Call for Applicants Starts for Supporting the Development of Generative AI Foundation Models

1. Background

Generative AI is an innovative technology that is expected not only to increase the user-friendliness of a variety of products and services into which such AI is incorporated but also to contribute to solving social problems, including labor shortages. It is considered to have the potential to exert a significant impact on industrial activities and people's lives.

In particular, the ability to develop foundation models that form the basis of AI for each of the various applications becomes a foundation for companies to appropriately manage the risks of generative AI while creating innovation.

The development and use of foundation models have been advancing mainly in the field of languages. Meanwhile, countries worldwide have been discussing a variety of future directions for such models, including approaches to making data available in a variety of fields other than languages and appropriately dividing functions to enhance user-friendliness. In these early days of the foundation models, it is important for Japan to cultivate highly skilled human resources for software development and ensure their ability to develop the models.

To this end, under its Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Foundation for Post 5G Information Communication Systems, NEDO will intensively support companies and other entities for a certain period of time in developing a foundation model that is competitive and has a greater ripple effect.

2. Outline of the project

Under this project, NEDO will swiftly procure advanced computational resources in bulk, which is, in particular, a challenge in developing a fundamental model, open a call for applicants as well as hold examinations by experts, and based on this, support successful applicants in the costs incurred in the use of the computational resources for the development of fundamental models that are considered promising in terms of competitiveness and a ripple effect (presenting the fixed amount of subsidies for SMEs, etc., and 50% of the costs as subsidies for large companies).

NEDO will make use of the services provided by Google Cloud Corporation this time as these computational resources.

For details of the call, visit the NEDO website below.

In addition, NEDO will conduct community activities to promote mutual collaboration and knowledge sharing, in which not only successful applicants as main participants, but also individuals, including those having the ability to develop an AI model, those capable of providing data on a variety of fields, and AI users, participate.

3. Period of the call:

From November 10 (Fri.) to December 11 (Mon.), 2023

Related Link

• NEDO website: Webpage for the call for applicants for the NEDO Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Foundation for Post 5G Information Communication Systems (Development of Post 5G Information Communication Systems)

Division in Charge

Software and Information Service Industry Strategy Office, IT Industry Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau