Global Business Innovation Programme - Robotics & Automation in Manufacturing, Japan

Successful applicants will benefit from an intensive 9-12 month, three phase programme with bespoke support from an innovation and growth specialist throughout.

• Get ready: A two-day preparation workshop to build knowledge and understanding of the market and opportunities, including cultural aspects, how to do business, protecting Intellectual Property, and support to better articulate your value proposition.
• Visit the market: Explore the innovation opportunities first-hand through pre-arranged matchmaking events, meetings with key contacts, research organisations and potential collaborators and partners.
• Exploit the opportunity: An exploitation workshop and one-to-one bespoke support from an innovation and growth specialist to help you follow-up and maximise the opportunities identified through the programme.

To apply for this GBIP, you must be:

• a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and scale globally
• a company with fewer than 250 employees
• the CEO, founder, or senior decision maker in the business
• able to attend all workshops and complete all activities

This GBIP is targeted at technology providers with the capability to deliver innovative solutions for the manufacturing sector. This is one of five GBIPs running between now and end March 2026 as part of the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge (MSI). The four other GBIPs are focused on:

• Additive Manufacturing, Germany (Visit mid-Nov 2025)
• Manufacturing Digital Supply Chain Ecosystem, Singapore (Visit late-Jan 2026)
• Robotics & Automation in Manufacturing, South Korea (Visit
  early-Mar 2026)
• AI Enhanced Manufacturing – US (date tbc)

A business can apply to the five MSI GBIP’s but can only, if selected, participate in a maximum of two of the five. The representative from the business for each GBIP needs to be able to complete all stages of the GBIP.

Businesses that have been on a previous GBIP (in the same market and/or technology area) will need to demonstrate they have exploited the previous opportunity to be considered and how this programme will add significant additional benefit. Preference may be given to businesses that have not participated previously.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, a business can only take part in two GBIPs in any rolling 12-month period (measured by the date of the Get Ready Workshop).

Innovate UK is committed to improving the diversity of who we support. We welcome applications from under-represented groups.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this GBIP’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the application deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email (support@iuk.ukri.org) or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Japan is a global pioneer in robotics and automation, with one of the highest robot densities in manufacturing and a long-standing reputation for excellence in industrial robotics.

Robotics is a central pillar of Japan’s smart manufacturing strategy, aimed at enhancing productivity, addressing labour shortages and maintaining global competitiveness.

Manufacturing remains a cornerstone of the Japanese economy, contributing approximately 20% of GDP and a significant share of exports. In recent years, the Japanese government has launched several initiatives to revitalise its manufacturing sector through innovation, digital transformation and the adoption of sustainable technologies.

The government actively supports the development and integration of next-generation robotics, including collaborative robots (cobots), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and AI-enhanced robotic systems. These technologies are widely adopted in sectors such as automotive, electronics, precision machinery and logistics.

For UK companies specialising in robotics, automation software, machine vision and AI integration, Japan offers a mature and innovation-driven market. Opportunities exist for joint R&D, technology transfer and participation in government-supported industrial transformation projects.

As part of the innovation visit, you will have the opportunity to attend the Factory Innovation Week conference.

We welcome applications from new or established innovative technology providers with capability to deliver digital manufacturing solutions in the following technology areas:

• Robotics and automation in manufacturing – including mobile robots & collaborative robots (cobots)
• AI opportunities in Robotics and Automation – including adaptive control & vision systems
• Associated technologies with clear links to robotics and automation such as:
  • End-of-arm-tooling / end effectors
  • Robotic control systems – including no-code, low-code programming
  • Systems integration and interoperability
  • Modular industrial robotic systems – including Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS)
  • Integration of humanoid robotics and human-centric design
  • Digital engineering and simulation – including digital twins and predictive maintenance

The scope of the above contributes to the delivery of the following aim:

World-class production – develop digital technologies for manufacturing factories to become more efficient, sustainable, productive, flexible and resilient through the development of digital approaches to better optimise performance within production operations.

• Build market knowledge and intelligence
• Seed new business partnerships, develop RD&I collaborations, and identify partners for bilateral funding calls
• Introductions to senior figures and influential contacts
• Raise your profile and stimulate new business opportunities and ideas
• Improve your value proposition, hone your skills, and grow in confidence to tackle global markets
• Connect with peers, expand your network, and learn from like-minded, ambitious businesses

• Application deadline – Friday 26 September 2025 at 10am
• Application outcome – Tuesday 7 October 2025
• Get ready workshop – Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 December 2025 (In-person)
• Market visit – Saturday 17 – Saturday 24 January 2026 (Inperson, Japan)
• Exploit the opportunity workshop – Tuesday 24 March 2026 (In-person)

• Introductory briefing with the British Embassy
• Visits to research and technology organisations
• Attending Factory Innovation Week 2026, including Smart Factory Expo and RoboDEX
• Company site visits and meetings with key contacts
• High quality networking opportunities

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, inmarket travel and conference fees for successful applicants. Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative. Only one representative from each company will be funded and the same person is required to participate in all parts of the programme.

On acceptance to the programme, a commitment fee of £1000 will be obtained from each participant. This will be refunded on completion of the full activities (Get ready workshop, Visit, Exploit the opportunity workshop, and active engagement with an innovation and growth specialist) and agreed work plan.

Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all of the commitment fee.

“We were very satisfied with how the programme helped us achieve our objectives. The schedule allowed us to focus on work and participate in planned events while in Japan. Additionally, all the visits and networking events were relevant and beneficial to our goals.” GBIP 2023 – Circular Manufacturing, Japan

If you have any questions, we are happy to help, email us at event.enquiries1@iukbg.ukri.org. To make a complaint please follow the Innovate UK complaints procedure.