TOKYO, Japan — Mitate Zepto Technica, Inc. (MZT; Shibuya, Tokyo; President & CEO: Keisuke Harashima) today announced that it has joined, as of April 2026, the national research initiative “Next-Generation Edge AI Semiconductor Research and Development Program” promoted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). MZT participates as the designated social implementation and commercialization partner for the research theme “Accelerating Edge Intelligence for AI for Science” (Principal Investigator: Masahiro Taiji, Program Director, TRIP Headquarters, RIKEN).

This research theme aims to achieve advanced computational infrastructure through the integration of AI technology and next-generation edge semiconductors, with genome analysis as one of its key application domains. MZT participates as the organization responsible for the productization and social implementation of research outcomes, through its proprietary genome-analysis accelerator “RASEN.”

Background

Since its founding in 2020, MZT has pursued a distinctive approach to genome analysis: purpose-built ASIC acceleration. Following technology validation through joint research with Tohoku University and other partners, MZT now participates as the R&D institution responsible for social implementation under this research theme.

MZT’s Role in the Program

Within this research theme, MZT will integrate AI research outcomes from RIKEN and Tohoku University into the RASEN architecture, and lead the R&D work toward social implementation through ASIC development and productization. As the industrial partner bridging research and real-world deployment, the company targets social implementation by 2029.

Program Overview

Research Theme: Accelerating Edge Intelligence for AI for Science

Promoting Agency: Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

Principal Investigator: Masahiro Taiji, Program Director, TRIP Headquarters, RIKEN

Participating Institutions: RIKEN, Tohoku University, Keio University, Mitate Zepto Technica

MZT Participation Start: April 2026 (FY2026)

JST Program Period: FY2025 onwards

Comment from President & CEO

“It is a tremendous honor that we can lead the social implementation of this research theme through the acceleration of genome analysis via dedicated semiconductors — a challenge we have pursued since MZT’s founding. RASEN is at exactly the right inflection point, transitioning from research to real-world deployment. We will use this participation to accelerate commercialization across healthcare, drug discovery, and research infrastructure.”

— Keisuke Harashima, President & CEO, Mitate Zepto Technica