Osaka University was ranked No. 1 in 2004 in the nation in terms of engineering research and development by Nihon Keizai Shimbun business daily. The Osaka U is considered Osaka’s top tertiary education and a hotbed of study into next generation robot technology.” The Trade Minsitry has announced plans to back research by public and private sectors in robot technology and to deregulate these sectors. Many of the SMEs are engaged in robot roduction. “Japan has long made its mark in a manufacture of industrial robots used to make cars and electronic components at high speed and with complete accuracy. Japan expected to be a world-beater in producing next generation partner robots — The Straits Times, May 3, 2004