Takaichi congratulates Mujin on winning the Nippon Startup Award

Good afternoon. I would like to say a few words on the occasion of the commendation ceremony for the Nippon Startup Awards 2026. This year, Mujin, Inc. was selected as the winner of the Prime Minister’s Award (Nippon Startup Award). Mujin is advancing the development and implementation of “physical AI,” which gives industrial robots the ability to see and think, thereby automating logistics and manufacturing sites. I understand that at distribution centers where Mujin robots have been introduced, work efficiency has improved significantly, with robots fully automating the task of loading a wide variety of daily necessities in different configurations according to their destinations. To everyone at Mujin, a startup that serves as a role model for the next generation, my heartfelt congratulations on receiving this award. I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the other award winners. Congratulations. Under the Takaichi Cabinet, we have positioned startups as one of the cross-cutting issues under the Japan Growth Strategy, with the aim of expanding strategic domestic investment throughout Japan. I have great expectations that startups will become important players in driving domestic investment in the 17 strategic fields, across a wide range of areas including AI and semiconductors, including physical AI; the defense industry; aviation and space; and food tech. I wish all of you gathered here today every success in your future endeavors. I also hope that you will inspire those who are now aspiring to start businesses, leading to the creation of more startups in Japan and opening up Japan’s future. Once again, congratulations to you all.