TOKYO, Japan ｜October 26, 2026
hibot Corp. (Headquarters: Shinagawa, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Michele Guarnieri), a developer of robotic solutions for infrastructure inspection, has been selected for the “SusHi Tech Global Growth Acceleration Program (2nd Cohort)” run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. With the program’s support, hibot will deploy SQUID, its robot for inspecting boilers and heating coils, in Europe and the United States. The company will also build local RaaS (Robot as a Service) operations in both regions and launch full-scale commercial services there.
The Structural Challenge of Boiler Inspection
Boilers in power plants, waste-to-energy facilities, and oil, gas and chemical plants are critical assets that operate at high temperature and pressure, and a rupture can cause a serious accident. Yet conventional inspection requires scaffolding and confined-space entry by workers, which brings extended shutdowns and high costs. Manual ultrasonic testing (UT) also has a basic limit: it captures data from only about 10% of each tube.
Key Features of SQUID
SQUID uses a remotely operated snake-like robot that moves through the boiler’s headers and drums. It inserts water-immersion UT sensors into each tube and measures wall thickness from the inside.
- Inspection coverage: approx. 10% → over 92% of each tube (360°)
- Total shutdown period: 3–5 weeks → 10–14 days (approx. 80% reduction)
- Confined-space entry by workers: zero
Inspection data flows into hibot’s digital platform, HiBox. There it is shown as 2D color thickness maps and used for AI-driven predictive maintenance. The core patent is registered in Japan, with applications filed in the EU, the United States and China. SQUID has been in commercial operation in Japan since 2023.
Program Activities (October 2026 – March 2028)
Design and manufacture SQUID units for overseas markets
Deploy the units in Europe (Aachen, Germany) and the United States (Houston)
Build RaaS operations through partnerships with local partners, operator training, and preparation of spare parts and manuals
Comment from the CEO
“Being selected by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is not providing us a concrete boost for our operation but it is a real honour. Being named one of the startups with the strongest potential to scale globally means a lot for us. hibot was born in Tokyo, and now we’re taking SQUID to Europe and the US to show that technology built in Japan can change how the world inspects critical infrastructure. Everything we learn abroad will come back to make Tokyo’s own power plants and waste-to-energy facilities safer. I’m deeply proud of the whole hibot team, and grateful to the investors and partners who have backed us every step of the way. This recognition belongs to all of them, and we’re just getting started.”
— Michele Guarnieri, Representative Director, CEO & Co-founder, hibot Corp.
Contribution to Tokyo
hibot will keep its design, intellectual property and data analytics functions at its Tokyo headquarters, creating high-value jobs in the city. The inspection technology refined overseas will also be applied to the safety of Tokyo’s infrastructure, including waste-to-energy facilities and power plants.
About the SusHi Tech Global Growth Acceleration Program
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government runs this program to select startups from the “SusHi Tech Global Startups” cohort that are positioned for rapid scale-up through global expansion. Each selected project receives up to ¥200 million in funding support plus tailored hands-on support. Ten projects were selected for the 2nd cohort.
出典元：”SusHi Tech Global”成長加速プログラム（第2期）グローバルなスケールアップに繋がる取組を実施するスタートアップを決定！
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/information/press/2026/10/2026102611
hibot Corp., PR Team