AWS Japan has introduced a Physical AI Development Support Program that provides up to $6 million in promotional credits, technical mentoring, and go‑to‑market assistance to robotics‑focused AI startups and research teams in Japan. The initiative aims to accelerate the creation of Vision‑Language‑Action models and other robot‑centric AI foundations, reducing development costs and shortening time‑to‑market.
Program Overview
The program supports the full AI‑to‑robot pipeline, from data collection and preprocessing to model training, simulation, and real‑world deployment. Participants receive:
- Specialist guidance from Physical AI experts
- Sample code and architecture recommendations tailored for robotics workloads
- Promotional credits that offset compute, storage, and data‑generation expenses
Application Timeline
The application window closes on 13 February. Selected participants will begin the support period in early March and continue through June, with a public showcase of results scheduled for July.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to any organization with a legal presence in Japan, including startups, large enterprises, universities, and research institutes, provided they are developing robot‑centric AI models such as Vision‑Language‑Action (VLA), vision‑language models (VLM), or world models. An existing robotics testbed is beneficial but not required. Applicants must maintain an active AWS account and comply with AWS’s Acceptable Use Policy.
Why Physical AI Matters
Physical AI enables machines to perceive the world through sensors and cameras and then act on that perception. This capability is essential for home service robots, autonomous vehicles, and advanced manufacturing equipment that rely on real‑time perception‑action loops.
Potential Impact on the Robotics Ecosystem
By lowering cloud‑computing costs and providing direct expertise, the program can:
- Accelerate commercialization of service robots and warehouse automation
- Shorten development cycles that traditionally span years
- Foster a collaborative ecosystem through study sessions, knowledge‑sharing events, and matchmaking between model developers and robot manufacturers
How to Apply
Interested parties should submit their proposals through the AWS Japan portal before the deadline. Applications are evaluated based on technical merit, business viability, implementation feasibility, and projected impact.
