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/

Yuko Itatsu, the leader of the Basic research project “B’AI Global Forum: Research on norms, ethics and praxis for a truly gender equal society and a guarantee of rights for minorities in the AI age”, appeared on NHK’s Sunday Debate, broadcasting on April 16. She participated in the discussion with other specialists on how to deal with rapidly evolving Artificial Intelligence (AI), the impact of the emergence of ChatGPT on education and the workforce, and what regulations and rules should be established.

NHK website (available only in Japanese) :
https://www.nhk.jp/p/touron/ts/GG149Z2M64/blog/bl/pMlyjkN6AY/bp/pyqDxgDwpb/
https://www.nhk.jp/p/touron/ts/GG149Z2M64/episode/te/VP81Z5W4VZ/

B’AI Global Forum led by Professor Yuko Itatsu of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, has published its first book “Understanding AI in Society: How Technology Exerts Power.” (The University of Tokyo Press, March 2023) .

Professor Itatsu is the research leader of the basic research project “B’AI Global Forum: Research on norms, ethics and praxis for a truly gender equal society and a guarantee of rights for minorities in the AI age”.

For further details of the book, please visit the website below (Japanese only).
https://www.utp.or.jp/book/b10026693.html

B’AI Global Forum Official Website
https://baiforum.jp/

Follow @BeyondAI_UTokyo

An advertisement article entitled “The surprising new ideas coming from AI” about the Institute for AI and Beyond was published in the international scientific journal Nature on 9 March. The article was featured as part of a special issue on Japan by Nature Index. In the article, the efforts of the Institute are covered as well as the studies of Associate Professor Yoshiho IKEUCHI of the Institute of Industrial Science, Professor Eiji SAITOH of the Graduate School of Engineering, and Professor Yuko ITATSU of Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies are discussed. All three faculty are research leaders of Mid- and Long-term Research Projects at the Institute.

Link to the articles:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-022-00495-2
Link to the Top page of the special issue of Nature Index:
https://www.nature.com/collections/japan-index-2023
Nature issued on March 9, 2023
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/615/issues/7951

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/

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), and we aim to contribute to the further development of AI research and a better society in Japan by establishing collaborative innovation partnerships (CIP) and companies to commercialize and implement the results of the “high-cycle” research in society.

To expedite our efforts, the Institute for AI and Beyond has decided to call for proposals for pre-“high-cycle” research/seeds for commercialization.
Accordingly, we eagerly await proposals from interested professors.

◇Overview of the pre-“high-cycle” research
Research period:　Generally, within 1 year (reported for each year even if crossing over academic years)
Research budget:　Direct costs within 10 million JPY
Application deadline:
Friday, December 23, 2022 (for the three topics listed below)
Friday, January 6, 2023 (for topics other than the three listed below)
Misc.: Acceptance/rejection will be determined based on consultation with the organization and coordination with relevant staff at SoftBank. In pre-“high-cycle” research, you are supposed to undertake a feasibility study aimed at shifting to “high-cycle” research and commercialization

※For more details please read the document in PDF linked as below;
https://beyondai.jp/contents/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/call-for-proposal_Pre-High-cycle-research_E-1.pdf

Please apply as per the instructions mentioned on the above document in PDF by sending the necessary information via "Contact" on our website linked as below;
https://beyondai.jp/contents/contact/?lang=en

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)

SoftBank Corp. (hereinafter referred to SoftBank) and the University of Tokyo will collaboratively implement an educational program aiming to train next-generation AI talents who can work globally, targeted for students of the University of Tokyo between 1st February and 1st March, 2023.
The program is part of the efforts by the Institute for AI and Beyond of the University of Tokyo to give opportunities for students to learn about AI and data applications. The program’s aim is also to provide them experience in the front lines of business in a practical way through data hackathons experiences, study groups activities, social events, and global internships etc.
The overall planning and operation of the program will be run by SoftBank, leveraging its own resources and know-hows through Axross Recipe Biz, which usually provides services to businesses, as well as through collaboration with Findability Sciences Inc., an investee of SoftBank.

Registration for participation is scheduled to open on 2nd December on the UTokyo website. For details, please refer to the Press Release from the SoftBank as linked below.
Note that the educational program will be in Japanese.

＜Related Links＞ ※ available in Japanese only
・Press Release by SoftBank
https://beyondai.jp/contents/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Press-Release_SB_UTokyo-educational-program-for-New-generation-AI-talents_J.pdf
・Article at SoftBank HP
https://www.softbank.jp/corp/news/press/sbkk/2022/20221121_01/
・Web page for registration at UTokyo
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/students/special-activities/ugip.html
・Axross-Recipe
https://axross-recipe.com/
・Findability Sciences Inc.
https://findabilitysciences.co.jp/

It was announced on November 10, 2022, that Professor Eiji SAITOH of the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, was selected as the awardee of the Nishina Memorial Prize for 2022 for his achievements on “Pioneering contribution to the physics of spin current”. The award ceremony will be held on December 6.

The Nishina Memorial Prize has been awarded to physicists for their outstanding achievements in the field of basic and applied physics every year since its establishment in 1955.

Prof. Saitoh gave the following comment on his selection, “This award recognizes the development of basic physics of spin current. In my group, we are currently developing spin current physics further and entering new research areas of quantum device physics and quantum AI. With this award as an encouragement, we will continue to contribute to the further development of science and technology.”

Prof. Saitoh is the project leader of the Basic research project (Integrating Physics and AI) entitled “Analysis of materials’ quantum properties using AI (Quantum ID: Exploiting “Quantum Fingerprintings” of materials with AI)” at the Institute for AI and Beyond.

・Nishina Memorial Foundation HP
https://www.nishina-mf.or.jp/en
・Press release announcing the winners (PDF）(Japanese only)
https://www.nishina-mf.or.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022NMPj.pdf
・Prof. Saitoh's Project page
https://beyondai.jp/contents/projects/saitoh/?lang=en
・Saitoh lab. Profile page
https://saitoh.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/member/saitoh.html

Professor Yuko Itatsu, Professor Yujin Yaguchi, and Associate Professor Ai Hisano participated in the Global University Summit for the Rome Call for AI Ethics held on October 26 and 27, 2022, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
Profs. Itatsu, Yaguchi and Hisano belong to the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies at the University of Tokyo and are members of the Mid- and Long-term Research Project " B’AI Global Forum: Research on norms, ethics and praxis for a truly gender equal society and a guarantee of rights for minorities in the AI age ".

The summit featured presentations of the latest research, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking events aimed at examining the role of universities through research, education, and policy in developing ethical approaches to artificial intelligence (AI).
Professor Yaguchi was invited to talk at the panel discussion of the Session 3 on the 26th, representing the Institute for AI and Beyond, while Professor Itatsu and Associate Professor Hisano shared a poster presentation highlighting the approaches of both the B’AI Global Forum and the Institute for AI and Beyond.

＜Related Links＞
・Global University Summit for the Rome Call for AI Ethics
https://techethicslab.nd.edu/news-and-events/rome-call-for-ai-ethics-a-global-university-summit/
・Rome Call for AI Ethics
https://www.romecall.org/
・B'AI Global Forum HP
https://baiforum.jp/en/