Handmade drones and a robot boat for oceanographic research are two of the projects that Mozambique will take to Expo 2025 in Japan, among the 14 initiatives selected by the country in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, it was announced on Thursday 27 March.
‘These drones are handmade by a young man. In a way, they are a provocation to the conventional robotics industry. It’s crucial to present them on the global stage to show the potential we have,’ explained Larsen Vales, curator of the Mozambique exhibition, quoted by the Lusa news agency.
The country’s participation in Expo 2025, which will be held in Osaka, Japan, from 13 April to 13 October, was announced in Maputo and will include a 308 square metre pavilion. This space will include a ground floor with permanent and temporary exhibitions, and an upper floor for parallel events such as seminars, lectures and regular video screenings on Mozambique’s economic, tourist and cultural potential.
With the theme ‘Designing the society of the future for our lives’, Expo 2025 will be a platform for Mozambique to present its theme ‘Education and Work through Artificial Intelligence and Robotics’, under the sub-theme ‘Empowering Lives’.
According to Mozambique’s general commissioner for Expo 2025, the country’s aim is to ‘stimulate the use of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the context of sustainable development’, with a particular focus on education and projecting these solutions for the post-2030 period, when the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are expected to be met.
Fourteen specific AI and Robotics initiatives were selected, highlighting success stories and technological innovation projects. These projects address issues such as innovation in heritage processes, more accessible and responsible integrated solutions, health and well-being, environmental preservation, resilience to climate change and smart and sustainable cities, in line with the SDGs.
‘The 14 initiatives we’ll be presenting are mainly focused on AI and Robotics, with some mixed approaches,’ said Larsen Vales, adding: ’The aim is not an end in itself, but to use these technologies to solve local problems with local solutions.’
The aim is to simplify processes, reduce costs and increase safety, as exemplified by the robot boat included in the 14 projects presented by Mozambique at Expo 2025.
‘This robot boat offers two immediate advantages. Intended for oceanographic research, it drastically reduces acquisition and operating costs, as well as minimising risks for crew members. Being manned and monitored remotely, there is no need to expose the men to dangerous areas of the ocean,’ concluded the curator of the national participation.
