US tech giant Microsoft has opened its first research and development center in Japan to focus on marrying robotics with artificial intelligence.

Microsoft Research Asia Tokyo is the latest addition to a series of technology labs the company is opening around the world.

The lab plans to focus on so-called embodied AI for applications in manufacturing, healthcare and other industries. It will also cooperate with major Japanese companies and universities.

Microsoft says it is impressed with Japan's expertise in robotic technologies.

Microsoft Research President Peter Lee says: "Robotics in Japan is one of the most important reasons we have established the research lab here. So we're both hopeful and optimistic that by establishing this research lab in Japan, which is at the very forefront of robotics that we will have a better success advancing our research in embodied AI."

Microsoft is one of several US technology giants investing in R&D bases and data centers in Japan. The others include Oracle and Amazon Web Services.