Japan company sets up 1st overseas R&D site to challenge da Vinci machine
The hinotori surgical robot was developed by Medicaroid, a joint venture between Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sysmex. (Photo by Annu Nishioka)
EISAKU NITTA and YUTA MAEDA
February 26, 2026 03:31 JST
TOKYO — Kawasaki Heavy Industries is cultivating the European medical robot market, with plans to open its first overseas development center in France next month as it prepares to take on the U.S.-developed da Vinci surgical robot.