A leading Japanese university has launched a fully automated research laboratory where robots conduct advanced medical experiments without human staff, marking a major step forward in the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics in scientific research.
The facility, located at the Yushima campus of Institute of Science Tokyo, operates under the name Robotics Innovation Center and currently houses 10 robots, including the humanoid laboratory robot Maholo LabDroid.
University officials revealed ambitious plans to expand the number of research robots to around 2,000 by 2040 as part of a long-term strategy to automate nearly every stage of scientific experimentation.
The advanced robotic systems are capable of performing highly delicate laboratory procedures, including transferring precise quantities of chemical reagents, operating temperature-controlled equipment, and handling cell cultivation tasks that have already been programmed into the system.
Researchers aim to eventually develop a fully integrated AI-driven platform capable of managing the complete scientific process, from generating research hypotheses to conducting experimental verification.
At the facility’s opening ceremony in April, Robotics Innovation Center director Keiichi Nakayama described AI and robotics as essential tools for strengthening Japan’s global scientific competitiveness.
The initiative comes as research institutions worldwide face growing challenges linked to labor shortages, rising operational costs, and the need to minimize human error in laboratory environments.
The Maholo LabDroid system has already been deployed at a specialist ophthalmology hospital in Kobe, where it supports clinical research involving induced pluripotent stem cells and automated cell culture operations.
Scientists involved in the Kobe research program have also joined the new Tokyo-based center, further accelerating efforts to develop next-generation autonomous laboratory systems powered by AI and robotics.
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