AIST Deep Tech Human Resource Development Project "Kakusei Project" FY2026 Selected Projects Announced

Kadokawa ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masakazu Kakinuki) is pleased to announce that 23 research and development themes have been selected for FY2026 (FY2026) under the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Deep Tech Human Resource Development Project "Kakusei Project".

Kadokawa ASCII Research Laboratories has been entrusted with the secretariat operations since the establishment of this project in FY2023 and has been responsible for its operation. In this, the fourth year, we will continue to support the project through secretariat operations so that the selected research and development can lead to future societal implementation and solutions to social issues.

About the "Kakusei Project"

The "Kakusei Project" is a project that challenges societal problem-solving by promoting original and innovative research and development in the deep tech field, utilizing the advanced research facilities possessed by AIST by young human resources.

In FY2026, 23 research themes were selected from proposals by young researchers in the four research areas of AI, Biotechnology, Materials & Chemistry, and Quantum, following a rigorous selection process.

Selected researchers will receive support from project managers (PMs) and supervisors (SVs) of this project, AIST researchers, financial support of 3 million yen per research theme, free use of AIST's cutting-edge research environment, and support for networking with awardees and experienced support personnel. The research and development period is from July 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

Selected Researchers, Research Themes, PMs, and AIST Receiving Researchers (Titles omitted)

Name: Momoka Ikegami Affiliation: Graduate School, Komazawa University Research Theme: Towards Forward-Ending Conversations: A High-Context Dialogue Support System with Gyaru Mindset as an Intervention Principle PM: Masaki Onishi Receiving Researcher: Masaki Onishi

Name: Chiharu Miura Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Detection and Correction of Research Evaluation Bias through Information Compression of Citation Networks PM: Masaki Onishi Receiving Researcher: Masaki Onishi

Name: Ryo Ban Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Elucidation and Mitigation of Psychological Load in Parallel Operation of Multiple AI Agents and Realization of Mitigation Interactions PM: Yoshitaka Ushiku Receiving Researcher: Takeshi Kurata

Name: Hikaru Asano Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Development of Self-Evolving LLM through Counterfactual Reasoning and Weakly Supervised Learning PM: Yoshitaka Ushiku Receiving Researcher: Ryo Karikoda

Name: Kenra Hiratsuka Affiliation: Graduate School, Kyoto University Research Theme: Development of Foundational Robot Models with Subjectivity PM: Asako Kanazaki Receiving Researcher: Yukiyasu Doumae

Name: Ryoya Yamazaki Affiliation: Hitotsubashi University Research Theme: Creation of a New Learning Paradigm "Learning Progress Smoothing" PM: Asako Kanazaki Receiving Researcher: Ryo Karikoda

Name: Tomoki Tsuji Affiliation: Ikotas Labs Inc. Research Theme: Research on Disruption Defense Technology to Neutralize AI-Driven Cyberattacks PM: Hitomi Yanaka Receiving Researcher: Masaki Onishi

Name: Kotaro Omori Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Development of an Interface for Datafying Expert Thought Processes and an AI for Skill Instruction PM: Hitomi Yanaka Receiving Researcher: Daiki Takamura

Name: Hajime Miyakawa Affiliation: University of Tsukuba Research Theme: AI Decipherment of the Undeciphered Meroitic Language - A Computational Approach Using Digital Corpus Construction, Constituent Language Modeling, and Nubian Comparative Linguistics PM: Keisuke Imoto Receiving Researcher: Daiki Takamura

Name: Ayuto Tsutsumi Affiliation: Graduate School, Tokyo Metropolitan University Research Theme: Research on Speaker Attribute-Aware Speech Understanding Applied to Speech LLMs PM: Keisuke Imoto Receiving Researcher: Yoshiaki Bandou

Name: Sota Asano Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Optimization of In-Stomach Degradation Resistance of Secretory IgA Antibodies through Data-Driven Molecular Design PM: Keiyoshi Abe Receiving Researcher: Hideki Watanabe

Name: Keita Yamamoto Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Development of Collateral Activity-Enhanced CRISPR/Cas13 PM: Keiyoshi Abe Receiving Researcher: Yoshio Kato

Name: Shunsuke Sakai Affiliation: National Cancer Center Research Theme: Development of an Intercellular Interaction Simulator to Predict the Efficacy of Cancer Therapeutics PM: Jun Seze Receiving Researcher: Kentaro Kawada

Name: Daiki Ueda Affiliation: Graduate School, Kitasato University Research Theme: Development of High-Precision Binary Encoding Methods for Practical Application of Quantum/AI-Assisted Protein Design PM: Jun Seze Receiving Researcher: Hideki Watanabe

Name: Tomohito Ura Affiliation: University of Tsukuba Research Theme: Development of an Aggregation Emulator to Accelerate the Proposal of Protein Stabilization Conditions PM: Seiko Kinoshita Receiving Researcher: Hajime Nankoku

Name: Shusuke Kawakubo Affiliation: Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Construction of a Dynamic Sequence Classification Platform for Coronaviridae and Discovery of Unclassified Viruses PM: Seiko Kinoshita Receiving Researcher: Ryuichi Koga

Name: Souta Hasebe Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Creation of Li-M-F Based Solid Electrolytes by Integrating Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials and Autonomous Experiments PM: Toshiaki Tanike Receiving Researcher: Koji Shimizu

Name: Yo Futarasho Affiliation: Graduate School, Tokyo University of Science Research Theme: Reduction of Acyl Phosphines to Alkyl Phosphines Using Transition Metal Catalysts and Silanes PM: Toshiaki Tanike Receiving Researcher: Tomonori Naganawa

Name: Eita Iwasaki Affiliation: Graduate School, Kyushu University Research Theme: Elucidation of Cell Adhesion Mechanisms by Controlling the Interface of Polysaccharide Nanofiber Scaffolds PM: Keisuke Nagafuji Receiving Researcher: Akio Kumagai

Name: Shota Yamada Affiliation: Graduate School, Tokyo University of Science Research Theme: Development of a Visualization System for Local Distribution and Flow Behavior of Water Molecules in Polymer Fluids Using ICT-Type Fluorescence Probes and Image Analysis PM: Keisuke Nagafuji Receiving Researcher: Yoshiko Take-Naka

Name: Kagami Yanagiyama Affiliation: Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Research Theme: Creation of a Data-Driven Design Platform for Zeolite Catalysts for High-Pressure Methane Conversion Aiming for Methanol Production PM: Maiko Nishibori Receiving Researcher: Isao Nakamura

Name: Shohko Kei Affiliation: Graduate School, Kyoto Institute of Technology Research Theme: Elucidation of Surface Reaction and Conduction Mechanisms of Gas Sensors Composed of Porous Graphene and Metal Oxide Thin Films PM: Maiko Nishibori Receiving Researcher: Takahiro Morimoto

Name: Kohei Suda Affiliation: Graduate School, The University of Tokyo Research Theme: Reduction of Quantum Error Correction Syndrome Extraction Depth and Elimination of Hook Errors by DAQC PM: Akira Fujimaki Receiving Researchers: Takeshi Kakizaki, Shinichiro Takizawa

Supervisors (SV) and Project Managers (PM) (Titles omitted)

SV

AI Domain: Jin Matsubara (Professor, Department of Robotics, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto Tachibana University; Professor, Graduate School of Informatics)

SV and PM

AI Domain: Masaki Onishi (Chief Researcher, Social Intelligence Research Team, Artificial Intelligence Research Center, AIST)

PM

AI Domain: Yoshitaka Ushiku (Representative Director, NexaScience Inc.)

AI Domain: Asako Kanazaki (Professor, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University (International Distinguished Professor))

AI Domain: Hitomi Yanaka (Associate Professor (Distinguished Researcher), Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo)

AI Domain: Keisuke Imoto (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University)

Biotechnology Domain: Keiyoshi Abe (Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University)

Biotechnology Domain: Jun Seze (President and CEO, Humanome Lab. Inc.)

Biotechnology Domain: Seiko Kinoshita (Vice Director and Professor, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Soka University)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Toshiaki Tanike (Professor, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Keisuke Nagafuji (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Maiko Nishibori (Professor, Center for Advanced Research of Innovation and Smart Technology, Tohoku University)

Quantum Domain: Akira Fujimaki (Project Professor, Institute for Future Society Creation, Nagoya University)

AIST Receiving Researchers (Titles omitted)

AI Domain: Takeshi Kurata (Research Department of Human Social Response Systems)

AI Domain: Ryo Karikoda (Machine Learning Research Team, Artificial Intelligence Research Center)

AI Domain: Yukiyasu Doumae (Embodied Intelligence Research Team, Artificial Intelligence Research Center)

AI Domain: Daiki Takamura (Language Intelligence Research Team, Artificial Intelligence Research Center)

AI Domain: Yoshiaki Bandou (Social Intelligence Research Team, Artificial Intelligence Research Center)

Biotechnology Domain: Hideki Watanabe (Bio-system Design Group, Molecular Bio-system Research Department)

Biotechnology Domain: Yoshio Kato (Bio-structure-Activity Relationship Research Group, Molecular Bio-system Research Department)

Biotechnology Domain: Kentaro Kawada (Physiological Function & Data Analysis Research Team, Self-Care Implementation Research Center)

Biotechnology Domain: Hajime Nankoku (Nano Bio-device Research Group, Health and Medical Device Research Department)

Biotechnology Domain: Ryuichi Koga (Bio-system Diversity Research Group, Molecular Bio-system Research Department)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Koji Shimizu (First-Principles Materials Design Research Team, Materials DX Research Center)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Tomonori Naganawa (Environmentally Harmonious Process Research Group, Chemical Process Research Department)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Akio Kumagai (Cellulose Materials Research Group, Functional Chemical Research Department)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Yoshiko Take-Naka (Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Functional Chemical Research Department)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Isao Nakamura (Solid Catalyst Process Research Group, Chemical Process Research Department)

Materials & Chemistry Domain: Takahiro Morimoto (Nano-device and Evaluation Research Group, Nanocarbon Materials Research Department)

Quantum Domain: Takeshi Kakizaki (Quantum and AI Cloud Research Team, Global Research Center for Quantum and AI Fusion Technology)

Quantum Domain: Shinichiro Takizawa (Quantum and AI Cloud Research Team, Global Research Center for Quantum and AI Fusion Technology)

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For details on this project, please visit the Kakusei Project official website.

https://kakusei.aist.go.jp/r8/

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Inquiries from corporations and organizations regarding this matter:

Kakusei Project Support Office: kakusei_support@lab-kadokawa.com

What is Deep Tech?

Deep tech refers to technologies based on scientific discoveries obtained through research in specific natural science fields, which have the potential to impact society, such as solving economic and social issues that the nation and the world as a whole must address, if they can be commercialized and implemented in society. (Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Industrial Technology and Environment Bureau "Regarding the Deep Tech Startup Support Project")

About Kadokawa ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc.

Kadokawa ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc. leverages its expertise cultivated through media operations and content production to engage in a wide range of businesses including research, consulting, marketing, business solutions, publishing, and educational support. By comprehensively utilizing its content, media, and research capabilities, the company works to solve the challenges faced by its clients, including corporations, local governments, and government agencies.

Business Activities:

Media operations, research and consulting, various marketing, solutions business, publishing, educational support, etc.

Official Website: https://www.lab-kadokawa.com/