Medicaroid Corporation Commences Full-Fledged Development of Medical Robots
Apr. 02, 2015
Medicaroid Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; President: Yasuhiko Hashimoto; hereinafter, “Medicaroid”), a joint venture between Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (HQ: Kobe, Japan; President: Shigeru Murayama; hereinafter, “Kawasaki”) and Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; Chairman and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu; hereinafter, “Sysmex”), is beginning the full-fledged development of medical robots, in anticipation of growing global demand. To this end, Medicaroid is building a framework to develop, design, manufacture, sell and provide after-sales service for medical robots.
To further these developments, Kawasaki and Sysmex have decided to jointly increase Medicaroid's capital by ¥2.5 billion. Medicaroid will leverage the strengths of its two investors: Kawasaki, which has technological expertise in industrial robots, and Sysmex, which possesses testing and diagnostic technologies, as well as a broad-ranging network in the medical field. Taking advantage of these capabilities, Medicaroid will reinforce product development activities as it contributes to the development of the global medical industry.
1. Medicaroid's Business Development
Medicaroid will develop products based on industrial robots for medical applications (applied robots), as well as new products for providing surgical support (surgical support robots). Leading to commercialization, the company will seek to create an environment (open platform) that encourages collaboration in many areas, including university hospitals and other healthcare institutions, as well as companies that possess specialized technology and government agencies that supervise regulatory approvals.
Working with Kawasaki and Sysmex, Medicaroid will develop manufacturing, sales and after-sales service structures in line with its product development goals. The company aims to bring “applied robots” to market in fiscal 2016, followed by “surgical support robots” in fiscal 2019. Medicaroid is targeting sales of ¥100 billion in fiscal 2030.
2. Background
Medicaroid commenced operations in October 2013 in the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (Port Island), a hub for leading-edge R&D medical technology. The company has since been liaising with university hospitals and other members of the medical community, as well as companies and government bodies, and conducting marketing activities with a view to developing medical robots. Through these activities, the company developed product plans that take into account future medical trends and multifaceted commercialization possibilities, and formulated a business plan for the future.
In fiscal 2015, Medicaroid will begin full-fledged product development. To encourage smooth product development, Kawasaki and Sysmex have decided to increase Medicaroid's capital.
3. Overview of Medicaroid's Capital Increase
| Amount of increase: | ¥2.5 billion (¥1.25 billion of which is applied to a capital reserve) |
| Capital following increase: | ¥1.26 billion |
| Ratio of capital provided for increase: | Kawasaki: 50% Sysmex: 50% |
| Overview of Medicaroid | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Medicaroid Corporation |
| Location: | Kobe International Business Center 503, 5-5-2 Minatojima Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan |
| Established: | August 30, 2013 |
| Capital: | ¥1,260 million (following capital increase) |
| Ownership: | Kawasaki, 50% Sysmex, 50% |
| President: | Yasuhiko Hashimoto (Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.) |
| Vice President: | Kaoru Asano (Sysmex Corporation) |
| Lines of business: | Marketing, development, design, manufacturing, sales and after-sales service related to medical robots |
