Research and Development onArtificial Intelligence Technology in Japan

November 29, 2017Hisashi Sekine

Director General and Project ManagerRobot and Artificial Intelligence Technology Department

New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

Table of Contents

1. Japanese Government and NEDO Activities on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2. NEDO Robotics and AI Projects (SamuRAI Project)

3. AI Promotion in Japan

4. Global-Scale R&D on AI Technology

5. Survey Research Using Competition Method

6. NEDO Special Courses Related to AI Human Resource Development

7. Conclusion

1

1. Japanese Government and NEDO Activities on Robotics and AI

2

3

Japanese Government and NEDO Activities on Robotics and AI

FY2014

ＮＥＤＯ

March 2015Technical strategy formulated for AI and robotics fields

May 2015Development of next-generation AI and robotics core technology started

April 2016Robot and AI Technology Department established

April 2014Technology Strategy Center andRobot and Machinery System Technology Departmentestablished

April 2016Publication of "Vision for Prospective AI Technologies and Applications"

May 2015National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)AI Research Center （AIRC） established

FY2015 FY2016 FY2017

Robotics

AI

May 20172nd Tri-Ministerial AI Symposium

March 2017AI R&D goals, AI industrialization roadmap announced

April 2016Fifth Public-Private Dialogue Towards Investment for the Future （Japan Economic Revitalization Headquarters）

April 2016Strategic Council for AI Technology established1st Tri-Ministerial AI Symposium

September 2014First meeting of Robot Revolution Realization Council

February 2015New Robot Strategy approved（Japan Economic Revitalization Headquarters）

Government

2. NEDO Robotics and AI Projects (SamURAI Project)

4

NEDO’s Robot Development History and Future Plan

2015H27FY

1999H11FY

2000H12FY

2001H13FY

2002H14FY

2003H15FY

2004H16FY

2005H17FY

2006H18FY

2007H19FY

2008H20FY

2009H21FY

2010H22FY

2011H23FY

2012H24FY

2013H25FY

2014H26FY

Usa

ge S

tudy

Base

Te

chno

logy

Dem

onst

ratio

n

Mar

keta

bilit

y

5

Manufacturing & Service Robot Development(1.5)

InnovativeAI & Robot Technology(2.0)

Manufacturing Robot Installation(1.0) (JARA)

2016H28FY

2017H29FY

5

SIP AutomatedDriving System

2017～

World RobotSummit (WRS)

2018 / 2020

Strategic Advancement of Multi-Purpose Ultra-Human Robotand AI Technologies（SamuRAI） Project

Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Language understanding

Decision-making support

PredictionCommon core AI

ＶGathering AI researchers and engineers at AIRCto promote globally-advanced AI research

(1) Fundamental Research targeting Large-Scale Real-World Applications

(2) AI Framework and Advanced Core Modules

(3) Standard Tasks and Benchmarking

Examples of Applications:

6

Strategy for AI research

7

Core Center of AI for Industry-Academia Co-operation

InstitutesCompanies

Technology TransferJoint Research Technology Transfer

Spin-off

Start-ups

Machine Learning and Probabilistic Modeling

Brain-inspired AI Data-Knowledge Integration AI

AI embedded in the Real World

Observation,Data Acquisition

Modeling,

Prediction

Modeling,Recognition,Prediction

･･･Natural LanguageNatural LanguageUnderstanding

Planning,Control

②AI Framework andAdvanced Modules

①Large-Scale Fundamental Research

Modeling Phenomenain Daily Human Life

Constructing Geo-SpatialInformation Platform

Robot For Manufacturingand Daily Life Support

Accelerating Scientific Research

③Shared Tasks and Benchmark Data

Support improvement

Productivity【Manufacturing】PredictionEfficient Production【Services】Metrics &VisualizationSupport improvement

Mobility

Efficient MobilityQuality of MobilityAutonomous Car

Health, Medical Care, WelfareAI-aided Diagnosispersonalized medicineRisk predictionDisease identificationDrug development

Safety/ SecurityDisaster preventionDisaster ResponseEstimation of affectedareaEvacuation Plan

- Creating positive cycle among research and deployment of AI

8

Entrustment

Joint research

③Next-generation AI common infrastructure technology R&D

②Next-generation AI framework research, advanced core module R&D

①Large-scale basic research, advanced technology R&D

NEDOProject Manager: Hisashi Sekine

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

AI Research Center (AIRC)Project Leader: Junichi Tsujii

Human resources development

Advanced Telecommunications

Research Institute (ATR)

Preferred Networks MOLCURE

Institute of Physical and

Chemical Research (RIKEN)

Re-entrustment

or joint implement-

ation

(As of November 2017)Adoption/Technology Promotion

CommitteeChairman: Minoru Asada

（Professor, Osaka University）

TOPS Systems

Shared tasks:(1) Living behavior modeling (AIRC, Chiba Institute of Technology, Tamagawa University）(2) Construction of geospatial information platform and “smartization” of space movement (AIRC, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Nagoya University）(3) Work performed by robots using AI (AIRC, Waseda University）(4) Text information integration for acceleration of science and technology research (AIRC）

(1) R&D for next-generation AI framework (AIRC, National Informatics Institute (NII), the University of Tokyo）(2) R&D of advanced core modules (AIRC, Chubu University, Chukyo University, Osaka University, Kanazawa University,Shinshu University, Nara Institute of Science and Technology）

(1) R&D for next generation neuromorphic AI (AIRC, the University of Tokyo, University of Electro-Communications, Kyoto University,Kyushu Institute of Technology, Future University Hakodate）(2) R&D on integrated data/knowledge-type AI (AIRC）(3) Advancement of machine learning and stochastic modeling technology (AIRC, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology）

NEDO/AIRC providing AI advanced technology human resource development course at the University of Tokyo NEDO/AIRC providing AI basic technology human resources training course for data scientists at the University of Tokyo

R&D Implementation Structure for Advanced AI Technology

Participation in AIRC Research

Collaborative Research with AIRC

Participation in NEDO Projects

（Secondment/Cross-appointment）

Company・Contracts to perform

collaborative research with AIRC

・Pays research expenses

・May use AIRC’s IPunder contract

AIRC・Accepts researchers on

seconded or cross-appointment contracts

・Pays labor costs

・Allows researchers to useAIRC's IP

Cross-appointment/ SecondmentContract

AIRCCompanyUniversity

9

3. AI Promotion in Japan

10

Fifth Public-Private Dialogue Towards Investment for the Future

11

Photos from the Prime Minister‘s official website: http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/97_abe/actions/201604/12kanmintaiwa.html

At Japan’s fifth Public-Private Dialogue Towards Investment for the Future held on April 12, 2016, Prime Minister Abe announced that during fiscal year 2016 Japan would establish AI research and development goals and formulate a roadmap for AI industrialization. To that end, Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would gather the wisdom of industry, academia, and government, and create the cross-sectoral Strategic Council for AI Technology.

12

Collaborative AI R&D and Technology Promotion

Government/companies and others in target sectors

Lead body for tri-ministerial collaboration on AI R&D and innovation policiesCouncil composed of: Chair; Advisor from Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation; representatives from industrial sector and academia; executives in supervisory positions from five companies; and bureau directors from three ministries. Council secretariat co-hosted by three ministries.

Strategic Council for AI Technology

Coordinates research and approves detailed themes for collaborative research

Council for Research Collaboration (Director level body)

Collaboration

Source: "New Industrial Structure Vision" - Japan's Strategy to Lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution - Interim Consolidation of theIndustrial Structure Council, April 27, 2016, revised by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

RoadmapTask Force

Fostering Experts

Task Force

Data Maintenance & Open Tool Task Force

Venture development

· Financial collaboration

Task Force

• Under the direction of the Prime Minister, the Strategic Council for AI Technology was established in fiscal year 2016. The council serves as the lead body under which the three relevant Japanese ministries (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC); Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)) collaborate on the R&D of AI technologies.• The three ministries established a Council for Research Collaboration and a Council for Industry Collaboration to accelerate R&D on AI technology as well as facilitate its commercialization.

Coordinates R&D collaboration in areas such as human resource development, standardization, roadmap preparation, analyses on technology/intellectual property trends, and regulatory reform.

Council for Industry Collaboration

Deploy results

AIST(AIRC)

（METI）manager of center：

Junichi Tsujii

RIKEN（MEXT）manager of

center：Masashi Sugiyama

NICT（MIC）

CiNet manager of center：

Toshio Yanagida

13

Establishment of NEDO’s AI Portal Website

NEDO’s AI Portal http://www.nedo.go.jp/activities/ZZJP2_100064.html?from=b

At the recently established NEDO AI portal website (URL below), information is provided regarding Japanese government AI R&D activities and efforts to promote next-generation AI. Information on the portal is provided in Japanese on the following topics:

AI Technology Strategy Outline · Policy Reports/Database Related Councils

Budget Announcements Related Links Inquiries

Artificial Intelligence Development Phases

14

Industrialization Roadmap Projected by the Fusion of AI and other related Technologies (Productivity)

15

4. Global-Scale R&D on AI Technology

16

17

Leading research on social implementation of next-generation

AI technology on global scale (15 projects, 39 researchers)

Leading research on social implementation of next-generation

AI technology on global scale (15 projects, 39 researchers) In accord with METI's Global Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, new

AIST/AIRC facilities will be built in the Tokyo waterfront area and the city of Kashiwa in

Chiba Prefecture. Industry-academia-government collaboration will take place at these

facilities, allowing Japan to gather expertise from around the world and carry out

cutting-edge collaborative research aimed at the social implementation of AI

technology after fiscal year 2018.

With this in mind, NEDO has selected 15 projects to promote the R&D of promising

next-generation technologies that integrate robotics, materials, and devices with AI

and address social issues by utilizing high-quality on-site data. Through this initiative,

NEDO aims to both help solve Japanese social issues (e.g. improving productivity,

providing care and support to the elderly, promoting healthy lifestyles) and establish

AI technologies with global applications.

Promotion of Leading AI Research

18

AIST’s Information Infrastructure

AIST

In Japan Overseas

Commercial cloud

AI center base @Linkai

NII SINET5 networkNICT JGN-X network

R&D data

AIRC network

Collaborating organization

Data holder

Transparent collaboration with commercial cloud by virtual private network and Direct Connect service and others

Collaborative research with overseas data holders facilitated by stable external connection with institution

Suppression of power consumption essential ⇒ Power-saving AI devices

Nairobi+ cluster （Tsukuba）Started June 2016 AIST AI cloud AAIC

Started April 2017 AI bridging cloud ABCI (Kashiwa)Planned sometime after April 2018

100 gigabits per second high-speed data transfer using dedicated line dark fiber network servicing high-definition video conferences (currently under maintenance)

Collaborating organization

5. Survey Research Using Competition Method

19

20

Using competitions to support small and medium-sized AI venture companies (6 topics, 7 researchers)

Using competitions to support small and medium-sized AI venture companies (6 topics, 7 researchers)

NEDO recently adopted six research topics proposed by promising AI venture

companies with the aim of discovering and supporting innovative and challenging AI

technologies. These research topics were selected from among 57 applications

submitted for a competition that involved document screening and demonstrations of

prototypes.

This research study is consistent with the Japanese government’s AI technology

strategy. By supporting these startups, NEDO promotes the social implementation of

AI and strengthens industrial competitiveness by creating new demand and

accelerating integration with existing sectors.

Promotion of AI Survey Research

21

Competition method

Evaluates the merit of submissions using practical demonstration of prototypes

Stimulates venture companies’ competitiveness

Leads to increased business opportunities due to positive publicity from success at competition

Uses simplified application form that encourages significantly higher number of applicants

Matchmaking support

Provides AI startups with matchmaking support to facilitate tie-ups with large companies who can help develop sales channels and find suppliers, thus fostering the commercialization of AI technology

Competition Method and Matchmaking Support

22

Significant increase in applicants

Simplified application

form

Practical demonstration

of prototype

MatchmakingSupport

Competition method

AI Competition Method Supports Small and Medium-Sized Venture Companies

23

提案書

提出日：平成 年 月 日

調査研究テーマ名 〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇の調査研究

（20 字程度を目安として記載してください。）

前回提出日（再提出時のみ）

平成 年 月 日

解決すべき社会課題 〇〇 （40 字以内としてください。）

委託対象となる調査

研究内容（技術課題

と解決手段）及び金

額

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

調査研究費用総額（見込み）：50 百万円

調査研究後、本格的

な研究から実用化に

至るまでのシナリ

オ・構想、

実用化のイメージ・

インパクト

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

デモンストレーショ

ン内容

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

デモンストレーショ

ンに必要な機器・環

境

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

提案者 1

（連絡先）

法人情報

名称 ○○○株式会社

住 所 〒 ○○県○○市○○1－2－3 ○○○株式会社

ＴＥＬ ○○○○－○○○○－○○○○

主たる業種 情報サービス業 資本金 20 百万円 従業員数 25 名

現に実施あるいは応募している公的資金による類似の研究開発

名称（テーマ名） ○○○

提案時期 ○○～○○

技術内容と本提案との相違点 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

過去のＮＥＤＯ研究開発プロジェクト実績

●プロジェクト番号・名称：P00000 ○○技術開発

●実施期間：○○年度～○○年度

●プロジェクトで生み出した技術的成果と実用化の状況：（例）

・当該事業で開発した○○○技術を△△△製品の×××として活用している。

・当該事業で開発した○○○技術を利用して△△△の製造をしている。

・当該事業で取得した○○に関する特許を他社にライセンス供与している。

●成果が活用されている製品名：

●直近の売上額：

●その他（社会的便益、CO2 削減効果、雇用創出など）：

研究開発責任者 所属部署・役職 ○○○事業部 部長

氏 名 ○○ ○○

Ｅ－ｍａｉｌ ○○○○@○○○.○○.○○

ｅ－Ｒａｄ研究者番号 8 桁の数字

Application form greatly simplified compared to

conventional NEDO form

• One or two page proposal may be sent via email

• Prior to final deadline, applications may be

withdrawn and resubmitted any number of times

Proposal

R&D planR&D content

Organization chartEstimated budget

Financial statements

Outline of Proposal Application Procedure

24

Award Adopted ThemesCompanyName(s)

Grand Prize Practical Application of End-to-End Speech Recognition AI Capable of Providing Multi-Speaker/Multi-Language Support Hmcomm

Award of Excellence/

SpecialJury Award

Study on Using AI to Enhance Medical Analyses ARIShimadzu

″ AI for Japanese Accustomed to Using Smart Phones SOINN

″ Research on Unstructured Data Retrieval by Interactive Interfaces Using Deep Learning BEDORE

Special Jury Award Development of Multisensory AI Camera earth eyes

″ Research on Using AI to Enhance Back-Office Operations in Contract-Related Work Cinnamon

FY2017 Research Survey List of Adopted Themes

24

6. NEDO Special Courses Related toAI Human Resource Development

25

26

Human resource development related to NEDO special courses

Human resource development related to NEDO special courses

NEDO is working with Osaka University and the University of Tokyo on AI-related human resource development training courses. The courses for fiscal year 2017 are already fully registered so courses are also planned for fiscal year 2018.

NEDO Special Courses Related to AI Human Resource Development

7. Conclusion

27

28

Project Introduction Handbook

http://www.nedo.go.jp/library/pamphlets/RBAI_hbook201709.html★Handbook available in Japanese from the following website★

Toward a Society Where AI Enriches the Lives of People

29

Improved industrial productivity, taking advantage of Japanese expertise with manufacturing technologyEnhanced responses to addressing social challenges such as smaller working age population, aging society, emphasis on healthy lifestyles, and increased demand for medical and nursing careMore effective responses to solving and preventing crime More timely assistance with disaster prediction, prevention, and reconstruction in Japan where such disasters occur frequently

AIRC achievements in using robots equipped with AI to solve social issues

Thank you for your attention.

Toward the realization of a better society where AI enriches the lives of people!

30

Robots & AI for

Happiness31