases where, even when excellent technologies are developed, they have not yet been widely adopted in actual care settings. What role should academia play to change this situation?Professor Tomohiro Shibata of Kyushu Institute of Technology is working tirelessly to establish “care robotics,” a field that transcends engineering to span multiple disciplines including medicine, welfare, business, and the social sciences, through collaboration with industry, academia, and frontline practitioners.In this interview, he spoke candidly about the current state and challenges facing academia in the field of care technology, as well as the ideal approach to collaboration.
1. About the Specialized Committee on Care Robot Research [*1]
―― What was the purpose behind establishing the Specialized Committee on Care Robot Research? The
committee’s objective is to establish “care robotics” as an academic discipline. We aim to systematize this field as an academic discipline necessary for the societal implementation of care robots. While conventional robotics research has focused primarily on the development of core technologies, that alone has not been sufficient to drive widespread adoption in the field.We believe an integrated approach—encompassing practical settings, institutional frameworks, and culture—is essential. To be honest, however, our activities to date have not fully succeeded in developing this field into a full-fledged “academic discipline,” and we feel a sense of urgency that we must now focus our efforts on achieving that goal.
With the “2040 Problem” looming, Japan’s long-term care system could face truly dire circumstances in the future, so we must act quickly.
[※1]「介護ロボット学」を体系化しつつ、イノベーションを加速することを目的として設立された組織 https://sites.google.com/view/rsj-ncr/%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0
―― What kinds of researchers and professionals from which fields are participating? Half of
the committee members are researchers in robotics and AI, while the other half consists of experts and practitioners from various fields such as healthcare, nursing care, social welfare, and business management.
Specifically, we have a very diverse group of members, including certified social workers, former engineers from manufacturing companies, and individuals who have gone on to serve as city council members.Half of
the committee members are researchers in robotics and AI, while the other half consists of experts and practitioners from various fields, including healthcare, nursing care, social welfare, and business management. Specifically, the committee includes a very diverse group of members, such as certified social workers, former engineers from manufacturing companies, and individuals who have gone on to serve as city council members.
Robot scientists alone cannot achieve societal implementation. By bringing together diverse forms of knowledge, we aim to systematize that knowledge with a view toward societal implementation.
―― What kinds of activities does the committee carry out? There are
two main areas of focus.
First, as part of our academic activities, we hold an organized session every year at the annual conference of the Robotics Society of Japan to share and discuss real-world case studies and demonstration results.Regarding this annual conference, last fiscal year (Reiwa 7), we opened it up to non-members of the Robotics Society, making it easier for professionals from the long-term care sector and the private sector to participate. We believe that sharing a common language and understanding each other’s cultures are at the heart of innovation, and the conference serves as a venue where diverse participants can learn about each other’s worlds.
Another key activity is our study group. At least twice a year, we invite experts from various fields to engage in in-depth discussions. What’s interesting is that, even though we’re part of a robotics society, our discussions often focus more on social implementation and management than on technical topics. In this study group, we avoid using the word “failure” and place great importance on the principle of sharing all “experiences” as learning opportunities.
2. The Role of Academia and Japan’s Strengths in the Field of Care Technology
―― What role do academia and researchers play in the field of long-term care? The role
of researchers is not limited to simply developing advanced technologies. I believe that, particularly in the field of long-term care, it is crucial to establish design principles that ensure technologies are suitable for society, and to gain a deep understanding of the challenges faced on the front lines, with a view toward evaluation, implementation, and operation.
I also feel that academia has a role to play in creating a “common language.” Engineers often don’t understand the specialized terminology used in long-term care, while care workers are often confused by technical jargon. To bridge this gap, I believe it is an important part of our job as academics and researchers to serve as a bridge that fosters mutual understanding.
―― What kinds of challenges and themes are currently attracting attention among researchers? Areas such as
“Human-Centered Robotics,” “Assistance as Needed,” and “the development of objective evaluation metrics using data science” are currently in the spotlight.“Assistance as Needed” support refers to an approach that, rather than fully automating or standardizing assistance, focuses on “providing only the necessary support and not providing support where it is not needed.”
Furthermore, from a social science perspective, topics such as the design of implementation and operational processes, human resource development, and organizational transformation are rapidly gaining importance. In other words, it is not just the performance of robotics technology itself, but rather the creation of systems to ensure that the technology is “put to use” that is now the central focus for researchers.
―― What do you consider to be the characteristics and strengths of Japan’s care technology? Also, what initiatives do you think are necessary for expansion overseas?
Japan’s greatest strength lies in being a “pioneer in addressing challenges” and in the accumulation of experience and a proven track record gained from grappling with these challenges over many years.With more than 25 years of experience operating the Long-Term Care Insurance System and over 13 years of continuous efforts in care robotics since 2012, Japan is leading the world in terms of experience with social implementation.
On the other hand, a major challenge facing Japan is that, even when it possesses outstanding technology, there are far too many cases where that technology fails to translate into commercialization or business success. For example, in the field of humanoid robots, Japan was a global leader in the 2000s, but today it has fallen behind both technologically and commercially.
We believe that simply exporting care robot technology is insufficient for our global expansion; rather, we need to package and provide systems, operational procedures, and training to overseas markets.In other words, it is crucial to roll out models that have been successfully implemented in Japanese society while customizing them to suit the specific circumstances of each country. To achieve this, collaboration with overseas partners is essential, and we must also establish a structure that allows us to operate strategically with a small team by leveraging AI and robotics.
3. The Significance and Challenges of Collaboration Among Academia, Long-Term Care Facilities, and Development Companies
―― What is the significance of collaboration between academia, the long-term care sector, and development companies? It is only
when these three parties work together that “technology that is actually used” is created.Academia provides theories and evaluation methods; companies bring these to life as technology; and frontline care settings ensure practicality and operational feasibility. Only when these three elements come together can we develop and disseminate technology that actually functions in real-world care settings.
What I consider particularly important is “participatory design”—development through on-site validation.When people on the front lines are involved from the early stages of development, the gap between the product and actual needs is significantly reduced. Furthermore, the fact that front-line staff voluntarily become advocates who want to “spread the word” about care robots that help maintain and improve care serves as the most powerful driving force for widespread adoption.
―― What kind of collaboration is needed, and what are some examples of such collaboration?
The “Living Lab” initiative we’ve been working on is a prime example. Through two- to three-month field trials, we support the process by which facility staff themselves experience the robot’s effectiveness firsthand and become advocates for its use. At one facility, we achieved the J-curve typically associated with adoption—which usually takes two to three months—in just one month.
―― Are there any challenges in fostering these collaborations? I
believe the biggest challenge is the “barrier of a common language.” Without a common language, engineers and care staff cannot communicate effectively when they remain unfamiliar with each other’s fields. To address this, it is crucial to deepen mutual understanding through study groups and on-site visits.
―― What challenges do companies typically face when applying technology to the long-term care sector?Common challenges
for companies include a lack of understanding of on-site operations and the difficulty of ensuring business continuity.
When it comes to a lack of understanding of on-site operations, we still frequently hear comments such as, “We don’t know what to build.” Furthermore, a single company does not have sufficient resources to provide ongoing support that extends to business process reform.
One challenge in ensuring business continuity is that, because the market has not yet taken shape, there is no revenue model in place to sustain the business.Large corporations are hesitant to commit to commercialization, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find their efforts go unrewarded—to change this structure, policy-level support is essential, such as through government procurement mechanisms and linking payments to long-term care reimbursement rates. We are continuing to strongly advocate this point to policymakers.
4. A Message to Those in the Long-Term Care Field and at Development Companies
―― Could you share a message for those working in the field of long-term care and for development companies? Care
robots are not merely tools for saving labor. They are a technology that transforms the very nature of care—a kind of cultural revolution. What’s important is not simply “introducing the technology,” but maintaining a focus
on “how to maintain and improve the quality of care.” [To those on the front lines]The long-term care
environment that Japan has cultivated is a testing ground unlike any other in the world. There’s no need to give up by saying, “Robots won’t work here.” The words of frontline staff—speaking with sparkling eyes and saying, “This is great”—are the strongest driving force for widespread adoption. I strongly encourage you to share your experiences and become leaders in spreading this technology to other settings.
[To Development Companies] The first step is to deeply understand
the structure of challenges on the front lines. Please work with frontline staff to determine what to develop. Furthermore, the era of individual companies struggling alone has reached its limits. We believe that collaborating with academia and frontline staff to create a shared framework is the path to raising the standard of the entire industry.