Japan Research Institute and NEC Sign Comprehensive Business Alliance to Create Next-Generation Financial Services in the AI-Native Era

Japan Research Institute, Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Jun Uchikawa; hereinafter "JRI") and NEC Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Director, President and CEO: Takayuki Morita; hereinafter "NEC") have signed a comprehensive business alliance (hereinafter "this Alliance") to achieve the "IT Transformation" that the SMBC Group has set as one of its basic policies in its new medium-term management plan (FY2026-FY2028).
Through this Alliance, the two companies will rebuild the AI/IT environment to flexibly respond to the rapid changes in the market environment in the AI era, contributing to the creation of new financial services for the SMBC Group.
By closely collaborating, JRI, which possesses deep understanding and expertise in financial operations and systems as the core IT company of the SMBC Group, and NEC, which has high global technological capabilities, research strengths, and extensive implementation track records in AI, cloud, and security, will accelerate the sophistication of the entire process from AI-based planning and conception to service launch and operation, as well as the modernization of legacy systems.

The specific initiatives of this Alliance are as follows:

1. Joint Promotion of Legacy System Modernization
Both companies will work together to modernize legacy systems, including SMBC Group's core business systems, from upstream processes such as resource planning and conceptualization to service launch and operation.
Specifically, through joint project management and mutual delegation of authority, they aim to shorten the time required for decision-making, consensus-building, and project execution. Furthermore, by rebuilding AI-based service platforms and development processes, they will create a flexible environment to support the future deployment of new financial services and business expansion.

2. Acceleration of Cloud Migration
By developing AI-based development and operation environments and various processes, they will accelerate the cloud migration of the entire SMBC Group.
Based on a security-first approach, they will strengthen cybersecurity through AI-powered vulnerability diagnosis, faster patch application cycles, and the practice of secure-by-design principles, in line with the expansion of cloud usage.
This will establish an IT infrastructure with high scalability and agility to respond quickly to changing customer needs and market conditions, as well as security and resilience.

3. Operational Reform
By promoting automation and autonomization of business and system operations through AI utilization, they will enhance overall operations. In addition to improving the stability and productivity of financial operations, they will create an environment where frontline staff can focus on higher-value-added tasks, supporting the development of a system that promotes customer value enhancement and the creation of new financial services.

4. Utilization of Advanced AI/IT Architectures Meeting Global Standards
Both companies will establish a joint demonstration framework for advanced AI/IT technologies, continuously researching the latest global trends in AI/IT, and conducting everything from proof-of-concept experiments to implementation studies.
This will expand the potential for new value creation within the SMBC Group, leading to the realization of next-generation financial services and new customer experiences.

5. Sophistication of the Entire AI-Driven Development Process
They will promote the sophistication and efficiency of the entire development process, from requirements definition to maintenance and operation, based on AI. At the same time, they will further enhance development productivity, quality, and speed, strengthening the development foundation to support future system modernization and business changes.

Going forward, both companies will contribute to the realization of SMBC Group's IT transformation based on this Alliance, and support sustainable growth and the creation of new customer value beyond that.

Comments from both companies regarding this matter are as follows:

[Jun Uchikawa, President and Representative Director, Japan Research Institute]
This comprehensive business alliance with NEC is extremely significant as it will steadily and powerfully advance the SMBC Group's IT transformation, supporting the Group's overall competitiveness and sustainable growth.
By combining JRI's accumulated knowledge in financial operations and systems with NEC's advanced AI/IT technologies, we will evolve the SMBC Group's IT infrastructure into a more robust and flexible one, contributing to the creation of new financial services and further enhancing the value we provide to our customers.

[Osamu Fujikawa, Director, Executive Vice President and COO, NEC Corporation]
This comprehensive business alliance with Japan Research Institute holds extremely important significance for the evolution of SMBC Group's financial services in the AI era, and ultimately for pioneering the future of the financial industry.
As AI evolves and its social implementation rapidly progresses, financial institutions are required not only to modernize legacy systems but also to transform their entire AI/IT framework to provide new financial services quickly and flexibly.
NEC will build an even closer partnership with Japan Research Institute and accelerate efforts towards realizing the SMBC Group's IT transformation.

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■Inquiries regarding this matter
Japan Research Institute, Public Relations Department, Kanai, Phone: 080-3437-9449