Economic Diplomacy

During this visit, the participants conducted site visits and exchanged views at the following facilities (Listed in chronological order).

• Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group Meeting (Brazil participated as an observer)
• Visit to AI startups
• Pitch and Networking Session with AI startups (Tsukuba Global Innovation Promotion Agency)
• Pitch and Networking Session with startups (STATION Ai)
• Visit to a domestic drone manufacturer
• Visit to a telecommunications company
• Courtesy Call on Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shimada
• Visit to the Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory at the University of Tokyo
• Pitch and Networking Event with startups (CIC Tokyo)
• Exchange of views with the Office of International Affairs, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Visit to the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP)
• Lunch hosted by Director Kadomoto of the Economic Diplomacy Strategy Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Exchange of views with the National Institute of Informatics (NII), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), and the AI Safety Institute (AISI))
• Pitch and Networking Session with Startups (METI GENIAC Companies)

1. On March 15, the invited officials participated in the second in-person meeting of the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group. At the meeting, discussions focused on expanding and deepening the Friends Group and Partners Community including countries and companies from the Global South to realize “safe, secure, and trustworthy AI,” as well as on AI governance and societal implementation through multi-stakeholder collaboration among industry, government, and academia.
2. Throughout the itinerary, the officials participated in multiple pitch sessions and networking events with startups, as well as individual visits to and discussions with AI-related companies. They deepened their understanding of the initiatives undertaken by Japanese companies providing AI solutions for diverse social challenges in fields such as agriculture and healthcare and engaged in lively discussions regarding future collaboration opportunities.

1. On March 18, the officials visited the Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory at the University of Tokyo and exchanged views with Professor Yutaka Matsuo regarding potential future cooperation on the development of AI talent. On March 19, they visited the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), where Mr. Aruga, Division Director of the Global Strategy Division at RIKEN, provided an overview of the institute, and Mr. Hokugo, Deputy Director of the Center, explained the research activities in the AI field at the center. Also on the same day, the delegation attended a lunch hosted by Mr. Kadomoto, Director of the Economic Diplomacy Strategy Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and exchanged views with representatives from the National Institute of Informatics (NII), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), and the AI Safety Institute (AISI).