Announcement Regarding the Formation of an AI/DX Business Collaboration Project Team with IP DREAM Co., Ltd. and the Commencement of Discussions for a Capital and Business Alliance

Ekitan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Kenda Kikui; hereinafter "the Company") announces the formation of a project team for AI/DX business collaboration with IP DREAM Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Jiro Shimoyama; hereinafter "IPD"), which operates in the fields of AI platforms, AI security, and AI IoT solutions, and that both companies have begun discussions regarding a capital and business alliance with IPD.

Background and Purpose

As announced in our medium-term management plan on January 30, 2026, our basic policy is to "transform mobility experiences into value and create a 'circular mobility social infrastructure' that connects 'people and people, people and towns'." Based on this policy, we recognize that providing deeper value to the services we already offer and to our customers is a critical management theme. Furthermore, we have received many requests from our customers for business problem-solving in the context of AI/DX.

Against this background, aiming to further promote our AI/DX business, we have formed a project team for AI/DX business collaboration with IPD, which already has a track record of AI/DX solutions such as multilingual AI communication platforms and AI security services.

Project Team Activities

The team will work on the following to achieve its goal of providing a service platform that connects residents and local businesses across regions, starting from the local "station."

①: Disaster Prevention DX Platform Business Collaboration

As the Japanese government has decided to establish a "Disaster Prevention Agency" as the command center for disaster prevention and response in November 2026, demand for "disaster prevention and response" is expected to increase. The Company is also considering entering this business area in addition to its existing tourism domain.

During natural disasters, many users are stranded in and around station premises due to service suspensions. This platform aims to prevent excessive congestion at stations during major disasters and promote swift and safe evacuation behavior by accurately providing appropriate evacuation destinations, means of transportation, and routes. This will significantly reduce the risk of secondary disasters.

Furthermore, in collaboration with railway operators, local governments, and communication portal operators, we will integrate our mobility support services with IPD's multilingual AI communication platform to provide accurate and easy-to-understand disaster information to local citizens, including foreign nationals.

Additionally, this platform can be utilized not only during large-scale natural disasters but also during temporary service suspensions due to accidents or equipment failures. Moreover, an AI agent will accurately grasp diverse needs and constraints in daily mobility, proposing optimized transportation methods for each user, thereby providing seamless mobility support in both normal and emergency situations.

②: Tourism DX Platform Business Collaboration

This platform will capture the rapidly increasing inbound demand as a growth driver and provide multilingual tourism marketing functions to revitalize tourism around regional railway lines.

Specifically, we will highly integrate our MaaS service infrastructure, including planned tickets and regional coupons, with IPD's multilingual AI communication platform. We will seamlessly provide coupons for dining, various services, and events linked to transportation for domestic and international travelers. Furthermore, we will realize itinerary planning support by an AI agent and smooth communication support through AI translation, maximizing convenience and customer experience value at all touchpoints before, during, and after travel.

③: Security Service Business Collaboration

To connect regional businesses across a wide area, building a highly reliable inter-connection infrastructure is indispensable, and we will provide security services to achieve this.

Specifically, by implementing IPD's integrated security solutions and highly robust P2P-VPN security technology into the business infrastructure of our stakeholders, we will promote the construction of a regional information network that combines safety and reliability.

Project Team Structure

＜Project Leaders＞

IPD: Minoru Oda, Director overseeing AI Platform

Our Company: Masamichi Kamada, General Manager of Corporate Business Division and Business Development Department

＜Project Operations Evaluation Committee＞

IPD: Jiro Shimoyama, Representative Director

Our Company: Tomoaki Fujii, Director

Project Team Member Introductions

・IPD: Jiro Shimoyama, Representative Director

Joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (now NTT Corporation, NTT Communications Corporation) in 1981. Held various positions including Secretary in the President's Office, Section Chief in the Accounting Department, Section Chief in charge of Human Resources, studied abroad in France, Chief Specialist and General Manager in charge of Commercialization, Researcher at AT&T Bell Laboratories, and Department Manager for Global Business Promotion in the International Business Division. Promoted relations with overseas carriers, M&A, and new business development, including the China-Japan-US broadband submarine cable laying project, and numerous other projects in Asia and China.

In 2001, served as Representative Director of eContext Co., Ltd., and Advisor to Digital Garage, Inc.

In 2004, established Mihate nu Yume Co., Ltd. (now IP DREAM Co., Ltd.) and assumed the position of Representative Director (current).

・IPD: Minoru Oda, Director overseeing AI Platform

Joined Hitachi, Ltd. in 1987. Served as Department Manager for Business Development in the Strategic Business Planning Office, and Department Manager for AI/Data Utilization Business Development Consulting in Lumada CoE.

Joined IP DREAM Co., Ltd. in 2025 and assumed the position of Director (current).

・Our Company: Tomoaki Fujii, Director

Joined Nichiei Securities Co., Ltd. (now SBI Securities Co., Ltd.) in 1985. Assigned to the Research Department in 1988, and has since engaged in securities analyst work for over 30 years. After serving at Morningstar Japan K.K. (now SBI Global Asset Management Co., Ltd.), as Head of Corporate Research Department at Takagi Securities Co., Ltd., and Head of Investment Research Department at Akatsuki Securities Inc., he joined Bold Investment Co., Ltd. in 2023.

Assumed the position of Director at Ekitan Co., Ltd. in June 2025.

・Our Company: Masamichi Kamada, General Manager of Corporate Business Division and Business Development Department

Joined the Company in 2015. After working in the New Business Development Office and President's Office, he managed multiple capital and business alliance projects as part of the Corporate Planning Office and Management Strategy Office, executing them through to closing. Subsequently, he assumed directorships at three group companies. Currently, as General Manager of Corporate Business Division and Business Development Department, he leads the Company's corporate business.

Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate with IPD, primarily in our corporate business, to leverage IPD's AI/DX business assets to strengthen our corporate business and aim to provide "social infrastructure that connects people, regions, and services, starting from stations." We will announce details of the capital and business alliance, currently under consideration, sequentially via press releases once finalized.

End

Overview of IP DREAM Co., Ltd.

Established in 2004. As an AI service company contributing to national resilience, it operates with advanced expertise in three domains: AI security, AI platforms, and AI IoT solutions. Through these solutions, it aims to improve digital infrastructure safety, promote smooth communication between people, and visualize on-site conditions.

▼Corporate Website

https://www.ip-dream.co.jp/

▼Project Examples

・"Multilingual AI Concierge" developed in collaboration with local communities (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Digital Services Bureau)

https://www.digitalservice.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/business/data-utilization/case-study/project-r602

▼AI Platform Services

https://www.ip-dream.co.jp/ai-platform/

Overview of Ekitan Co., Ltd.

Established in 2003. Based on the business concept "From the Stations – Let’s Start from the Station," it aims to "transform mobility experiences into value and create a 'circular mobility social infrastructure' that connects 'people and people, people and towns'." It operates media, advertising, and solution businesses utilizing its long-standing transfer guidance technology and algorithms.

▼Corporate Website

https://ekitan.co.jp/

▼Service Websites

「Ekitan.com」：https://ekitan.com

「Ekitan LOCAL」：https://ekitan.com/local-info

「Ekitan PICKS」：https://ekitan.com/media

「Ekitan Odekake Lab」：https://ekitan.com/odekake/lab

▼Contact Information for this matter

Ekitan Co., Ltd. Corporate Planning Office, Kamada

【TEL】 03-6367-5952 【E-mail】press@ekitan.co.jp