SoftBank Robotics Group invests in futuristic AI disinfecting company

Japan's SoftBank Robotics Group has announced it is buying a 5% stake in Hong Kong-based Avalon SteriTech. It is the first Hong Kong investment made by the innovative Japanese company.

The news was shared in an interview with SoftBank's chief business officer Kent Yoshida and Avalon SteriTech CEO Lewis Ho. The duo refused to supply any further financial details, but said that Yoshida would be joining Avalon’s board of directors. 

According to Bloomberg, Ho also said that Avalon’s revenues will increase from $2 million (€1.84 million) last year, to $8 million (€7.38 million) to $10 million (€9.22 million) this year and that the company could break even in 2023.

SoftBank Robotics Group is a world leader in robotic technology, while Avalon SteriTech creates AI-powered robots and futuristic “technology infrastructure” for cleaning, sterilising and disinfecting. 

Read more: The team training robots to think like humans

This is not the first time that Avalon and SBRG have joined forces. On 1 March 2021, the disinfection and robotics specialists announced a new collaboration to promote hygiene solutions.

In a statement at the time, Avalon said that the “joint venture leverages Avalon’s strengths in biotechnology and healthcare, and SBRG’s expertise in AI, automation and robotics” and that together the companies would introduce solutions that would “transcend conventional concepts of hygiene”.

Then just 24 days later, Avalon and SBRG shared the news that they were launching Whiz Gambit, the 2-in-1 AI-powered cleaning robot – ‘Whiz’ was the robot and ‘Gambit’ was the disinfection.

“We believe this partnership with Avalon SteriTech will continue to bring us from strength to strength as we endeavour to pursue and design new products and robotic solutions which will be able to address the new public health requirements,” said Kenichi Yoshida, of the Whiz Gambit launch.

There are already over 35,000 SBRG robots used in over 70 countries worldwide. This new investment in Avalon comes as part of a worldwide pattern, as the Japanese company is making global investments, such as its January-announced partnership with smart buildings provider Infogrid.

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Neither is this Avalon’s first major cooperation effort. In 2015 the disinfectant company worked with The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to establish a Respiratory Virus Research Foundation garnering donations of HK$24 million (€2.82 million).

In February 2020, Avalon worked with the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) when its fleet of 20 VHP Robots was used to clean depots and stations during the peak of the pandemic.

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