Progress in Japan's intelligent manufacturing systems research program

Looks at the IMS Program which aims at improving the circumstances around manufacturing industries and developing the next generation manufacturing technologies and systems. It is a unique and unprecedented mechanism supported by industry, academia as well as governments, challenging to undertake, industry-led international collaborative R&D among six participant regions; Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, Switzerland (EFTA) and the USA. The IMS Program now sees it's selected 13 international projects implemented and tries to increase the number of projects more than a hundred. With increasing number of projects and proposals actively proposed by member regions, this initiative will further expand its effective network and enhance global manufacturing cooperation as expected. The article looks briefly at the part played by Japan.