Con-Tact corp

What Con-Tact corp does

Con-Tact corp (Con-Tact株式会社) is a Japanese deep-tech startup founded on July 1, 2020, as a dual university spin-off from Ritsumeikan University and Niigata University. The company develops and manufactures ultra-small MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) tactile sensors that simultaneously measure vertical force, shear force, and proximity distance to target objects. The core technology comprises multiple MEMS cantilever structures embedded in elastomer, fabricated using semiconductor processes, achieving a sensing area of approximately 1mm diameter within a 5mm square chip—small enough to mount on robot fingertips. A differentiating feature is the proximity detection capability using the photoconductive effect on the Si depletion layer, enabling distance measurement without additional sensors.

The company serves collaborative robot (cobot) manufacturers and manufacturing automation companies that require adaptive, gentle handling of delicate, deformable, or size-varying objects that traditional position-controlled robots cannot manage without crushing. Demonstrated applications include gentle gripping of fragile produce such as cherry tomatoes. All three board members hold PhDs in Engineering with 15+ years of specialized research experience in tactile sensing and MEMS device miniaturization.

Con-Tact's business model centers on hardware sales of MEMS tactile sensor chips and modules, supplemented by potential professional services for sensor dissemination, custom development, and integration support. The company employs a direct sales approach via website contact forms and email, supplemented by event-driven go-to-market through accelerator programs (HAX Tokyo Batch 2), industry forums (Global Innovation Forum), and academic webinars. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company operates from Kyoto, Japan with 3 employees, is privately held, and has not disclosed any funding rounds or revenue figures.

Name

Con-Tact corp

Legal name

Con-Tact株式会社

Website

https://con-tact.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Con-Tact corp is a Japanese deep-tech startup founded in 2020 that develops ultra-small MEMS tactile sensors (1mm sensing area, 5mm chip) capable of simultaneously measuring vertical force, shear force, and proximity. The company serves collaborative robot manufacturers and manufacturing automation companies requiring gentle, adaptive robotic gripping of delicate objects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

MEMS Tactile Sensors

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Pressure & Force Sensors (Pressure/Strain/Load Cells) (HDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO), Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG), Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO)

Keywords

• MEMS tactile sensors
• Force sensing technology
• Robotic gripper sensors
• Collaborative robotics
• Semiconductor sensor manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyoto-shi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. MEMS Tactile Sensor Products: Sale of ultra-small MEMS multi-axis tactile sensor chips and modules for collaborative robots, robotic grippers, and manufacturing automation applications.
2. 触覚センサの普及 (Tactile Sensor Dissemination): General promotion and dissemination of tactile sensor technology, potentially including technical support, custom sensor development, and integration services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Con-Tact corp develops and manufactures ultra-compact MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) multi-axis tactile sensor chips and sensor-equipped gripper modules. The sensors embed MEMS cantilever structures in elastomer to simultaneously detect vertical force, shear force, and proximity to target objects, with a sensing area of approximately 1mm diameter on a 5mm square chip. The company's offerings target collaborative robot manufacturers, robotic gripper integrators, and factory automation companies needing gentle, adaptive handling of delicate objects.

Product overview

Con-Tact corp is a developer of ultra-compact MEMS tactile sensors. The core product portfolio consists of multi-axis MEMS tactile sensors (approximately 1mm sensing area, 5mm chip size) capable of detecting vertical force, shear force, and proximity simultaneously. The company also offers tactile sensor-equipped gripper demonstrations showing application in collaborative robotics. All products leverage semiconductor manufacturing processes and elastomer-embedded MEMS cantilever structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multi-axis MEMS Tactile Sensor Ultra-compact MEMS-based tactile sensor chip with approximately 1mm sensing area and 5mm total chip size. Multiple MEMS cantilever structures are embedded in elastomer; when vertical and shear forces are applied to the elastomer, each MEMS structure deforms differently, enabling simultaneous detection of both vertical force and shear force from the detected signals with linear output. Designed for collaborative robot and robotic gripper manufacturers.
• Tactile Sensor with Proximity Detection MEMS tactile sensor variant with built-in proximity detection capability using the photoconductive effect. By utilizing the photoconductive effect of incident light on the Si depletion layer in the electrode area of the MEMS structure, the sensor can measure distance to nearby objects through reflected light changes. The same tactile sensor chip performs proximity sensing through impedance output variation when illuminated, requiring no external light source or additional sensor. Targeted at collaborative robot manufacturers and automation integrators needing pre-contact approach detection.
• Tactile Sensor-equipped Robotic Gripper (Prototype/Demonstration) Robotic gripper integrated with Con-Tact's multi-axis MEMS tactile sensors that adjusts gripper position based on real-time finger contact feedback, enabling gentle handling of delicate, size-varying objects such as cherry tomatoes without crushing them. Serves as a demonstration/reference design for collaborative robot manufacturers and manufacturing automation customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ultra-small sensor: 5mm square chip with 1mm diameter sensing area
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 大阪商工会議所 (Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 June 2021Con-Tact was selected as both finalist and Japan representative for the Global Innovation Forum (GIF) organized by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The GIF invites domestic and international advanced startups for demonstrations, pitches, and individual business meetings, providing a platform for international visibility and partnership building.
• 新潟大学 (Niigata University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2020Con-Tact was certified as Niigata University Venture Company #2. The company was founded based on research outcomes from Niigata University faculty, particularly in MEMS tactile sensor technology. The university provides ongoing research collaboration and access to academic resources. The certification was awarded on November 17, 2020.
• Osaka Innovation Hub (大阪イノベーションハブ)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 October 2020Board member Noma presented at the Industry-Academia Tech Meeting: Tech Alliance Webinar organized by Osaka Innovation Hub. The event connected university research seeds with large companies, SMEs, and ventures for potential collaboration and business matching.
• HAX Tokyo (SOSV, SCSK, 住友商事)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 July 2020Con-Tact株式会社 was accepted into HAX Tokyo Batch 2. HAX Tokyo is a hardware-focused accelerator program jointly operated by SOSV (global hardware VC), SCSK (Japanese IT company), and Sumitomo Corporation (Japanese trading house). The program provides GTM support, mentorship, and business development connections for hardware startups.
• 立命館大学 (Ritsumeikan University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020Con-Tact was founded as a dual university spin-off from both Ritsumeikan University and Niigata University. Board member Noma Haruo (野間春生) serves as Professor at Ritsumeikan University's College of Information Science and Engineering and maintains research collaboration. The company was established with support from both universities' technology transfer frameworks.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Robotous: Robotous develops force/torque sensors and collaborative robotic sensing modules. Comparable as a smaller, focused competitor serving robotic OEMs with compact force-sensing products.

Direct peers

• FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology: FUTEK designs and manufactures high-precision force sensors, load cells, and torque sensors for industrial and robotic applications. Comparable as a specialized force/pressure sensor supplier targeting automation customers.
• Tekscan: Tekscan is an established manufacturer of thin-film pressure and force sensing systems used in industrial, medical, and robotics applications. Con-Tact's CEO previously supported Tekscan products technically, and both target tactile/force sensing for end-effectors and grippers.
• ATI Industrial Automation: ATI Industrial Automation is a leading manufacturer of force/torque sensors and robotic end-effector tools used in industrial automation. Comparable as a force-sensing supplier to robotic OEMs and integrators.
• OnRobot: OnRobot provides a broad portfolio of collaborative robot end-of-arm tooling, including grippers and force/torque sensors. Comparable as a sensor-and-tooling supplier targeting the same cobot ecosystem that Con-Tact addresses.
• Touchence: Touchence is a Japanese company developing high-sensitivity tactile sensors for robotic hands and prosthetic applications. Comparable as a domestic Japanese peer pursuing compact tactile sensors for robotic manipulation.
• SynTouch (Pressure Profile Systems): SynTouch develops tactile sensors and biomimetic fingertips for robotic applications, including multi-modal sensing of force, vibration, and temperature. It is a direct competitor in the multi-axis tactile sensor market for robotic hands.

Broad incumbents

• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics is a major global semiconductor manufacturer with significant MEMS sensor product lines (accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure, environmental). Comparable as a broad incumbent capable of commoditizing adjacent MEMS sensing categories.
• TDK (InvenSense MEMS): TDK's MEMS sensor division (formerly InvenSense) produces a wide range of MEMS inertial, pressure, and environmental sensors at scale. Comparable as a broad incumbent with deep MEMS manufacturing capabilities that could expand into tactile sensing.
• Nitta Corporation: Nitta is a Japanese industrial conglomerate with a sensor division that previously employed Con-Tact's CEO. It produces tactile and force sensors for industrial applications, making it a broad incumbent in the same sensor category with established channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Con-Tact corp