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The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) will begin accepting applications for participation in the Smart Mobility Expo Robot Experience, in which various next-generation robots will be implemented and demonstrated at the venue as part of the “Future Society Showcase Project Exhibition.”
The Robot Experience invites a wide range of participants from companies (including SMEs and start-ups), educational, academic and research institutions (universities, research centres, etc.), national and government-related organisations (independent administrative corporations, etc.), international organisations, local authorities, NGOs, NPOs, various associations, and individual groups.
Based on the concept of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan as a “People’s Living Lab; A laboratory for a future society”, many participants will aim to transform society through collaboration with robots in various aspects of our lives and realise a co-created vision of a future society in which humans and robots coexist.
■ Application Opening Date
・Applications are scheduled to open in January 2024
・Applications will be accepted any time after January 2024 without a closing date
■ How to Participate (First Entry)
To enable a diverse range of people to participate, regardless of size or position, the Robot Experience will be held in multiple areas of the venue and offer several forms of participation. The project aims not only to provide information to visitors but also to enable them to imagine the future society through an interactive, hands-on experience.
For details of how to apply, please refer to the application guidelines that will be posted on the Association’s official website in the future.
■ Implementation and demonstration area
This project is intended to cover the entire Expo site, including the food court, indoor areas, plazas, corridors under the Grand Ring, and busy spaces at various locations. However, these plans are subject to change in the future when taking into account the characteristics of participating robots.
▽ Artist’s impression of the implementation and demonstration area
Food court
■ Envisioned robots
The Association wants to implement and demonstrate a wide variety of robots that can contribute to the vision of future society, so it has not set any restrictions on the kind of robot at this first stage but will be looking for autonomous robots that can be demonstrated and operated (in operation) in the venue.
▽ Example of the envisioned robots
■ Forms of participation
We want as many people as possible to participate, so we plan to prepare the following three forms of participation.
| participation mode | experimental period | remarks |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Entire period | All 184 days of the Expo | There is a possibility that you may be asked to start operating before the exhibition period. |
| (2) Monthly | Any one month during the Expo period | It is possible to participate for multiple months. |
| (3) Weekly | Any week during the Expo period | It is possible to participate multiple weeks. ※However, at least 7 days of operation is necessary. |
■ Selection Method
・The robots to be chosen based on discussions on the characteristics of the robot and the desired form of participation.
・There will be no contract with the operator for the first entry.
■ Sponsorship Benefits
Participants in this project will be granted participation benefits based on the standards set by the Association.
■ Notes on Participation
・The costs of labour, equipment, transport, travel, accommodation, and insurance for the project are to be borne by the participants.
・A risk assessment must be carried out to ensure safety when operating in the Expo site with a large mix of visitors. Participants must also ensure that they have facility liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance for operating personnel.
・At the time of the first call for entries from January 2024, we will ask applicants to present their intention to participate, an overview of the robots they wish to submit for consideration, and their preferred form of participation. The Association will then hold discussions with the applicant, and make the final decision on whether or not to accept the applicants’ participation.
(Reference)
About the Future Society Showcase Project
The Future Society Showcase Project is a general term referring to a group of projects that provides experiences to a wide range of participants and visitors from Japan and abroad by utilising technologies and services that support the theme of the Expo, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” for the development, operation, exhibition, and events of the Expo site, in the form of “demonstrations” that give a sense of the future beyond 2025, and “implementation” that is suitable for the Expo.
(Enquiries)
Global Communication Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Email: globalpr@expo2025.or.jp