Selection of Nine R&D Themes related to Making Manufacturing and Other Data AI-Ready and Two R&D Themes related to Robotics Foundation Models Under the “GENIAC” Project to Strengthen Generative AI Development Capabilities

1. Background

Amid expanding use of generative AI across a wide range of sectors and intensifying global competition in its development, it is becoming increasingly important for Japan to secure and strengthen its generative AI development capabilities.

Data, in particular, has become a critical resource underpinning productivity improvement and innovation. As the use of publicly available data on the web for training, which has supported improvement in AI performance to date, has progressed, the use of real data held by companies and organizations will become even more important going forward.

In addition, AI robotics is a strategic area whose value goes beyond the creation of new industries. It contributes to addressing structural labor shortages resulting from population decline and a declining birthrate and aging population, allowing for the maintenance of essential services, advancing Digital Transformation (DX) and Green Transformation (GX) across supply chains, and securing autonomy and indispensability in terms of economic security. As such, it is directly linked to the very foundation of Japan’s future growth.

2. Overview of “GENIAC”

In order to swiftly establish domestic capabilities for generative AI development, METI and NEDO have been implementing the “GENIAC (Generative AI Accelerator Challenge)” project since February 2024, including providing computing resources required for foundation model development and hosting a related community.

As a new initiative starting in FY2026, support will be provided for development of methods to help address challenges in making manufacturing and other data AI-Ready (i.e., preparing data so that it can be utilized by AI) and for development of robotics foundation models.

• R&D on Making Manufacturing and Other Data AI-Ready (commissioned project)
  To promote the use of real data held by companies and organizations, which will become increasingly important for AI development and utilization, support will be provided for the research and development of methods to make manufacturing and other data AI-Ready, demonstrations and evaluation using real data to verify the effectiveness of such methods, and dissemination of the findings, under NEDO’s “Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems.”
• R&D on robotics foundation models (GENIAC) (grant program)
  To achieve autonomous control through enhanced intelligence enabled by AI, support will be newly provided for the development of robotics foundation models that directly control mechanical systems used in autonomous vehicles operating on public roads, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, and autonomous ships operating on waterways, and other public infrastructure.

3. Selected themes

R&D on making manufacturing and other data AI-Ready

From January 27 to February 26, 2026, NEDO conducted the following public call for proposals and announced the selected projects. For details of the selected themes and the implementation organizations, please refer to the following web page.

• Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems: Development of post-5G information and communication systems (commissioned project)
• Project period: One year within FY2026–FY2027
• Selected themes and implementing organizations (in Japanese)

R&D on robotics foundation models

From February 20 to March 23, 2026, NEDO conducted the following public call for proposals and announced the selected projects. For details of the selected themes and the implementation organizations, please refer to the following web page.

• Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems: Development of post-5G information and communication systems (grant program)
• Project period: Up to three years within FY2026–FY2029
• Selected themes and implementing organizations (in Japanese) 

Related Link

• Information on GENIAC is available at the following website.

Divisions in Charge

• AI Industry Strategy Office, IT Industry Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau

• Digital Economy Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau