PDF version [PDF: 321KB]

SoftBank Corp. (hereinafter "SoftBank"), the Koshizuka Laboratory at the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, University of Tokyo, NTT DATA Group Corporation, NEC Corporation, East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd., Ltd., Fujitsu Limited, the Uranos Ecosystem Promotion Center, and the Data Society Promotion Council have established the "xIPF Consortium" (hereinafter "xIPF Consortium") on April 10, 2026. This consortium will utilize a highly distributed computing platform (xIPF ^*1: cross Integrated Platform) to link data dispersed across companies and organizations on a common platform, promoting the creation of new value and the resolution of social issues through the collaboration of AI (artificial intelligence) and data.

Background of the establishment of the "xIPF Consortium"

As the challenges surrounding society and industry become more sophisticated and complex, expectations are rising for AI technology that enables advanced analysis and prediction using data. On the other hand, the data and computing resources that are prerequisites for AI utilization are geographically and organizationally dispersed, and conventional centralized data linkage platforms have limitations in terms of flexible data utilization and cross-organizational collaboration. In order to safely and appropriately utilize the vast and diverse data generated daily from the activities of local governments, companies, and individuals, across industry and organizational boundaries, it is essential to develop a new social infrastructure that can flexibly link AI and data in a distributed environment from the edge to the cloud.

Overview of the "xIPF Consortium"

The "xIPF Consortium" aims to realize a social infrastructure (AI space) that enables the secure and flexible integration and utilization of AI and data in a distributed environment by linking a highly distributed computing platform with the AI infrastructure, LLMs (Large-Scale Language Models), and data spaces ^*2 held by companies and organizations. This will support the resolution of various challenges facing Japanese industry and society, and promote the creation of new services and value utilizing AI in a wide range of fields such as logistics, mobility, energy, and urban development. In promoting this initiative, the industry will take the lead in collaborating with government and academic institutions to promote data linkage between different industries, and will disseminate advanced models originating from Japan both domestically and internationally, while taking into account international trends.

Professor Noboru Koshizuka of the University of Tokyo Graduate School and representative director of the "xIPF Consortium" stated the following:
"The industrial structure is irreversibly changing towards a data-driven society, and it is clear that AI will play a crucial role in realizing this. In this context, we believe that by creating an environment in which AI can securely utilize highly confidential and real-time data, we can offer new solutions to social issues that have been difficult to solve until now. The xIPF Consortium will work to build a collaborative platform that ensures the reliability of AI and data, and will promote cross-industry collaboration. Furthermore, by bringing together the expertise of diverse stakeholders, we will accelerate the implementation of mechanisms that create value in the real world. In this way, we will promote the social implementation of a highly reliable data utilization platform and contribute to solving social issues."

Board members and participating companies of the "xIPF Consortium"

Regarding the founding ceremony

The inaugural ceremony for the "xIPF Consortium" will be held on May 21, 2026. Please see the official website for details.

1. xIPF is a highly distributed computing platform being developed by SoftBank as a commissioned project by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization). We are also working on research and development that utilizes the results of NEDO's "Post-5G Information and Communication System Infrastructure Strengthening Research and Development Project / Development of Post-5G Information and Communication Systems (commissioned) / (f1) Development of Highly Distributed Computing Technology." For more details, please see here.
2. A data space refers to a system that connects various data sources, rather than managing them all in one place, and allows them to be used together while ensuring security and reliability based on common rules.

• SoftBank and the SoftBank name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of SoftBank Group Corp. in Japan and other countries.
• Other company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

To view the PDF file, you need the Adobe Systems plug-in software "Acrobat Reader (Japanese version)". If you do not have​​​ Download from here (free)Please use it.