Cosmo Energy Holdings to Join MIT's Industrial Liaison Program (MIT ILP)

Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. (President: Shigeru Yamada; hereinafter "the Company") has decided to join the Industrial Liaison Program (MIT ILP) offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), effective April 1, 2026. Established in 1948, the MIT ILP is designed to build strong partnerships with companies around the world. This marks the first time the Cosmo Energy Group has participated in an industry-academia collaboration program led by an overseas university. By doing so, the Group aims to enhance its access to global research and technology trends and accelerate the speed from exploring business opportunities to project implementation.

■ Background and Purpose of Participation
In its 7th Consolidated Medium-Term Management Plan and long-term vision "Vision 2030," the Cosmo Energy Group has set goals for "strengthening competitiveness and decarbonizing the petroleum business" and "expanding next-generation energy." Domestically, the Group has been developing a business exploration framework through partnerships with venture capital firms and others. However, against the backdrop of advancing energy transitions and the sophistication of AI technology, there is a growing need to further strengthen global business creation opportunities and enhance decision-making through dialogue with cutting-edge researchers. Given this, the Company decided to join the MIT ILP to leverage the world-class research insights and global network of MIT. Through this participation, the Company aims to discover and acquire innovative technology seeds that transcend the boundaries of existing businesses in a wide range of fields, including energy, materials, biotechnology, and AI/IoT.

■ Benefits and Activities

The benefits and activities resulting from participation in the MIT ILP are as follows:

・Access to World-Class Research: Through direct dialogue with faculty and researchers and participation in year-round conferences, the Company will quickly grasp international technology trends and connect them to the creation of new business opportunities.

・Startup Matching: Through "The MIT Startup Exchange (STX)," a program that supports the growth and relationship-building of MIT-affiliated startups, the Company will expand its contact with promising startups and promote the building of partnerships for new business creation, including joint studies, demonstrations, and collaborations.

・Group-wide Utilization: The Company will serve as an "information hub," establishing a system where insights required by the technical departments and research laboratories of each Group company can be shared and utilized promptly.

・Insights for Management: Through private seminars (Executive Briefings) for management, the Company will gain insights into global management perspectives and technology strategies to inform decision-making.

■ Future Outlook

Through its collaboration with the MIT ILP, the Cosmo Energy Group will build an information-sharing mechanism centered on the Company to rapidly deploy MIT's cutting-edge knowledge across the Group. The Group will accelerate cross-organizational technology exploration and evaluation, leading to the cultivation and commercialization of next-generation businesses.