Regulation and innovation under the 4th industrial revolution: The case of a healthcare robot, HAL by Cyberdyne

Regulation and innovation under the 4th industrial revolution: The case of a healthcare robot, HAL by Cyberdyne

Michiko Iizuka, Yoko Ikeda

Regulation, Standards, Emerging technology, Robotics, Rule making, Japan

December 2021
( Available online 1 July 2021 )

Elsevier Ltd.

Volume 108, December 2021, 102335

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166497221001164
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102335

Technovation

Innovations using emerging technologies are said to improve the productivity and quality of life. However, the diffusion of such innovations can involve risks and uncertainties regarding safety. While these risks are generally managed by governments by means of regulation, the rapid progress of technology means that such regulatory measures are increasingly falling short in governing emerging technologies. This poses challenges to firms when seeking commercialization, because emerging technologies often do not fall under existing product categories and their corresponding regulations. This study answers the question of how emerging technologies can be commercialized, overcoming existing regulatory barriers on safety, by using different regulatory institutions and identifying new roles for governments. The study employs the case study of a healthcare robot, HAL, manufactured by Cyberdyne, and the process used for establishing ISO standards on safety requirements for healthcare robots and robotic devices (ISO13482). It demonstrates how international standards can act as an open platform, allowing interactions among a diverse set of stakeholders to navigate governance mechanisms. It concludes with an exploration of the role of government in managing emerging technologies in an environment of rapid technological change.