India Explores Robotics Collaboration with FANUC
The Chief Minister of India's Uttar Pradesh state, Yogi Adityanath, toured FANUC's facility in Japan to discuss potential collaborations in robotics and Industry 4.0. The visit signals a push to bring advanced industrial automation technology to one of India's most populous states.
FANUC is the world's largest maker of industrial robots and holds a commanding 65% of the global market for CNC (Computer Numerical Control) systems. The Japanese giant's core business is segmented into factory automation (FA), robots, and robomachines, with its technology centered on high-reliability servo motors that enhance precision and reduce cycle times in manufacturing. This isn't a new entry into the subcontinent; FANUC India was established in 1992 and is headquartered in Bangalore. The company operates a network of over 20 offices and several technology centers, including facilities in Pune, Manesar, and a 67,000 sq ft center in Chennai, supporting the tens of thousands of FANUC machines already deployed in Indian industries. The outreach from Uttar Pradesh (UP) is part of a strategic push to transform the state into a $1 trillion economy. Chief Minister Adityanath's government is actively pursuing global partnerships and has allocated funds to establish a dedicated Centre of Excellence for Robotics to build a skilled workforce. This aligns with the state's 2022 industrial policy focused on attracting foreign investment through infrastructure development and financial incentives. This state-level initiative mirrors a national strategy. India's "Make in India" and "SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0" programs are designed to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics. The broader goal is to increase manufacturing's contribution to the national GDP to 25%. The FANUC tour was part of a larger, high-stakes visit to Japan and Singapore that secured Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹1.5 lakh crore (approx. $18B USD) and investment proposals valued at ₹2.5 lakh crore (approx. $30B USD). The delegation also held meetings with other major corporations like Suzuki Motor, Honda, Mitsui & Co., and Rapidus Corporation. A potential FANUC collaboration would build on an existing robotics base in Uttar Pradesh. Noida, a city within the state, is already home to Addverb, a global robotics company that commissioned its second local robot manufacturing factory, Bot-Verse. This facility alone has the capacity to produce 100,000 robots annually and is projected to create over 3,000 highly skilled jobs.
