Japanese caretakers will soon be able to look at non-verbal babies’ and senior citizens’ faces and break down facial expressions to understand if they are in pain. Digital pain assessment app PainChek Limited (ASX: PCK) has announced that it is expanding its activities to Japan following its acceptance into the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Business Connect program for 2022. 

JETRO is Japan’s core governmental organisation, which promotes inward foreign business. The organisation will help the Australian-based company enter the Japanese market. PainChek will be provided with Japan’s market data and a series of online business matching events connecting PainChek with local partners throughout Japan and guidance in relation to the Japanese regulatory clearance processes. 

To enable the expansion, PainChek had to undergo JETRO’s screening process before qualifying to enter the market. It had to partake in a series of face-to-face meetings in London and achieve a set criteria. 

PainChek’s Chief Executive Officer, Philip Daffas, commented, “A priority for JETRO was identifying companies for the program that had developed new digital healthcare technologies, with image diagnosis a specific focus point.”

“This made PainChek an outstanding candidate for JETRO and both parties are excited by the potential for collaboration with organisations in Japan and the positive outcomes it could lead to.”

About 30% of Japan’s population is 65 or older, the highest among all countries globally. This provides PainChek with a great opportunity to tap into the market. Estimates suggest that 6.7 million  Japanese citizens require care, and nearly a million are currently in aged care facilities. Thankfully for PainChek, it already boasts considerable experience in the area. The app is currently used in over 1,500 aged care facilities around the world. 

PainChek intends on using this opportunity to tap into others as well. It aims to combine its offering with Japan’s high tech, devices and artificial intelligence capabilities. The Telethon Kids Institute in conjunction with PainChek has been provided Government funding of nearly $400k to develop an app for children with disabilities to detect pain in kids who can’t tell you when it hurts.

Moreover, PainChek has been focusing on expanding to other regions as well. In July this year, it received funding from the Gwent Regional Partnership Board in Wales to support a 12-month pilot in care environments across Gwent, Wales.

As for its Japan expansion, starting this month, the Company’s representatives will start virtually meeting with other companies, research groups and government officials across the region to assist in business development opportunities in the country, backed by PR initiatives to increase awareness of the PainChek business and technology. 

Daffas concluded, “This new initiative combined with our recent contact with FDA means PainChek can now plan effectively for market entry into the USA and Japan – two of the world’s largest medical device and aged care markets.”