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NEDO Technology Development Fields (Industrial Technology)

Industrial Technology

Robots and AI technologies

Robots, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), electric aircraft, and automated driving

  • Photo of Demonstration of a delivery service in residential area
    Demonstration of a delivery service in residential area
  • Photo of Compact high-performance drone that securely performs aerial imagery
    Compact high-performance drone that securely performs aerial imagery

NEDO is developing robots capable of handling high-mix low-volume manufacturing or delivery, pioneering the utilization of robots in sectors where the introduction of robots has not been progressing and promoting a platform for bringing down costs involved in robot deployments. In anticipation of the popular use of drones and Advanced Air Mobility in the future, NEDO is also carrying out flight demonstrations to develop performance benchmarks for ensuring flight safety and developing technologies for drone traffic management. As Japan presses ahead to achieve the smarter human-centered Society 5.0 with extensive adoption of artificial intelligence, NEDO will encourage the practical application of relevant technologies with priority in the prioritized areas of productivity, health, medical services and welfare and mobility. For instance, NEDO intends to develop an evolutionary AI system evolving together with humans and other innovative remote technologies to serve future generations and will also venture into research, for instance, to develop a leading-edge electric propulsion system for aircraft, as well as automated driving to reduce traffic accidents and congestion.

IoT, electronics, and information technology

Internet of Things (IoT), computing, and power semiconductors

  • Photo of Superconducting quantum annealing machine and LSI prototype with effi cient AI processing for smartphones and robots

In order to address social challenges by using IoT, AI, and big data, NEDO is collecting real-world data, providing feedback on societal applications for data accumulation, analysis, management and services, and conducting research and development at all stages. In addition, NEDO promotes both the hardware and software-related aspects of the relevant technologies from electronic devices that make low-power highspeed processing possible to cross-sectoral technology development that is fundamental to maintaining security at every level. NEDO is contributing to the real-world implementation of IoT by creating services that lead to solutions to social problems and to the creation of new businesses that do not rely on existing businesses. In addition to its own research and development, NEDO collaborates with project participants, laboratories, and businesses that use IoT.

Manufacturing technologies

Dynamic capabilities and additive manufacturing

  • Photo of Testing system for electron-beam additive manufacturing
    Testing system for electron-beam additive manufacturing

NEDO is developing new manufacturing systems that can greatly reduce energy consumption, such as a system for high-mix and low-volume manufacturing and a system for connecting to cyberspace. Specifically, NEDO is promoting the development of additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies suitable for high value-added production and technologies to enhance dynamic capability through the use of 5G and other technologies. By putting these technologies into practical use, NEDO is contributing to the realization of "Society 5.0."

Materials and nanotechnologies

Structural materials, functional materials, motors, chemical production, and sensing

  • Photo of Confocal laser microscope system
    Photocatalyst water-splitting panels with an area of 100 m2

Japan’s metals, plastics, ceramics, and other material industries boast a high level of technology worldwide. They are key industries sustaining the country’s entire manufacturing industry. Nanotechnology (technology to control material structures on the nanoscale of 10-9 m) is being applied to material development in coordination with different industries and disciplines, both upstream and downstream. NEDO aims to strengthen Japan’s industrial technologies by creating innovative materials.

Biotechnology

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF), smart cells, and marine biodegradable plastics

  • photo of Small-scale fed-batch culture tanks used for validation of practical applications and development of human resources
    Small-scale fed-batch culture tanks used for validation of practical applications and development of human resources in bioproduction processes
  • Photo of Wood chips, Denatured pulp, CNF pellets and View of nanofiber after removal of resin  from CNF pellets

Recent innovations in biotechnology have made strengthening competitiveness in this field an urgent necessity for Japan. In preparation for the future depletion of oil reserves, NEDO is developing technologies related to resin compound materials using CNF, technologies required for social applications of marine biodegradable plastics, and smart cell technology that produces high-performance products efficiently by controlling, modifying, and maximizing the metabolic systems of plants and microorganisms.

Last Updated : July 12, 2022