To the University of Tokyo faculty,

Beyond AI Joint Project with SoftBank aims to build an ecosystem for the social implementation and commercialization of research results through the Institute for AI and Beyond.
Currently, the Institute promotes mid-to-long-term (basic research) and “high-cycle” research (applied research). In high-cycle research, we aim to achieve social implementation and commercialization through the establishment of collaborative innovation partnerships (CIP) and eventually the establishment of companies, contributing to the further development of AI research in Japan and the realization of a better society.

The Institute for AI and Beyond has decided to call for proposals from research groups (individuals are also acceptable, but not students only) to solve issues faced by SoftBank or propose new research ideas to promote the industrialization of themes related to generative AI.
The following will be provided free of charge by SoftBank for conducting research:

1. Large-scale AI computing "NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD" (free of charge)
2. Support for building the necessary environment to utilize the above SuperPOD (free of charge)
3. Creation of AI learning data necessary for research (free of charge only if requested to be created by Softbank)

In addition, research budgets will be provided within the framework of pre-high-cycle research in Beyond AI Joint Project with SoftBank.

Overview of the Call for Proposals (Pre-High-Cycle Research)
■ Research Period: In principle, within one year (if crossing fiscal years, settlement is done annually)
■ Research Budget (excluding the above free provisions): Direct costs up to 10 million yen per project
■ Number of Projects to be Promoted: Approximately 6 projects
■ Eligibility: Faculty members (including project faculty members) and researchers (such as project researchers) with an employment relationship with the University of Tokyo
■ Application Deadline: By 18:00 on Monday, January 20, 2025 (JST)
■ Others: Decision on acceptance or rejection will be made after interview by the institute and consultation with the SoftBank researchers.
Themes other than those being recruited are also accepted, but themes that cannot create synergy with SoftBank may not be adopted.

※ Please be sure to check the following PDF (jn Japanese) for details (including how to apply).
https://beyondai.jp/contents/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/call_for_superpoduser.pdf

Please send any queries you may have regarding the invitation for proposals to the following address:
bai.kenkyushien.adm[at]gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Please change [at] to @
(Research Support Team at the Institute for AI and Beyond)

＜RELATED LINKS＞
https://www.softbank.jp/corp/news/press/sbkk/2023/20231031_01/
https://www.nvidia.com/ja-jp/data-center/dgx-superpod/

HEMILLIONS Inc., a commercial company, was established on 7th April as a joint initiative of the University of Tokyo, SoftBank Corp., and KIS Inc. The company will promote health and medical data standardization and their dissemination by utilizing the HL7 FHIR (FHIR: Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard. Ultimately, HEMILLIONS will work towards building a society that can utilize health and medical data safely and securely by developing and providing solutions such as FRUCtoS, a platform software including FHIR server.

The HEMILLIONS started as an applied research project, a part of the efforts undertaken by the Institute for AI and Beyond, and was later converted to a joint venture company through the Collaborative Innovation Partnership (CIP) system. It is the first commercialized and incorporated company initiated by the Institute. It is also the first case for the University of Tokyo to directly hold common shares of a company in return for their intellectual properties.

The Institute of AI and Beyond aims to create new academic fields by integrating fundamental technology research of AI and other research fields. It also aims to establish an ecosystem which can return resources to the University to enhance its education and research activities by accelerating the social implementation and business deployment of the research outcomes generated from the Institute. The Institute will continue its efforts in commercialization based on the research outcomes via the CIP system to further promote the ecosystem.

The full press release is available below (in Japanese only) (PDF).
https://beyondai.jp/contents/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20230420_Press-Release_HEMILLIONS.pdf

UTokyo Focus　https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/ja/press/z1702_00042.html
SoftBank News https://www.softbank.jp/corp/news/press/sbkk/2023/20230420_01/

The research using AI enhanced with statistical methods developed by Professor Takaaki Takahashi and Associate Professor Shonosuke Sugasawa of the Center for Spatial Information Science at the University of Tokyo, along with statistical data on human flow and various other data provided by SoftBank Corp. and JR Kyushu Group companies respectively, to provide highly accurate forecasts of the number of visitors and sales has started.

This research considers JR Hakata Station as a representative model of a growing city in Japan and uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to identify factors that influence the number of visitors and sales at JR Hakata City, a large-scale commercial facility adjacent to JR Hakata Station, in order to make more accurate long-term forecasts. The goal of the research is to create attractive facilities for users by adapting the results of this research in various measures to improve users’ satisfaction and increase sales as well as contribute to promoting smart cities in other cities in Japan.

The full press release (in Japanese only) by Kyushu Railway Company, JR Kyushu Ekibiru Holdings, JR HAKATA CITY Co., Ltd., the University of Tokyo and SoftBank Corp is available as below (PDF).
https://beyondai.jp/contents/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/400208505.pdf

＜Related Links＞ ※ available in Japanese only
・Press Release at UTokyo Focus
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/ja/press/z1702_00033.htm
・Press Release at SoftBank
https://www.softbank.jp/corp/news/press/sbkk/2023/20230224_02/

The University of Tokyo and SoftBank Corp. (hereinafter referred to as SoftBank), in collaboration with Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to Odakyu Railway), began a new field experiment in December 2022 related to the Next-Generation AI Urban Simulator, expanding the target from a limited number of commercial facilities around Odakyu Ebina Station to cover the entire area around the Station.

“Next-Generation AI Urban Simulator” is one of the research themes promoted by the Institute for AI and Beyond under collaborative initiatives by the University of Tokyo and SoftBank, which have conducted the said research and development since April 2021, in collaboration with Odakyu Railway.

The field experiment aims to revitalize the livelihood and economy of the entire city by attracting more participants to local events, promoting purchasing activities, as well as improving efficiency of store operations based on the data acquired by “Next Generation AI Urban Simulator”. Furthermore, it is expected to solve urban issues such as reducing food loss and saving energy etc., to realize a sustainable urban environment.

Please see the following full press release (in Japanese only) (PDF).
https://beyondai.jp/contents/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PR_Next-Generation-AI-Urban-Simulator-20230117.pdf

＜Related Links＞ ※ available in Japanese only
・Press Release at UTokyo Focus
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/ja/press/
・Press Release at SoftBank HP
https://www.softbank.jp/corp/news/press/sbkk/2023/20230117_01/
・Press Release at Odakyu Railway HP
https://www.odakyu.jp/company_information/

Associate Professor Kenji Tanaka's research development of a "Urban Simulator for the next generation utilizing AI digital technology" from the Institute for AI and Beyond's Applied Research (High-cycle Research) has been featured on DG Lab Haus, a media outlet that provides information on cutting-edge technologies. This article features interviews with Associate Professor Tanaka, Mr. Shinichi Matsuda, Senior Director, AI Strategy Office Technology Unit, SoftBank Corp., and Ryo Kunieda, Manager, AI Strategy Office.

Title: "Another Ebina City" in Virtual Space - Institute for AI and Beyond's "Urban Simulator for the next generation utilizing AI digital technology"
Media: DG Lab Haus
Article URL: https://media.dglab.com/2021/06/08-ebina-01/

The University of Tokyo, Softbank Corp., Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. and GRID Corp. will collaborate on the research development of a "Urban Simulator for the next generation utilizing AI digital technology" implementing Algorithm for People-Flow Naviation that encourages visitors to change their behavior in Ebina Station and area facilities on the Odakyu Line as one of the research themes in the Institute of AI and Beyond.

PDF（Japanese Only）
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/content/400160449.pdf