Category: JCN Newswire

HONG KONG, March 6, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – 5 March 2026, the world’s first methanol dual-fuel roll-on/roll-off vessel, CM HONG KONG, successfully completed its first green methanol bunkering operation in Hong Kong. This also marks China's first green methanol bunkering operation conducted at anchor.This milestone signifies a major breakthrough in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s deepened collaboration with enterprises, including China Merchants Group (CMG), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), and China International Marine Containers Group (CIMC). The achievement responds proactively to the “Dual Carbon” goals and advances implementation of Hong Kong’s Action Blueprint for Green Marine Fuel Bunkering, marking a solid step forward in Hong Kong’s development into an international green marine fuel bunkering centre.The bunkering ceremony, themed “RIDING THE TIDE, GREENING THE FUTURE”, was jointly hosted by China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), Sinopec (Hong Kong), and CIMC Enric at the Legislative Council Complex. Officiating guests included the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hon Mable CHAN, JP; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Diane WONG Shuk-han, JP; the Director of Marine, WONG Sai-fat, together with Members of the Legislative Council, the Hon Gary CHAN Hak-kan, SBS, JP; the Hon Judy CHAN Kapui, MH, JP; the Hon Erik YIM Kong, JP; the Hon Aaron BOK Kwok-ming; Dr the Hon Webster NG Kam-wah, JP; Capt the Hon Lothair LAM Ming-fung; and the Hon Tommy CHUNG Ki-fung. Representatives from CMG, Sinopec, and CIMC, along with more than 100 distinguished guests from the shipping, energy, equipment manufacturing, and financial sectors, witnessed the significant moment.During the ceremony, officiating guests jointly launched the bunkering operation. A live screen broadcast the “first injection” of green methanol into CM HONG KONG, while simultaneously displaying the internationally certified green attribute certificate.The vessel completed bunkering via a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer, receiving approximately 500 tonnes of green methanol. According to calculations, this volume is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 85% compared with conventional marine fuels.The green methanol was produced and supplied by CIMC Enric and has obtained ISCC EU certification. The bunkering operation was carried out through Sinopec (Hong Kong)’s professional bunkering service system, and the fuel was ultimately applied by CMES as the shipowner. The operation fully demonstrated a closed-loop green methanol value chain encompassing “production–storage–shipping–bunkering–application”.Pursuant to the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Jointly Building the Hong Kong Green Methanol Bunkering Centre signed in November 2025, the three parties leveraged their respective core strengths in ocean shipping, oil and gas and green fuel storage-transport-sales, and energy equipment manufacturing. Technical validation, solution optimisation, and emergency preparedness were completed in advance to ensure smooth implementation.To ensure safe and efficient operations, relevant HKSAR Government departments worked closely with participating enterprises. The Transport and Logistics Bureau, Marine Department, Customs and Excise Department, and Immigration Department provided end-to-end support in policy guidance, streamlined approvals, and safety oversight in accordance with the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering.This inaugural bunkering is not merely a technical demonstration, but a pivotal practice in establishing Hong Kong’s green marine fuel bunkering ecosystem. It verifies both the technical feasibility and commercial operability of green methanol bunkering in Hong Kong, and showcases a “Hong Kong’s Approach” characterised by government-enterprise collaboration, port-shipping synergy, and full industry-chain coordination. This initiative helps attract more green vessels to call at Hong Kong and encourages Hong Kong-registered vessels to increase their use of green marine fuels, striving to achieve the 7% target by 2030.The three organizations that collaborated to complete this bunkering operation stated that they would continue to further deepen cooperation, promote the industrialisation, scaling, and regularisation of green methanol supply in Hong Kong, and accelerate the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem covering production, storage, shipping, bunkering, trading, and financial services. These efforts will support Hong Kong in building a leading green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to the national “Dual Carbon” goals, Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality, and the global low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry. Photo 1Bunkering process of CM HONG KONG Photo 2Bunkering process of CM HONG KONGPhoto 3 Bunkering of the world's first methanol dual-fuel roll-on/roll-off vessel CM HONG KONG in Hong KongPhoto 4Group Photo of All Guests at the Hong Kong First Green Methanol Bunkering CeremonyPhoto 5Group Photo of the Kickoff Ceremony at Hong Kong’s First Green Methanol Bunkering Ceremony Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Mar 6, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - As International Women’s Day prompt renewed focus on women’s health, OMRON Healthcare has released a new Women’s Heart Health Factbook spotlighting an often-overlooked issue: the intersection between menopause, hypertension, and long-term cardiovascular risk.Why this mattersAn estimated 32% of women aged 30–79 worldwide are living with hypertension.Yet only 59% are diagnosed, and just 23% achieve effective blood pressure control.That equates to less than a quarter of hypertensive women managing to stabilise their blood pressure.Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women globally, with ischemic heart disease and stroke accounting for the majority of cases. Risk often accelerates during and after menopause, as declining estrogen levels affect vascular health and blood pressure regulation.Women also face additional life-stage factors that may influence cardiovascular outcomes, including pregnancy-related hypertension and hormonal contraceptive use, underscoring the importance of consistent monitoring across the lifespan.Expert perspective"Despite being the leading cause of death for women globally, cardiovascular disease is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated in women due to longstanding biases in research, clinical guidelines and symptom recognition," said Prof. Alta Schutte, Principal Theme Lead of Cardiac, Vascular and Metabolic Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at UNSW Sydney, Australia.“Menopause is not only a major life transition — it is also a cardiovascular turning point,” added Karel Herberigs, Managing Director, OMRON Healthcare EMEA. “Greater awareness and routine monitoring can help close a persistent care gap and support earlier intervention.”Archanna Mohangoo, Medical Marketing Manager (EMEA), said: “Too often, symptoms such as fatigue, disrupted sleep, or heart palpitations are attributed solely to menopause, when they may in some cases signal underlying conditions such as hypertension or atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can significantly increase stroke and heart disease risk if left undetected. This Factbook aims to encourage women and healthcare providers alike to look more closely at cardiovascular health during this stage of life.”Potential coverage anglesThe global hypertension care gap in womenMenopause as a cardiovascular risk inflection pointWhy blood pressure monitoring should remain a priority beyond reproductive yearsThe under-recognised burden of heart disease in womenPrevention and early detection strategies across the lifespanThe full Women’s Heart Health Factbook is available to download from: https://brandportal.healthcare.omron.com/share/365D593E-78F0-4F35-9C8A589508CB5951/For interviews, expert commentary, or additional data, please contact: omronhealthcare-pr@kyodo-pr.co.jp Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Mar 5, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), a company engaged in the industrial precious metals business of TANAKA, today announced the successful development of “HPM-L111”, the world’s first metal*1 palladium (Pd) hydrogen permeable membrane capable of delivering high hydrogen permeation performance at low temperature range around 100°C. The breakthrough enables high-purity and fast hydrogen purification at significantly lower temperatures than previously possible, reducing energy consumption and supporting next-generation hydrogen ecosystem development across global markets.Sample shipments of HPM-L111 is scheduled to begin on or after March 5, 2026, with production capacity of approximately 100 samples per month.An academic presentation regarding this product will be made at The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials’ “2026 Spring Meeting,” which will be held at Chiba Institute of Technology from March 11 to 13, 2026. The product and a panel display will also be showcased at “H2 & FC EXPO Int’l Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo” being held at Tokyo Big Sight from March 17 to 19, 2026.Palladium (Pd) hydrogen permeable membrane "HPM-L111"A palladium hydrogen permeable membrane is a thin membrane product made from palladium alloy, which has the properties of hydrogen absorption and permeation. It is widely used for the separation and purification of high-purity hydrogen. Traditionally, metal membranes require high temperatures (at least 300°C) to achieve effective hydrogen permeation. By applying special treatment to the membrane’s surface, TANAKA succeeded in developing a metal membrane that can demonstrate high hydrogen permeation performance even at a low temperature range at or below 100°C.Issues in hydrogen purification using metal membranes and background to the development of HPM-L111Among PdCu alloy membranes, the existing product PdCu40 (an alloy with 60% palladium content and 40% copper content) has the highest level of hydrogen permeation performance. However, operation at a high temperature range of around 400°C is required to achieve its true performance, and higher costs from the addition of heating facilities and such were an issue for many years. Furthermore, with the advancement of hydrogen-related technologies in recent years, there are increasing need for hydrogen permeation using metal membranes in the low temperature range of 100°C or lower. Meanwhile, the speed of hydrogen penetration from the surface into metal membranes generally decreases when the temperature is 200°C or lower, significantly reducing the hydrogen permeation performance of conventional metal membranes and making practical application an issue.To solve these issues, for HPM-L111, TANAKA adopted its proprietary surface treatment technology nurtured through many years of precious metal materials research. Minute jagged structures were formed on the membrane’s surface to increase the specific surface area, resulting in a higher hydrogen penetration speed and achieving significant improvement in hydrogen permeation performance in the low temperature range of 100°C or lower.Features of HPM-L111High hydrogen permeation performance in the low temperature range around 100°CWorld’s first metal membrane allowing high-purity hydrogen purification in the low temperature range around 100°CExpected contributions to higher accuracy of hydrogen sensorsAllows high-speed removal of hydrogen generated within devicesCross-section of existing product PdCu40Cross-section of HPM-L111 Product nameThicknessWidthLengthRecommended temperatureExpected applicationsHPM-H310（PdCu40）>10μm

TOKYO, Japan, Mar 5, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) today announced plans to begin sales of two U.S.-built models in the Japanese market — the Acura* Integra Type S and Honda Passport TrailSport Elite — in the second half of 2026.Taking advantage of a simplified certification system for U.S.-made passenger vehicles newly established by the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Honda will reverse-import these compelling models produced in the U.S. to enhance its product lineup to accommodate the diverse needs of customers in Japan.Both the Acura Integra Type S and Honda Passport TrailSport Elite are produced by Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC (HDMA), a Honda automobile development and manufacturing subsidiary in the U.S. Honda exhibited both models at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 and Osaka Auto Messe 2026, held in January and February 2026, respectively, where many visitors showed strong interest in these models and expressed expectations for the market launch in Japan.* Acura was established in 1986 as a premium performance automobile brand of Honda primarily in the North American market, which is focused on delivering Precision Crafted Performance. Acura Integra Type S (U.S. version) Honda Passport TrailSport Elite (U.S. version)Key features of Acura Integra Type SThe Acura Integra Type S sold in North America is the high-performance variant of the Acura Integra, equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and 2-liter turbocharged engine. The exterior styling design achieves both the premium character unique to the Acura brand and a striking presence on the street.Key features of Honda Passport TrailSport EliteThe Honda Passport is a midsized SUV model sold in North America, which features full-fledged off-road capabilities while also offering a comfortable on-road driving experience. The TrailSport Elite is the top trim with enhanced off-road capabilities. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Japan, Mar 5, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that it has developed a new system powered by FEEL TECH™ haptic technology that allows fans to experience physical sensations transmitted from artists, creating a stronger sense of closeness with their idols. To demonstrate the system's experiential value, DOCOMO collaborated with Cover Corporation to create trial content featuring the VTuber group “hololive English -Myth-.”FEEL TECH™ digitizes, transmits and reproduces human sensations, including touch (haptics) and emotional cues, through a hand-held haptic device. When synchronized with audio-visual content, the technology delivers immersive experiences. DOCOMO is now applying these capabilities to enhance Japan's rapidly growing “oshi-katsu” culture, in which fans actively support and engage with their favorite actors and other idols, including anime and game characters.Until now, fan experiences have been limited primarily to watching and listening. However, DOCOMO's new system adds haptic sensations to greatly expand the possibilities for artistic expression. Artists can now convey movement, energy and emotion through haptic feedback, communicating feelings that go beyond words and facial expressions.By enabling fans to experience physical sensations transmitted from favorite artists, DOCOMO's system creates a heightened sense of presence—so immersive it feels as if they are right beside the artist, realizing a deeper, more personal emotional connection.To validate the system, DOCOMO created trial content featuring the VTuber group hololive English -Myth-. Trial participants can select one of the three members to experience physical sensations synchronized to on-screen actions, including dynamic movements such as dancing and high-fives, as well as subtler sensations like heartbeats. Compared to conventional audio-visual viewing, the addition of haptic feedback significantly enhances immersion and realism, deepens the bond between fan and artist, and opens new avenues for creative expression. The effectiveness of this next-generation experience is now being evaluated through user participation.DOCOMO will showcase this experiential content at the International Innovations section of South by Southwest (SXSW) 2026 in Austin, Texas, USA from March 12 to 14.Through this initiative, DOCOMO aims to pioneer a new culture of communication, part of its mission to create meaningful value that enriches people's lives.FEEL TECH is a registered trademark of NTT DOCOMO.About NTT DOCOMONTT DOCOMO, Japan's leading mobile operator with over 91 million subscribers, is one of the global leaders in 3G, 4G and 5G mobile network technologies. Under the slogan “Bridging Worlds for Wonder & Happiness,” DOCOMO is actively collaborating with global partners to expand its business scope from mobile services to comprehensive solutions, aiming to deliver unsurpassed value and drive innovation in technology and communications, ultimately to support positive change and advancement in global society. https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/ Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Mar 4, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - JCB Co., Ltd. (JCB), together with Resona Holdings, Inc. (Resona), announced the start of a project to commercialize ultra-wideband (UWB) payments that realize a new purchasing experience using UWB communication.The two companies have agreed to launch the world's first full-scale project for the practical application and commercialization of UWB payments. In 2026, JCB will work with multiple technology partners and collaborating merchants to demonstrate payment technology and value-added solutions for merchants, as well as user experience building projects to create new purchasing experiences. On top of that, JCB aims to launch small-scale commercial operations in 2027 and full-scale commercialization in earnest in 2028.The two companies are participating in the FiRa® Consortium, which standardizes and contributes to the development of UWB communication technology, as well as builds new payment experiences and value-added solutions for stores using UWB technology.About the UWB Payment ProjectThrough the activities of the FiRa Consortium, JCB, and Resona will standardize technologies and experiences for payment applications, and with the support of FiRa Consortium’s participating vendors, conduct technology tests. From 2026, the two companies will demonstrate UWB payments and value-added solutions together with multiple partner merchants and provide feedback to FiRa on the necessary technology development.In parallel, JCB and Resona will conduct research on user experience and store payment operations to confirm the acceptability of users and merchants.Moreover, in order to reduce the introduction load at merchants as much as possible, the project aims to build a payment infrastructure that can widely accept payment solutions using UWB provided by competitors. The project is aimed to launch on a small scale in 2027 and commercialize on a full-scale in 2028.In addition, the two companies will aim to realize new UWB payments through collaboration with a wide range of partners in Japan and other countries.image of UWB paymentThe Background of This ProjectUWB communication technology is a short-range wireless communication technology that has the characteristics of (1) accurate location of devices and (2) high-speed data communication and is being used in Japan and overseas for location verification of digital keys for cars and homes, indoor navigation, and tags.The technology is also used overseas in gateless public transportation systems. In the future, it is expected to be used for payments, as with NFC (Near Field Communication) and QR codes.Outside Japan, the spread of smartphones with UWB functions has been slow, but in Japan, smartphones that can use UWB communication are widely available, and can be utilized in advance of the rest of the world. Moreover, the diversification of cashless payments and the wide range of value-added solutions for users and stores are also characteristics of Japan's payment scene. The project believes that it is necessary to take advantage of this location and create new payment solutions to solve problems for users and stores and meet the needs of new solutions.Overview of “UWB Payments”UWB payments are a solution that can greatly improve the purchasing experience. Until now, it has been necessary to physically touch a card or smartphone at a payment terminal in a merchant or to scan a QR code. UWB payments will take advantage of the characteristics of short-range communication to build a new purchasing experience, such as building a hands-free payment experience even with a smartphone in a pocket or bag, and instantly conveying information such as diet restrictions from users to merchants.Also, by utilizing the accurate location information of smartphones, it is possible to realize value-added solutions for both users and merchants that have never been seen before, such as improving the efficiency of navigation and waiting in stores, distributing personalized advertisements and coupons using smart displays, and providing new customer service for VIP customers. It is expected to be used not only to improve the experience but also to be used as a labor-saving solution to address labor shortages.Comparison of NFC and UWB paymentsExamples of value-added solutions:Provide communication functions for both users and merchants. For example, it can be used to automate the communication of requests such as food allergy information, whether or not plastic bags are needed, whether receipts are present and addressed, loyalty program information, whether coupons are available and used, and requests such as handicap and assistance needs, and children's chair preparations.Provide special customer service experiences for VIP customers and support functions for stores. Customers can receive a special customer service experience without verbally communicating with the merchant’s staff, allowing stores to provide appropriate customer service based on specific customer needs.Enable 1-to-1 marketing capabilities for customers. Marketing utilization, such as displaying personalized information on smart displays near customers, distributing coupons to customers, and displaying personalized pricing.Past UWB Payments InitiativesIn January 2024, JCB and Resona entered into a strategic partnership for the "Hands-free Payment" project, an initiative aimed at building a new payment experience that does not require smartphone operation when using device-to-device communication technology. Using UWB communication technology by linking the smartphones held by customers who visit the store with payment terminals and various IoT devices installed in the store, it allows customers to complete the payment process from authentication to payment procedure without taking out a smartphone or activating the screen, and even keeping their smartphone in their bag or pocket. By utilizing this solution, customers can grasp information at the time of their visit to the store and receive customer service and new in-store experiences, such as providing services for VIPs, preferential treatment, and coupon distribution.JCB also announced the development of a UWB-enabled app for iPhones and Apple Watches to support the project, along with a reference model of store checkout equipment and the launch of user testing. Through these efforts, JCB and Resona have been discussing and collaborating with their collaborative partners on technologies and business models.Looking ahead, JCB and Resona will work with multiple technology partners and collaborating merchants to carry out proof-of-concept initiatives for payment and merchant value-added solutions in 2026, with a phased commercial rollout planned for 2027 and full-scale commercialization targeted for 2028.About FiRa ConsortiumThe FiRa Consortium is a member-driven organization dedicated to transforming the way we interact with our environment by enabling precise location awareness for people and devices using the secured fine-ranging and positioning capabilities of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. FiRa does this by driving the development of technical specifications and certification, advocating for effective regulations, and defining a broad set of use cases for UWB. To learn more about UWB and the FiRa Consortium, visit www.firaconsortium.org.About Resona Holdings, Inc.With the Group's purpose of "Making the future positive with finance +," we continue to take on the challenge of transformation and creation in order to transform the future into a positive one with ideas that go beyond the framework of finance. Adhering to our basic stance of "customer joy is Resona's joy," we will work to "strengthen value creativity" and "next-generation management infrastructure" to respond to customers and local communities.About JCB Co., Ltd.JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 71 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are now issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 175 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide.For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/ContactAnna TakedaJCB Corporate CommunicationsTel: +81-3-5778-8353Email: jcb-pr@info.jcb.co.jp Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Mar 3, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), a company engaged in the industrial precious metals business of TANAKA, today announced a gold bump*1 transfer technology for the sintered gold (Au) bonding technology “AuRoFUSE™ Preforms.” This technology allows AuRoFUSE™ Preforms (gold bumps) to be formed even on semiconductor chips and substrates*2 with complex structures.Gold bump transfer substrate producedGold bumps after transferAdvantages of being able to transfer gold bumpsIn this technology, at first, gold bumps are formed on a substrate (transfer substrate). Then, the gold bumps are transferred to the target semiconductor chip or substrate. Openings are created on the silicon substrate used as the transfer substrate, and gold bumps are formed in them. By filling the entire opening, the gold bump is held by the substrate, eliminating the risk of dropping during the process. Meanwhile, during transfer, the gold bump shrinks under heat-treatment, forming a tiny gap between the opening and the gold bump. This allows easy extraction of gold bumps by the application of a force in the vertical direction.As the traditional gold bump formation process is a method that directly forms bumps on the target semiconductor chip or substrate, it is difficult to handle target chips and substrates with complex shapes, such as protrusions, dents, or open holes due to issues such as inconsistent resist heights.In this current transfer technology, gold bumps are manufactured separately and can be transferred only to the target locations. This allows the technology to also be applied to complex shapes. It can also be used with semiconductor chips and substrates that are difficult to process using photolithography*3 due to concerns about damage from stripping solutions and others.Manufacturing of transfer substrate and transfer and bonding process(1) Preparation of silicon substrate as transfer substrate(2) Application of photoresist to silicon substrate(3) Exposure and development of target pattern(4) Etching of silicon substrate to create holes(5) Application of AuRoFUSE™ using a squeegee, etc.(6) Vacuum drying of AuRoFUSE™ at room temperature and scraping off excess gold particles on the resist(7) Removal of resist to complete transfer substrate(8) Placement of transfer substrate on target (semiconductor chip or substrate) for gold bump formation, thermocompression at 10 MPa and 150℃ for one minute, followed by vertical lifting of substrate to transfer gold bumps(9) Bonding of post-transfer target through thermocompression at 20 MPa and 200℃ for 10 secondsAn illustration of the traditional gold bump formation process is available in the “Manufacturing of AuRoFUSE™ Preforms” section for reference on TANAKA’s website.About the sintered gold bonding technology “AuRoFUSE™ Preforms”Developed by TANAKA, “AuRoFUSE™ Preforms” is a bonding technology that forms bumps of all kinds of shapes using a paste comprising gold particles and an organic solvent. Through a thermocompression bonding process (20 MPa at 200℃ for 10 seconds), AuRoFUSE™ Preforms exhibits compression of approximately 10% in the compressive direction while showing minimal deformation in the horizontal direction. This gives them sufficient bonding strength*4 for practical applications. With the main component being gold, which has a high level of chemical stability, AuRoFUSE™ Preforms also provides excellent reliability after mounting.This technology enables miniaturization of semiconductor wiring and greater integration (higher density) for various types of chips. It is expected to contribute to the needs for miniaturization and better performance of semiconductors, which have been rising in recent years, including optical devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and semiconductor lasers (LDs), use in digital devices such as personal computers, smartphones, as well as in-vehicle components, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), and such.Traditionally, the main methods used in bump formation technology are soldering and plating. However, as solder tends to spread outward in molten state, there was the risk of short-circuiting through contact between electrodes as the bump pitch becomes finer. Meanwhile, plating can achieve a fine pitch, but because comparatively higher pressures are required during bonding, there is the possibility of causing chip damage. For reference, an illustration outlining the advantages of this technology compared with soldering and plating materials is provided in the “Comparison of AuRoFUSE™ Preforms with Other Materials” section on TANAKA’s website. This technology was developed to address these issues for use in next-generation high-density mounting and photonics-electronics integration devices.AuRoFUSE™ and TANAKA’s gold materialsAuRoFUSE™ is a paste-type bonding material containing a mixture of gold particles, with the particle diameter controlled to be submicron sized, and an organic solvent. Compared to the melting point of gold (approximately 1,064℃), bonding is possible at a low temperature of approximately 200℃.Gold is a material with low electrical resistance and extremely high thermal conductivity. Therefore, in power semiconductors that handle large currents and high-density chips that dissipate a lot of heat, it can efficiently dissipate heat and limit energy loss. Among precious metals, it is also particularly resistant to oxidation and has stable properties, making it less susceptible to corrosion after mounting and ion migration (a phenomenon in which metals move and cause short circuits). This allows it to maintain high reliability over long periods of time.TANAKA is highly skilled in precious metal material development technologies, developed since its establishment. It has used these technologies to undertake development of precious metal materials, such as gold, which plays a key role in the semiconductor field. With a system that integrates the entire chain of processes, from raw material procurement to material development, manufacturing, and recycling, TANAKA will contribute to the development of semiconductor technologies and the realization of a sustainable society while effectively using limited precious metal resources.*1 Bumps: Protruding electrodes*2 Substrate: Board that electrically and mechanically supports semiconductor chips mounted on it*3 Photolithography: Technology for forming fine circuit patterns on substrates*4 Bonding: Refers to shear strength (strength determined through application of a lateral load during testing)About TANAKASince its foundation in 1885, TANAKA has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volume of precious metals it handles. Over many years, TANAKA has manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry and provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and worldwide collaborate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,591 employees, the group’s consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended December 2024 were 846.9 billion yen.TANAKA Industrial Precious Metal Materials Portalhttps://tanaka-preciousmetals.comProduct inquiriesTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-on-industrial-products/Press inquiriesTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/Press Release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20260303_EN.pdf Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Kawasaki, Japan and Barcelona, Spain, March 3, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu and BCN Port Innovation Foundation today announced a new agreement between Fujitsu Spain and the BCN Port Innovation Foundation to develop a proof of concept (PoC) for an ocean digital twin at the Port of Barcelona. This pioneering initiative is aimed at the regeneration of the marine environment, the protection of biodiversity and the promotion of the blue economy(1).Catalina Grimalt, CEO and President, BCN Port Foundation (left) and Ángeles Delgado, President of Fujitsu Technology Solutions S.A. (right) shaking hands after the signing ceremony to kick off the proof of concept.The project is based on the use of underwater drones combined with artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, capable of capturing high-resolution representations of the seabed. Using this non-destructive sensing approach, the digital twin will make it possible to visualize and quantify biodiversity, calculate biomass based on vegetation cover, and estimate blue carbon(2) associated with marine algae.This project lays the foundations for the BCN Port Innovation Foundation to have a unified digital platform that centralizes all information on port biodiversity and enables its long-term monitoring.With this initiative, Fujitsu reinforces its commitment to developing proprietary technology with social and environmental impact, aligned with climate neutrality goals and the protection of marine ecosystems, and consolidates its role as a technology partner in sustainable innovation projects in Spain.Fujitsu and the BCN Port Innovation Foundation plan to carry out the proof of concept in the Port of Barcelona during 2026.A new approach to measuring and protecting marine biodiversityGlobal marine ecosystems face a severe crisis due to global warming and ocean pollution. The EU is accelerating marine environmental conservation and restoration efforts, notably with the 2024 adoption of the Nature Restoration Law, which mandates marine ecosystem recovery.By integrating AI-enabled underwater data capture with advanced analytics, the Ocean Digital Twin transforms how marine ecosystems are measured, understood, and utilized. Autonomous surface and underwater vehicles follow optimized survey routes with real-time stabilization control, enabling consistent and repeatable seabed data acquisition and generating high-quality data suitable for AI processing.Machine learning models convert this data into quantitative environmental intelligence, estimating vegetation coverage, assessing habitat extent, and calculating blue carbon absorption. The technology also provides precise spatial data on seabed conditions, habitat distribution, and species types, creating a strong empirical foundation for the design and evaluation of conservation, restoration, and regeneration projects.In addition, the system enables continuous monitoring of multiple plant species, making it possible to analyze ecosystem evolution over time and anticipate potential impacts resulting from both climate change and port activity.Figure: Ocean Digital TwinEnvironmental simulation and data-driven decision-makingThe platform developed by Fujitsu enables the simulation of “what if” scenarios, helping pre-verification of environmental measures before they are implemented to prioritize investments based on their real impact. Thanks to the creation of a high-fidelity digital model, port authorities can identify priority areas for protection, as well as zones suitable for environmental restoration or rehabilitation.This simulation capability makes the digital twin a key tool for balancing port activity with the preservation of the natural environment, facilitating the design of more sustainable infrastructure and operations. Following a successful PoC, Fujitsu and BCN Port Innovation Foundation can collaborate to add regeneration and preservation simulation scenarios to the project.Blue economy, transparency and social engagementBeyond environmental conservation, the project could open up new opportunities within the blue economy, facilitating the potential development of marine research initiatives, environmental education and scientific outreach activities.Moreover, the visual and immersive nature of the digital twin enhances transparency and awareness, helping to bring knowledge of the marine environment closer to stakeholders and fostering greater understanding of the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems.Ángeles Delgado, president of Fujitsu Spain and Portugal, points out: “This project demonstrates how technology can become a true ally of sustainability. The ocean digital twin allows us to transform complex data from the marine environment into actionable information to protect biodiversity, promote blue carbon initiatives, and make evidence-based decisions.”(1) Blue economy:Achieving economic growth, job creation, and environmental preservation simultaneously while sustainably utilizing marine resources.(2) Blue carbon:Carbon captured by coastal and marine ecosystems through photosynthesis and subsequently stored in seabeds and deep seas.About FujitsuFujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: global.fujitsuAbout BCN Port InnovationBCN Port Innovation is a public-private collaboration initiative between the Port of Barcelona and the enterprise ecosystem aimed at promoting and validating innovative solutions in areas such as the logistics and port processes, mobility, and the energy transition, with a cross-cutting focus on digitalization and sustainability. More information: https://bcnportinnovation.org/en/Press ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiriesBCN Port InnovationMar Fernándeze-mail: m.fernandez@bcnportinnovation.org Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Mar 2, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and SoftBank Corp. (SoftBank) today announced the launch of a demonstration experiment using SoftBank's AI-RAN product(1) "AITRAS" to deploy edge AI applications(2) within the edge data center(3) "DIAVAULT" solution installed at MHI's Yokohama Hardtech Hub (YHH). This demonstration will verify the effectiveness of high-speed AI inference executed over a secure and stable communication environment isolated from external networks in an on-premises(4) setting.Furthermore, both companies have agreed to integrate MHI's highly scalable edge data center facility technologies with "AITRAS" to enable AI execution in real-world environments, aiming for social implementation of a new AI infrastructure.Background of CollaborationIn recent years, efforts to enhance the operation and maintenance of equipment through AI, referred to as "AI Transformation," have accelerated across various industries, including energy and industrial machinery. To utilize AI effectively in such real-world environments, there is a growing demand for data centers that can be installed closer to the operational sites and provide an AI execution environment that balances stable communication and data security.Overview of Demonstration ExperimentThe Edge Data Center "DIAVAULT" in YHHIn response to these practical challenges, as the first step of this collaboration, an AI-RAN environment using "AITRAS" will be constructed within the on-premises "DIAVAULT" solution. An AI application developed by MHI that can "Defect Detection & Repair AI Application for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Products" will be deployed within this environment for demonstration testing.During the demonstration, image and video data sent from field workers' smart devices will be analyzed in real-time within the closed network environment to identify fault locations and suggest appropriate repair methods.Value Delivered by This DemonstrationThrough this demonstration, the following three points will be validated:1. Real-time analysis through edge AI processingAI processing is completed within the closed network without passing through the cloud, significantly reducing data transmission and analysis latency under a stable communication infrastructure.2. Enhanced security and closed network environmentA secure AI inference environment is established that prevents confidential product data from leaving the company.3. Efficiency and standardization of repair operationsAI-based fault identification reduces the operational burden that previously relied on the expertise of skilled technicians.Future OutlookBuilding on this collaboration agreement and demonstration experiment, both companies will leverage their respective strengths to develop a scalable and reliable edge AI operational platform that continuously adapts to AI advancements. They will also promote initiatives to accelerate customers' on-site "AI Transformation" through the creation of innovative solutions.(1) A technology concept that realizes both RAN (Radio Access Network) control functions and AI server functions on the same hardware platform. "AITRAS" is an integrated AI-RAN product that provides high-capacity, high-performance, and high-quality communication networks at carrier grade and also enables the provision of AI applications.(2) Applications that perform data processing and AI inference at the site where the data is created, rather than in the cloud.(3) A small-scale data center installed close to users and devices.(4) A system where servers are placed at sites such as companies, factories, or research institutes rather than in the cloud, allowing direct management and processing of data.- SoftBank, the SoftBank name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of SoftBank Group Corp. in Japan and other countries.- Other company, product and service names in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective companies.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Mar 2, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NTT DOCOMO, INC. and NEC Corporation today announced the launch of Japan’s first commercial 5G core network (5GC) on Amazon Web Services (AWS) on February 26.(1) Advanced architecture, constructed using Agentic AI,(2) enables the network to flexibly and rapidly expand capacity, such as dynamically expanding its capacity in response to sudden traffic surges, for dramatically improved reliability, flexibility and sustainability.In a separate world-first achievement(3), DOCOMO and NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc. in collaboration with NTT DOCOMO SOLUTIONS, Inc. have also successfully automated 5GC design and construction on AWS. To do this, they leveraged Agentic AI—a combination of AI and GitOps(4) in a hybrid cloud environment. This innovative approach prevents human error and reduces construction time by approximately 80% compared to conventional methods.First in Japan to Construct and Commercially Launch 5GC on AWSIn March 2022, DOCOMO and NEC started verifying 5GC network equipment operating on a hybrid cloud using AWS, aiming to enhance network deployment flexibility and reliability. The process included testing the coordinated operation of the 5GC on AWS and DOCOMO’s proprietary virtualization platform,(5) as well as ensuring carrier-grade availability and operability.(6) Connecting the two platforms presented significant challenges, including network and security design considerations, but DOCOMO and NEC successfully overcame these issues to confirm that the 5GC operates seamlessly in a hybrid cloud environment.Building on this success, DOCOMO and NEC have now implemented the necessary fault tolerance and redundancy for a commercial environment, creating a hybrid cloud that combines their virtualization platform with a public cloud. In developing this environment, DOCOMO defined the requirements, established design policies, and reviewed the implementation method for the hybrid cloud. NEC redesigned the entire architecture to establish a construction and operation model based on infrastructure as code (IaC)(7) and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD)(8) for AWS. This process incorporated AWS managed services, such as AWS CloudFormation,(9) AWS CodeBuild,(10) and AWS CodePipeline,(11) into the design.This hybrid cloud environment is expected to improve network operational efficiency and enable the flexibility and reliability required in the 5G era. For example, building the 5GC on AWS in addition to a separate virtualization platform enables flexible operations, such as rapidly expanding capacity when network demand increases due to a sudden event, and scaling down when increased capacity is no longer needed.Additionally, operational tests confirmed a power consumption reduction of approximately 70%(12) by running the 5GC on AWS Graviton2(13) processors and conducting operational tests in a hybrid cloud environment that connected the 5GC on Graviton2 with the 5GC on DOCOMO’s virtualization platform. In a commercial environment, the 5GC built on AWS Graviton3 is expected to reduce environmental impact similarly.World’s First Automation of 5GC Network from Design to Construction Using GitOps and AIDOCOMO and DOCOMO BUSINESS, in collaboration with DOCOMO SOLUTIONS, achieved the world’s first automation of 5GC design and construction using GitOps(14) and AI, aiming to prevent human error and shorten the construction period.DOCOMO and DOCOMO SOLUTIONS used GitOps to automate construction from the cloud infrastructure up to the 5GC. DOCOMO BUSINESS automated the 5GC design and construction processes, as well as the development of Agentic AI, while NTT DOCOMO SOLUTIONS implemented and verified the AWS infrastructure portion of GitOps.To minimize manual tasks, such as designing configuration values, they adopted Agentic AI with Amazon Bedrock AgentCore,(15) AWS’s agentic AI platform for building, deploying, and operating effective agents securely at scale, and the Model Context Protocol (MCP),(16) creating a new architecture integrated with GitOps.Conventionally, 5GC construction required the creation and modification of numerous complex configuration files, a process that demanded significant manpower and time. However, by implementing Agentic AI with multiple AI agents using Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, DOCOMO BUSINESS was able to automate tasks such as designing configuration values, creating settings files, and issuing construction instructions to GitOps. Consequently, they succeeded in automating everything from design to construction. As a result, the 5GC construction period was reduced by approximately 80% compared to conventional methods.In the future, the companies plan to improve access to their knowledge base and optimize task allocation among AI agents, aiming to achieve faster network speeds and higher precision. They will also expand the scope of AI utilization and accelerate efforts toward the complete automation of 5GC operations by enhancing reproducibility, reliability and operational efficiency through AI-driven generation and execution.This automated 5GC construction solution using Agentic AI is currently on display at the NTT booth (Hall 3, Stand 3M29) at the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Through this exhibition, DOCOMO and NEC aim to communicate the innovation and uniqueness of their world-leading communication infrastructure for an AI-powered world.Executive CommentsNobuko Hiraguchi, Executive Officer, General Manager of Core Network Design Department, NTT DOCOMO, INC.“This initiative is a major step forward in DOCOMO’s ongoing effort to advance networks. We have integrated AWS’s scalable cloud platform, which flexibly supports advanced initiatives, including AI, with NEC’s highly reliable 5GC and DOCOMO BUSINESS’s Agentic AI expertise. Also, combining on-premises and cloud technologies enhances network reliability and the ability to respond to demand. Furthermore, shortening the 5GC construction period on the public cloud through AI automation will allow us to deliver services to customers more quickly. I believe our proactive approach to embracing AI has led to this world-first achievement. DOCOMO will continue to take on new challenges to provide communication services that our customers will choose.”Takashi Sato, Corporate Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Network Solutions Business Division of NEC Corporation“NEC is proud to contribute to the transformation of communication infrastructure alongside DOCOMO and AWS by providing our 5GC software. Since 2022, we have been addressing the challenge of creating a carrier-grade 5GC network in the cloud through technical verification. This commercial deployment is the result of combining Japanese telecommunications technology with a global cloud platform to create world-leading communication infrastructure. NEC will continue to contribute to the network evolution of our telecommunications carrier partners in the future.”Yuichi Ikejiri, Deputy Senior Vice President, Innovation Center, NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc.“I am honored to have participated in this project. Agentic AI’s automated construction of 5GC will transform the core network construction process, which has traditionally required significant time and specialized knowledge for design, verification and configuration. Starting with this initiative, we will continue to leverage the power of AI to shorten service provision lead times, standardize design and construction processes, and ensure consistent quality, thereby enabling us to deliver services to the market more quickly and reliably.”Mikihiko Tsunematsu, Director, Telecom, Media, Entertainment, Game & Sports, Strategic Business Unit, Amazon Web Services Japan“NTT DOCOMO has led the telecommunications industry as a technology leader and has driven various innovations through its longstanding partnership with AWS. Applying AI and cloud to telecommunications unlocks new possibilities for operators to respond to customer needs more quickly and flexibly while delivering stable communication services. AWS will continue to collaborate with DOCOMO and NEC toward the evolution of telecommunications infrastructure that supports people's lives and industrial development.”(1) As of March 2, 2026, based on DOCOMO research.(2) System in which multiple AI agents, each with a specific role, automate an entire workflow toward a goal while dynamically updating their action plans according to the situation.(3) As of March 2, 2026, based on DOCOMO research.(4) Operational automation methodology for continuously aligning an environment by managing the entire state of infrastructure and application configurations (e.g., setting files and manifests) in Git and automatically detecting and synchronizing any differences.(5) Proprietary platform developed by DOCOMO that can run core network equipment from multiple vendors. 70% of DOCOMO’s commercial core network equipment operates on this platform.(6) NTT DOCOMO and NEC are Onboarding 5G SA Core Using Energy-efficient and High-performance AWS Cloud Computing Services(7) Practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure components such as servers, networks, and storage through code (e.g., YAML or JSON). This approach enables infrastructure to be automatically built, modified, and reproduced.(8) Method of automating the stages of the software release process, from building and testing to deployment, triggered by changes to the source code. It allows for the continuous integration and delivery of software.(9) Infrastructure as Code (IaC) service that allows you to define AWS resource configurations as templates in YAML or JSON format, and then automatically create, update, or delete those AWS resources based on the template.(10) Fully managed build service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces software packages that are ready to deploy, without the need to manage servers.(11) Continuous delivery service that automates the various stages of the software release process—such as fetching source code, building, testing, approval, and deployment—by defining them as stages and automatically orchestrating their execution.(12) Family of processors designed by AWS for its cloud computing services. Graviton2 and Graviton3 are the- second and third-generation processors, respectively. For more information, see AWS’s website.(13) NTT DOCOMO and NEC Reduce Power Consumption for 5G SA Core by an Average of 72% Using AWS Graviton2, followed by a Successful Onboarding of 5G SA Core on Hybrid Cloud(14) Database system for storing and managing the change history of files and directories.(15) Fully managed agent infrastructure service that provides the execution environment, memory management, and tool integration required to build, deploy, and operate AI agents securely and at scale.(16) Standardized protocol that enables AI agents to access external tools and data sources securely and uniformly. It decouples the tool implementation from the AI interface, enhancing reusability and extensibility.ShareAbout NTT DOCOMONTT DOCOMO, Japan’s leading mobile operator with over 91 million subscribers, is one of the global leaders in 3G, 4G and 5G mobile network technologies. Under the slogan "Bridging Worlds for Wonder & Happiness," DOCOMO is actively collaborating with global partners to expand its business scope from mobile services to comprehensive solutions, aiming to deliver unsurpassed value and drive innovation in technology and communications, ultimately to support positive change and advancement in global society. https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society.⁠https://www.nec.com/en/About DOCOMO BUSINESSNTT Communications Corporation changed its name to NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc. on July 1, 2025. As an Industrial and Regional DX Platformer that drives digital transformation across industries and communities, we are enabling the development of a decentralized, autonomous, and collaborative society where businesses and communities can thrive sustainably. Our mission is to unlock new value and help create prosperity for all. https://www.ntt.com/en/index.html Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

KAWASAKI, Japan, Mar 2, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu Limited today announced the launch of Uvance for Retail, a solution that integrates data onto a robust and secure cloud. The solution, which leverages Fujitsu's accumulated business knowledge and implementation capabilities, also incorporates advanced technologies such as agentic AI. By seamlessly connecting fragmented data and operations across retail sites, Fujitsu aims to enhance both on-site execution capabilities and management decision-making and support the sustainable growth and competitiveness of Japan's retail industry.Even as AI and digital technologies evolve rapidly, the Japanese retail industry faces extremely complex and structural challenges such as population decline, intensifying competition, labor shortages, and rising costs. Underlying these challenges is the overwhelming amount of data required for decision-making compared to other industries, coupled with the current situation where systems are fragmented by operation and data is scattered. Furthermore, data structures differ among manufacturers and wholesalers, leading to data silos and making cross-sectional utilization difficult. As a result, people are forced to make decisions without fully utilizing vast amounts of data, leading to increased burden. This situation undermines the agility that the retail industry has traditionally demonstrated, leading to a decline in competitiveness.For over 50 years, Fujitsu has supported the Japanese retail industry, and possesses a deep understanding of the business and related data structures developed through discussions with numerous customers and various business endeavors. Furthermore, by welcoming GK Software and BrainPad Inc. into the group, Fujitsu has strengthened its comprehensive support system, integrating industry-rooted knowledge with cutting-edge technology. By providing this accumulated retail industry knowledge and technology as Uvance for Retail, which transforms on-site execution and management decision-making as one, Fujitsu aims to enhance corporate agility and support the sustainable growth of the Japanese retail industry.Uvance for Retail comprehensively provides the capabilities necessary for retail business growth, with data and AI at its core. Fujitsu's retail-specialized consultants define management and operational challenges, leveraging their years of industry expertise to design an ideal state that includes business processes and core systems. Subsequently, offerings incorporating agentic AI are implemented by system engineers with deep retail knowledge, ensuring their effective utilization in daily operations. AI rooted in business processes enables advanced decision-making and operational autonomy. Fujitsu also provides the platform that safely connects operations, systems, and data for supporting these. Through Uvance for Retail, Fujitsu aims to innovate experiences for consumers and employees, enhance supply chains, and advance the future of retail.Uvance for Retail: Value creation and visionExhibition at RetailTech JAPAN 2026Fujitsu will exhibit at RetailTech JAPAN 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight from March 3 to March 6, 2026. Fujitsu will focus on the value provided by Uvance for Retail through data and AI, showcasing various use cases as exhibition demos.Overview of main exhibits for Uvance for Retail1. Enhancing customer touchpoints with causal inference AIFor companies struggling to provide personalized experiences to all customers due to labor shortages, thereby missing opportunities for loyalty improvement, Fujitsu will support a deeper understanding of customers using its unique causal inference AI. Fujitsu's causal inference AI is characterized by its ability to clarify not just correlations but the "why" behind customer actions and outcomes, based on vast and complex operational and customer data. Using a proprietary algorithm, it can rapidly explore causal relationships even in data involving thousands of variables and a mix of operational, customer, and external factors. Visitors can see concrete examples of how AI reveals the causal structure behind customer behavior and needs, leading to enhanced customer service and touchpoints.2. Advanced management and operational decision-making with multi-AI agentsApparel merchandisers are required to accurately grasp the situation of each store and issue optimal instructions promptly. However, due to data fragmentation across different operations and systems, decision-making takes time, leading to missed opportunities. Fujitsu's multi-AI agent system enables multiple AI agents with different roles to collaborate, making cross-functional judgments and providing support across the entire operation. It presents the analysis results of each agent in an easy-to-understand manner and facilitates subsequent actions based on human judgment, enabling swift and effective decision-making.In the exhibition demo, Fujitsu's AI agent Watomo analyzes various data, notifies merchandisers of alarms that need attention, and performs simulations with merchandisers on how to address operational issues. Visitors can see concrete examples of how AI agents support advanced human decision-making and on-site responses.Press Conference MaterialsHeld on March 2, 2026Presentation materials and movie *Coming soonAbout FujitsuFujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: global.fujitsuPress ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiries Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

RAHWAY, NJ and TOKYO, Mar 2, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada) and Eisai (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito) today announced the first presentation of results from the Phase 3 LITESPARK-011 trial evaluating the dual oral regimen of WELIREG® (belzutifan), Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s first-in-class oral hypoxiainducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib), an orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discovered by Eisai, for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) whose disease progressed on or after treatment with anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)/ programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy. These data are being presented as a late-breaking oral abstract at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium (abstract #LBA417) and are included in the official ASCO GU Press Program.At a pre-specified interim analysis with a median follow-up of 29.0 months (range, 19.3-49.2), WELIREG plus LENVIMA demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS), reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 30% (HR=0.70 [95% CI, 0.59-0.84]; p=0.00007) compared to cabozantinib. For WELIREG plus LENVIMA, the median PFS was 14.8 months (95% CI, 11.2-16.6) versus 10.7 months (95% CI, 9.2-11.1) for cabozantinib. A trend toward improvement in overall survival (OS), the trial’s other primary endpoint, was also observed for WELIREG plus LENVIMA (HR=0.85 [95% CI, 0.68-1.05]; p=0.06075). The median OS was 34.9 months (95% CI, 27.5-NR) for WELIREG plus LENVIMA versus 27.6 months (95% CI, 24.0- 31.4) for cabozantinib. The trial is continuing, and OS will be evaluated at a subsequent analysis per the clinical trial protocol.Based on data from the LITESPARK-011 trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted two supplemental New Drug Applications (sNDA) for review seeking approval for WELIREG plus LENVIMA for the treatment of adult patients with advanced RCC with a clear cell component following a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action date, of October 4, 2026, for both the WELIREG and LENVIMA sNDAs. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and Eisai will also discuss these data with regulatory authorities worldwide to support potential submissions outside the United States.“Choosing the right treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma after immunotherapy has been an ongoing challenge, and treatment options in this setting had not previously been evaluated against a current standard of care tyrosine kinase inhibitor in a Phase 3 trial,” said Dr. Robert Motzer, Principal Investigator and Genitourinary Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “The LITESPARK-011 study demonstrated a 30% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death with belzutifan plus lenvatinib compared to cabozantinib, and 52.6% of patients experienced a response to treatment. These findings mark a critical step forward for these patients.”“The LITESPARK-011 trial highlights the potential of this first-of-its-kind combination regimen to deliver a meaningful benefit for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma whose disease progresses after PD-1/L1 therapy,” said Dr. M. Catherine Pietanza, Vice President, Global Clinical Development, MSD Research Laboratories. “These WELIREG plus LENVIMA data demonstrate important progress for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma and reinforce our commitment to improving the lives of patients through innovative treatment strategies.”“The LITESPARK-011 results reinforce LENVIMA's established role in renal cell carcinoma and highlight the potential of this novel combination to address an area of significant unmet need,” said Dr. Corina Dutcus, Senior Vice President, Oncology Global Clinical Development Lead at Eisai. “The acceptance of this regulatory filing is an important milestone, and we remain committed to working toward approval to bring this option to patients as soon as possible. We are grateful to the patients, their families, and the investigators, whose dedication made this research possible.”Additional findingsData for objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR), two key secondary endpoints, were also reported. At the first interim analysis with a median follow-up of 19.6 months (range, 9.9-39.8), WELIREG plus LENVIMA met ORR, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement compared to cabozantinib. A confirmed ORR of 52.6% (95% CI, 47.3-57.7) was observed for WELIREG plus LENVIMA versus 39.6% (95% CI, 34.6-44.8) for cabozantinib. At the second interim analysis with a median follow-up of 29.0 months, the median DOR was 23.0 months (95% CI, 2.0-44.3+) for WELIREG plus LENVIMA versus 12.3 months (95% CI, 1.8+-35.9+) for cabozantinib.WELIREG plus LENVIMA was administered to 370 patients and cabozantinib was administered to 371 patients. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 71.6% of patients receiving WELIREG plus LENVIMA versus 65.8% of patients receiving cabozantinib. Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 11.1% of patients receiving WELIREG plus LENVIMA and in 11.3% of patients receiving cabozantinib, respectively. Serious adverse events were observed in 51.6% of patients receiving WELIREG plus LENVIMA versus 43.9% of patients receiving cabozantinib, and AEs led to death in 5.4% of patients (two were treatment-related: thrombotic microangiopathy [n=1] and pneumonitis [n=1]) versus 3.2% (one was treatment-related: hemoptysis [n=1]) of patients, respectively.LITESPARK-011 is part of a comprehensive late-stage clinical development program for WELIREG comprised of several Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, von HippelLindau disease-associated neoplasms and RCC. The Phase 3 LITESPARK-012 trial is evaluating the addition of WELIREG to KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s anti-PD-1 therapy, plus LENVIMA in the first-line advanced RCC disease setting.WELIREG is approved in the U.S., European Union (EU), Japan and other countries for the treatment of adult patients with advanced clear cell RCC following a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and 1-2 VEGFTKIs based on results from the Phase 3 LITESPARK-005 trial.KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA is approved in the U.S., the EU, Japan and other countries for the treatment of advanced RCC. Lenvatinib is approved as KISPLYX for advanced RCC in the EU.LENVIMA in combination with everolimus is approved in the U.S., EU and other regions for the treatment of adult patients with advanced RCC following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy.Dr. Motzer has provided consulting and advisory services for Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and Eisai.About LITESPARK-011LITESPARK-011 is a randomized, open-label Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04586231) evaluating WELIREG in combination with LENVIMA compared to cabozantinib for the treatment of patients with advanced clear cell RCC that has progressed on or after anti-PD-1/L1 therapy. The dual primary endpoints are PFS per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) and OS. Key secondary endpoints include ORR per RECIST v1.1 as assessed by BICR, DOR per RECIST v1.1 as assessed by BICR, and safety. The trial enrolled 747 patients who were randomized to receive WELIREG (120 mg orally once daily) plus LENVIMA (20 mg orally once daily) or cabozantinib (60 mg orally once daily).About renal cell carcinomaRenal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, with about nine out of 10 kidney cancer diagnoses being RCC.1 In 2022, there were about 435,000 new cases of kidney cancer and approximately 156,000 deaths from the disease worldwide.2 RCC is about twice as common in men as in women.1 Most cases of RCC are discovered incidentally during imaging tests for other abdominal diseases. Approximately 30% of patients with kidney cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage.3About Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s research in genitourinary cancersMerck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA is advancing research aimed at helping transform the treatment landscape and broaden options for people with genitourinary (GU) cancers, including bladder, kidney and prostate cancers. Globally, GU cancers account for an estimated 2.6 million new cancer diagnoses each year, equaling over 1 in 8 of all cancer incidences. Through a robust clinical development program with more than 50 clinical trials evaluating more than 22,000 patients around the world, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA is investigating the potential of several portfolio medicines and pipeline assets, leveraging multiple novel combination strategies, across various stages of disease, to help address unmet needs in GU cancers.About WELIREG® (belzutifan) 40 mg tablets, for oral useWELIREG, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s first-in-class hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, is an orally administered small-molecule designed to reduce transcription and expression of HIF-2α target genes associated with cellular proliferation, angiogenesis and tumor growth. By inhibiting HIF-2α signaling, WELIREG aims to disrupt key pathways certain tumors may use to adapt to low-oxygen conditions, including those that help promote abnormal blood vessel formation and support tumor survival.WELIREG has demonstrated antitumor activity in certain von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated tumors, renal cell carcinoma and in pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. As part of a broader clinical program, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA continues to research WELIREG monotherapy and combination approaches for people with genitourinary, breast and gynecologic cancers across a range of treatment settings to further define where HIF-2α inhibition may provide clinical benefit and to better understand which patients are most likely to respond.About LENVIMA® (lenvatinib); available as 10 mg and 4 mg capsulesLENVIMA, discovered and developed by Eisai, is an orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors VEGFR1 (FLT1), VEGFR2 (KDR), and VEGFR3 (FLT4). LENVIMA inhibits other kinases that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression in addition to their normal cellular functions, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR1-4, the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), KIT, and RET. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, LENVIMA decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and demonstrated greater antitumor activity in combination with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody compared to either treatment alone. LENVIMA has been approved for the indications below.Thyroid cancer- Indication as monotherapy(Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe, China and Asia)Japan: Unresectable thyroid cancerThe United States: The treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)Europe: The treatment of adult patients with progressive, locally advanced or metastatic, differentiated (papillary/follicular/Hürthle cell) thyroid carcinoma (DTC), refractory to radioactive iodine (RAI)Hepatocellular carcinoma- Indication as monotherapy(Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe, China and Asia)Japan: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinomaThe United States: The first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)Europe: The treatment of adult patients with advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received no prior systemic therapy- Indication in combination with KEYTRUDA (generic name: pembrolizumab) and transarterial chemoembolization(Approved in China)Thymic carcinoma- Indication as monotherapy (Approved in Japan)Japan: Unresectable thymic carcinomaRenal cell carcinoma (In Europe other than the United Kingdom, the agent was launched under the brand name Kisplyx®)- Indication in combination with everolimus(Approved mainly in the United States, Europe and Asia)The United States: The treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following one prior antiangiogenic therapyEurope: The treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma following one prior vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeted therapy- Indication in combination with KEYTRUDA(Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia)Japan: Radically unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinomaThe United States: The first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinomaEurope: The first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinomaEndometrial carcinoma- Indication in combination with KEYTRUDA(Approved mainly in Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia)Japan: Unresectable, advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma that progressed after cancer chemotherapyThe United States: The treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is pMMR or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiationEurope: The treatment of adult patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma (EC) who have disease progression on or following prior treatment with a platinum-containing therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery.About the Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA Strategic CollaborationIn March 2018, Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and cocommercialization of LENVIMA. Under the agreement, the companies jointly develop, manufacture and commercialize LENVIMA, both as monotherapy and in combination with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA, and HIF-2α inhibitor, WELIREG.Eisai’s focus on cancerEisai acknowledges “Oncology” as one of its key strategic areas, and will continue to focus on the discovery and development of anti-cancer drugs within drug discovery domains including “microenvironment”, “protein integrity and homeostasis”, and “cell lineage and cell differentiation” under the Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) drug discovery and development organization. Eisai aspires to discover innovative new drugs with new targets and mechanisms of action from these domains, with the aim of contributing to the cure of cancersAbout EisaiEisai’s Corporate Concept is “to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase the benefits that health care provides.” Under this Concept [also known as our human health care (hhc) Concept], we aim to effectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology.In addition, our continued commitment to the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which is a target (3.3) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is demonstrated by our work on various activities together with global partners.For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global headquarters: Eisai Co., Ltd.), us.eisai.com (for U.S. headquarters: Eisai Inc.) or www.eisai.eu (for Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand headquarters: Eisai Europe Ltd.), and connect with us on X (U.S. and global), LinkedIn (for U.S. and EMEA) and Facebook (global).Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA’s Focus on CancerEvery day, we follow the science as we work to discover innovations that can help patients, no matter what stage of cancer they have. As a leading oncology company, we are pursuing research where scientific opportunity and medical need converge, underpinned by our diverse pipeline of more than 25 novel mechanisms. With one of the largest clinical development programs across more than 30 tumor types, we strive to advance breakthrough science that will shape the future of oncology. By addressing barriers to clinical trial participation, screening and treatment, we work with urgency to reduce disparities and help ensure patients have access to high-quality cancer care. Our unwavering commitment is what will bring us closer to our goal of bringing life to more patients with cancer. For more information, visit https://www.merck.com/research/oncology.About Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USAAt Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USAThis news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).(1) American Cancer Society, “What Is Kidney Cancer” https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/kidney-cancer/about/what-is-kidney-cancer.html(2) International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization. “Kidney fact sheet” Cancer Today, GLOBOCAN 2022. https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/29-kidney-fact-sheet.pdf(3) E. Esterberg et al. Real-World Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma. Clinical Genitourinary Cancer April 2024, Vol. 22, No. 2, 115–125. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558767323002203Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USAMedia RelationsJulie Cunningham: +1-(617) 519-6264John Infanti: +1-(609) 500-4714Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USAInvestor RelationsPeter Dannenbaum: +1-(732) 594-1579Steven Graziano: +1-(732) 594-1583Eisai Co., Ltd.Public Relations:+81-(0)3-3817-5120Eisai Co., Ltd.Investor Relations:+81-(0) 3-3817-5122 Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), in collaboration with Pegatron Corporation (Pegatron; 4938.TW) and Edgecore Networks, has obtained Bronze Badge certification from the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) for its new hardware products: Endeavor (Pegatron MPND400-2) and AMX3200 (Edgecore), components of the open and disaggregated 400G optical transponder platforms known as Phoenix, demonstrating the continued expansion of NEC's ecosystem portfolio.TIP is a global collaborative community advancing the development and deployment of open, disaggregated, and interoperable telecommunications infrastructure.The Phoenix solution is a standard specification defined by TIP's Open Optical and Packet Transport (OOPT) Project Group, that includes NTT, Telia, Telefonica, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, and MTN. OOPT is an operator-driven initiative responsible for the development of technical requirements and focused on the growth of open technologies, architectures, and interfaces in the optical and IP networking domains.NEC’s Phoenix Solution consists of the NEC Network Operating System (NOS), white box hardware, and third-party optical transceivers, enabling highly flexible and scalable network deployments. The newly added Endeavor and AMX3200 platforms are both 1U-height white boxes designed for standard 19-inch rack mounting. Each is equipped with four CFP2-DCO ports supporting 400G coherent pluggable transceivers, enabling transmission capacity of up to 1.6Tbps per device for Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) applications.The NEC NOS is universally deployed on Phoenix-certified white box platforms, providing advanced hardware management and supporting open APIs such as OpenConfig and YANG data models to ensure seamless integration and automation for network operators.The NEC NOS has previously been awarded the TIP Phoenix Gold Badge in combination with the Galileo Flex-T white box. The new Bronze Badge certifications for Endeavor and AMX3200 further strengthen the Phoenix ecosystem, enabling network operators to benefit from a truly multi-vendor environment and enhancing the reliability and flexibility of optical transport networks.Phoenix disaggregated 400G transponder solution- NEC & Partner Eco-system -"The Bronze Badge certification for the Endeavor and AMX3200 platforms further highlights the robustness of our optical networking solution ecosystem," said So Sato, Senior Director, Network Solutions Business Division, NEC Corporation. "This achievement demonstrates the value of openness, affirming our commitment to supporting operators with flexible solutions that meet diverse networking needs.""The Telecom Infra Project is excited to see the broader impact of TIP’s Phoenix open transponder design across the industry. This new hardware solution greatly enriches the open transponders ecosystem by offering operators multiple choices to deploy this solution at scale," said Arturo Mayoral, Head of Transport Technology at TIP. "We are especially proud to see how the TIP test and validation program is enabling the community to accelerate interoperability among open solutions while reinforcing market confidence in their maturity and reliability.""We are proud to achieve TIP Phoenix Bronze Badge certification for Pegatron’s Endeavor MPND400-2 muxponder in collaboration with NEC," said Dr. James Shue, SVP & CTO of Pegatron. "This certification validates our commitment to delivering high-quality, standards-based optical networking hardware for the open and disaggregated ecosystem. Pegatron remains dedicated to advancing open optical networking solutions that provide operators with greater flexibility and choice.""Edgecore Networks is proud to expand our collaboration with NEC through the Phoenix ecosystem. Achieving TIP Bronze Badge certification for the AMX3200 underscores our shared commitment to delivering open, scalable, and interoperable optical transport solutions," said Nanda Ravindran, VP of Product Management and Planning of Edgecore. "By combining Edgecore’s open hardware innovation with NEC’s proven NOS and system integration expertise, we are empowering operators worldwide to accelerate network modernization with greater flexibility, efficiency, and confidence."These research results were obtained from a grant program (No.JPJ012368G50311) by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan.About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society.For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has successfully demonstrated a technology in which Agentic AI autonomously manages the entire lifecycle of the User Plane Function (UPF)*, a primary function of 6G/5G core networks, from design, construction, and deployment through to operational monitoring. This research achievement was realized in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).Based on NEC’s expertise and experience in communications service provider networks, this demonstration was achieved by leveraging "Kiro," an AWS agentic AI with an integrated development environment (IDE) and command-line interface (CLI). As a result, NEC confirmed that the time required from network design to initial service launch, which previously required several weeks with manual configuration by network operators, can be significantly reduced to just a few hours. In addition, automated anomaly detection and self-healing operations without human intervention were also verified using an AWS AI tool. These results demonstrate that automated orchestration of UPF utilizing an AWS AI tool contributes to reducing deployment burden for communications service providers (CSPs), improving operational efficiency, and accelerating service rollout.Traditionally, building and deploying network functions required extensive manual configuration and advanced technical expertise, placing a heavy burden on network operators at CSPs. These manual processes also increased the risk of human error, which complicated fault isolation and recovery during network incidents. These issues contributed to longer service rollout timelines and rising operational costs.Key Features1. Autonomous UPF Deployment and Operation Enabled by AIDrawing on expertise gained through designing, building, and operating commercial carrier networks, NEC embedded this knowledge into AI models capable of automatically generating and executing UPF deployment procedures. This enables not only automation of operational tasks but also supports truly autonomous network operations suitable for production environments.2. Flexible Deployment Enabled by Cloud-Based Operational ModelsBy leveraging AWS, NEC can apply cloud-native operational models directly to CSP environments, enabling flexible deployment across networks, including edge locations and on premises systems.Benefits / ValueReduces network function deployment time from weeks to hours—from network design to initial service launch (compared to traditional manual deployment methods at NEC)Minimizes human error and improves operational quality through automationAllows personnel without deep technical expertise to deploy and operate network functions, helping address labor shortagesSupports CSPs with rapid service launches and maximizes revenue opportunitiesThis initiative represents an important achievement as a foundational technology for realizing autonomous network operations required in the future 6G era. Looking ahead, NEC will continue to take on new technological challenges based on its vision of being "AI Native," addressing the challenges that communications service providers may face both today and in the future as networks become increasingly complex.A demonstration based on the verified environment will be showcased at the AWS booth during MWC Barcelona 2026 (March 2–5, 2026), the world’s largest mobile industry event."The telecommunications industry is at an inflection point where AI-driven automation is becoming essential to build a competitive advantage by serving the end-customers faster and reducing the operating costs. NEC's breakthrough in autonomous UPF orchestration demonstrates how AWS AI services can fundamentally transform network operations, enabling communications service providers to deploy complex 5G infrastructure in hours rather than weeks. This level of automation democratizes advanced network deployment capabilities, allowing operators to serve the ever-increasing capacity needs and focus their innovation efforts on service differentiation rather than manual configuration and operational tasks. This collaboration with NEC exemplifies the intelligent automation that will define the next generation of telecommunications infrastructure."-Amir Rao, Global Director, GTM and Telco Solutions at Amazon Web Services"Validating the automation of UPF deployment and operations using AI and GitOps in an AWS environment is an important accomplishment for NEC. This technology does more than just improve operational efficiency. By embedding the design and operational expertise that NEC has cultivated through commercial networks into AI, we aim to enable autonomous operations and achieve a significant improvement in end-to-end efficiency across UPF deployment and operations, including on-site activities. NEC will continue to contribute to the realization of autonomously operable mobile networks that are required for the 6G era, providing environments that allow communications service providers to focus on creating service value."- Takashi Sato, Corporate Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Network Solutions Business Division of NEC CorporationA portion of the technologies used in this project were obtained from a grant program (No. JPJ012368G50701) by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan.(*) User Plane Function: The processing of user data traffic in the 5G Core Network (5GC).About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society. For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

CompressorTOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired all shares of AST Turbo AG (AST), a Swiss company specializing in rotating equipment maintenance services, as of February 27.AST is engaged in maintenance, inspection, and field services for rotating equipment such as compressors and steam turbines that drive compressors, used in resource and energy development sites, including in the oil and gas sectors. The company has highly experienced technical supervisors and advanced engineering capabilities, such as virtual assembly technology utilizing 3D laser measurement(*1). AST has a proven track record of projects in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and other regions worldwide. Through this acquisition, MCO aims to strengthen its field service system in international markets.Turbo machinery such as compressors requires indispensable after-sales services, including replacement of consumable parts, repairs, and inspections following installation. In recent years, customers have increasingly requested shorter inspection intervals to improve equipment uptime, along with greater use of virtual assembly technology and deployment of experienced supervisors. MCO and AST have a long established and collaborative relationship and have jointly provided field service on several projects to date. Following the acquisition, under the leadership of AST's current management team, the company will leverage its existing customer and business base, while integrating MCO's and the MHI Group's technological expertise and know-how to further enhance service quality and expand business operations.With this acquisition, MCO is committed to better meeting customer expectations and delivering high-quality services to customers worldwide.This acquisition is an example of the partnering initiatives promoted by the MHI Group. The Company will continue to build strategic partnerships globally to incorporate external expertise through partnering efforts and deliver its technologies, products, and services to a wider range of customers.(*1) Virtual assembly technology refers to a technique that uses 3D data to simulate the product assembly process on a computer. This enables the omission of certain on-site assembly steps, resulting in shorter inspection periods, maintaining plant high availability.About AST Turbo AGCompany Name: AST Turbo AGHeadquarters: Altendorf, SwitzerlandFounded: 2012Core Business: Maintenance and field services including installation for rotating equipment such as compressors and steam turbines that drive compressorsFor more information, please visit https://www.ast-turbo.com/About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - NEC Corporation has expanded the capabilities of its User Plane Function (UPF, *1) for telecom operators by adding support for second-generation AWS Outposts racks (*2), further strengthening its multi deployment model. With this enhancement, NEC’s UPF can now operate consistently across on-premises environments, the cloud, edge locations, and AWS Outposts racks installed within operators’ network sites. This enables flexible deployment design that is tailored to traffic characteristics and service requirements.NEC’s UPF is designed for lightweight, high performance operation in telecom networks, achieving 200 Gbps throughput while limiting CPU usage to only 20% of total CPU cores on second generation AWS Outposts racks. This lightweight architecture enables easier coexistence with other workloads on second-generation AWS Outposts racks and supports the deployment of low-latency, edge-based services such as network slicing and service application integration. These capabilities have been achieved through close collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).Another key feature of NEC’s UPF is its unified software architecture, which delivers a consistent experience from edge sites to centralized deployments. The same software can be used when deployed on second generation AWS Outposts racks, ensuring network wide consistency in design and operations. With a cloud optimized approach that incorporates continuous updates and automated operations, NEC enables labor efficient, stable, large scale network operation. This supports telecom operators’ diverse network strategies, from leveraging existing infrastructure to adopting cloud native architectures.With edge deployments expected to accelerate in the 6G era, NEC has combined expanded cloud adoption options enabled by second-generation AWS Outposts racks with the space- and power-efficient design of its UPF to achieve efficient edge rollouts and the integration of edge environments with cloud services.The provision of this solution helps to advance NEC’s "AI Native" vision for society and contributes to solving social challenges."NEC's innovative approach to User Plane Function deployment exemplifies how AWS Outposts enables telecommunications operators to modernize their infrastructure without compromising on the application's mission-critical performance or the operational consistency delivered by the cloud. With second-generation AWS Outposts, NEC delivers the cloud-native agility that operators need while maintaining the low-latency, high-throughput performance that 5G services demand. This collaboration demonstrates AWS's commitment to helping telecommunications partners build mission critical, high-performance, flexible, and scalable networks that will power the next generation of connected experiences."- Amir Rao, Global Director, GTM and Telco Solutions at Amazon Web Services"Enabling NEC’s UPF, which is designed for multi-platform environments, to run on second-generation AWS Outposts racks will expand the range of choices that communications service providers have for network design and operations. The UPF supports both rapid service deployment and stable operations while minimizing design and operational complexity, thereby strengthening service providers’ ability to deliver reliable services. Going forward, NEC will continue to pursue the realization of network platforms that seamlessly and pragmatically integrate cloud and network technologies, contributing to value creation for communications service providers."- Takashi Sato, Corporate Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Network Solutions Business Division of NEC CorporationA portion of the technologies used in this project were obtained from a grant program (No. JPJ012368G50701) by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan.*1)User Plane Function: The processing of user data traffic in the 5G Core Network (5GC).*2)AWS Outposts is a family of fully managed solutions that brings AWS infrastructure and services to virtually any on-premises or edge location for a consistent hybrid experience. Second-generation AWS Outposts racks deliver up to 40% better compute performance than the first generation, simplify network operations, enable cost-efficient scaling of on-premises workloads, and are optimized for ultra-low-latency, high-throughput requirements.About NECThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society. For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Kawasaki, Osaka, Japan, Feb 27, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Fujitsu Limited and H2O Retailing Corporation today announced the successful implementation of a wireless tablet POS system utilizing Fujitsu's POS solution across all 15 Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores. This initiative marks one of the largest deployments of a tablet POS system in a department store in Japan, with approximately 5,000 tablet units introduced in non-food sales areas and about 400 dedicated POS units in food sales areas.The system enables sales associates to provide seamless, one-stop[1] service from customer engagement to payment without leaving their sales floor. This allows sales associates to dedicate more time to customers, to enhance service quality and deliver a high-value shopping experience unique to department stores.Going forward, H2O plans to integrate other business applications into these tablet units at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores including customer relationship management tools and customer service support tools to create a higher quality one-stop customer experience.Fujitsu, under its Uvance business model to address societal challenges, is committed to solving customer and societal issues through data and AI, focusing on both the purchasing experience and supply chains. By linking the experience cycle, which supports comfortable purchasing experiences for customers and improved operational efficiency for employees involved in purchasing, with the supply chain cycle, which aims to realize sustainable and resilient purchasing supply chains, Fujitsu will integrate complex customer touchpoints and achieve centralized information management across all channels. This will enhance customer and consumer experiences and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.Overview of the SystemThe system implemented in this initiative incorporates a POS solution from Unified Commerce, an offering within Fujitsu's Uvance business model that aims to centralize customer touchpoint information. By establishing this system as a common platform, the screen displays and operability of both stationary and mobile POS systems have been unified.This achieves the following three points, leading to improved operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience:Reduced burden of learning multiple operating methods and decreased training labor hours for sales associates due to a unified operating system.Establishment of a one-stop operation within the same sales area, from customer engagement to payment, through the introduction of wireless tablets. Provides customers with a smoother and more comfortable shopping experience.Utilization of SIM-equipped tablet units to increase flexibility by expanding POS systems outside stores for special events, external sales activities, and mobile sales, while maintaining the same service quality as in-store systems.The system is built in a cloud environment and adopts a pay-per-use licensing model based on the annual number of transactions. This allows for flexible adjustment of POS system resources according to sales floor fluctuations and demand, balancing appropriate cost management with stable operation. It ensures a stable payment environment even during peak seasons, offering customers a comfortable and smooth shopping experience.[1] Not including tax-free procedures.About FujitsuFujitsu’s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: global.fujitsuAbout H2O Retailing CorporationThe H2O Retailing Group engages in a variety of retail-related business, including department stores, supermarkets, shopping centers, specialty stores and convenience stores, primarily in the Kansai region of Japan.Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores operate a total of 15 department stores, including Hankyu Department Store and Hanshin Department Store. We strive to become the No.1 fun department store to make our customers lives also fun and enriched by energizing their future. In addition to the flagship Hankyu Umeda Main Store, we have a wide variety of stores, including the Hanshin Umeda Main Store, Kobe Hankyu, and Hakata Hankyu stores in the city center, as well as suburban stores that are close to the lives of the community.Press ContactsFujitsu LimitedPublic and Investor Relations DivisionInquiries Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Feb 26, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitomo Semicon Engineering Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of EEJA Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Akihiko Domae), which operates TANAKA’s plating business, announces that it will change its company name effective April 1, 2026, as outlined below.Details of the company name changeCurrent name: Mitomo Semicon Engineering Co., Ltd.New name: EEJA Technologies Ltd.Mitomo Semicon Engineering is engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of plating equipment for semiconductors and electronic components. With this company name change, the company will further strengthen collaboration with EEJA, which provides plating chemicals and processes, and will offer enhanced value to customers through total solutions that integrate plating chemicals, equipment, and process design.Company name: Mitomo Semicon Engineering Co., Ltd.(New company name: EEJA Technologies Ltd.)CEOToshio KuzushimaEstablished1976CapitalJPY 100 millionEmployees47 (January 1, 2026)SalesJPY 2,925,911,000 (FY2024)Main businessesManufacture and sales of plating equipment for semiconductors and electronic components Company name: EEJA Ltd.CEOAkihiko DomaeEstablished1965CapitalJPY 100 millionEmployees133 (including overseas subsidiaries) (December 31, 2024)SalesJPY 29,957,393,000 (FY2024)Main businessesDevelopment, manufacture, sales, and export of precious metal and base metal plating chemicals, additives, and surface treatment-related chemicals Company name: TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.Headquarters2-6-6 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, TokyoRepresentativeKoichiro Tanaka, Group CEOFounded1885Incorporated2024CapitalJPY 100 millionEmployees in consolidated group5,591 (December 31, 2024)Net sales of consolidated groupJPY 846,921 million (FY2024)Main businesses of the groupCompany responsible for management of TANAKAWebsitehttps://www.tanaka.co.jp/english (TANAKA Corporate Website) About TANAKASince its foundation in 1885, TANAKA has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volume of precious metals it handles. Over many years, TANAKA has manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry and provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and worldwide collaborate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,591 employees, the group’s consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended December 2024 were 846.9 billion yen.TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.TANAKA Corporate Websitehttps://www.tanaka.co.jp/english/Press inquiriesTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.https://www.tanaka.co.jp/support/req/other_contact_e/index.htmlPress Release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20260226_EN.pdf Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Highlights:Integration of the proposed technologies will help address the transmission and computational infrastructure challenges faced when implementing AI agents.This trial verified the effectiveness of optimizing the transmission and computational processing of high-volume data handled by AI agents.This initiative has been selected for exhibition at the Japan Pavilion at MWC 2026, where the research findings and underlying concept will be presented to an international audience.TOKYO, Japan, Feb 26, 2026 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (Tokyo; Dean of the Graduate School of Engineering: Professor Yasuhiro Kato; Head of the Nakao Research Laboratory: Professor Akihiro Nakao; hereinafter "The University of Tokyo"), NTT, Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo; President and CEO: Akira Shimada; hereinafter "NTT"), and NEC Corporation (Headquarters: Tokyo; President and CEO Takayuki Morita; hereinafter "NEC") have integrated three newly proposed technologies on a 6G(*1)/IOWN(*2) platform to realize the widespread use of AI agents(*3) supporting a safer and more secure society. Through this initiative, the three parties have combined streaming semantic communication technology(*4), AI-oriented media control technology(*5), and In-Network Computing (INC) architecture technology(*6) to optimize the high-volume data transmission and computational processing required for AI agents. The effectiveness of these technologies has been quantitatively verified through a trial, and plans are slated for this initiative to be showcased at the Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC 2026) Japan Pavilion, where the research findings and underlying concept will be presented to an international audience.Figure 1. Overview of the technologies integrated on the 6G/IOWN platform1. Background and significance of this three-party collaborationInternational collaboration and global standardization are vital to the advancement of telecommunications, which serves as a universal platform accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world, and should therefore be considered from a global value perspective. In recent years, the importance of safety and security has grown, as both offer global value.To realize a safer and more secure society, the ability to quickly perceive and take appropriate action in response to disasters, accidents, cyberattacks, and other rapidly evolving situations is imperative. However, relying solely on personnel and predefined rules to respond to such situations has its limitations, making the use of AI essential. Utilizing AI agents enables autonomous, real-time perception of the situation at hand, helping to prevent potential damage and minimize the impact of any damage that does occur.Meanwhile, next-generation ICT infrastructure capable of processing and transmitting massive amounts of data with low latency and high reliability is vital to enhancing the functionality of AI agents.Against this backdrop, The University of Tokyo, NTT, and NEC—all three of which possess strengths in 6G and IOWN—have united under The University of Tokyo’s Social Cooperation Program to conduct research and development on 6G and IOWN platform technologies to realize AI agents supporting safety and security.2. Research backgroundWhile the use of AI in recent years has primarily centered on models that act based on human prompts, the utilization of AI agents capable of acting autonomously based on sensor data and other non-human-originated inputs without relying on specific instructions from human operators is expected to become increasingly common in the society of the future. In turn, these advancements will enable the realization of AI agents that support safety and security by continuously collecting and monitoring data from the surrounding environment and responding in real time when signs of abnormalities are detected.However, the expanded use of continuously operating AI agents will cause the amount of multimodal data(*7) to skyrocket, and existing ICT infrastructure is not equipped to support such a drastic increase in data due to the technological challenges listed below.(1) Insufficient wireless bandwidthContinuous transmission of vast amounts of data from countless sensors and devices makes it difficult to secure sufficient wireless bandwidth.(2) Increasing computational load due to round-the-clock AI processing of sensor dataIf all sensor data is continuously processed using computationally intensive AI, it will cause an excessive computational load, making it difficult to respond in real time.(3) Increasing computational load and power consumption with large-scale AILarge-scale AI is required to analyze a wide range of sensor data, thereby increasing the need for computational capabilities and electrical power.3. Technology highlightsIn this research, the three parties proposed the following technological approaches to resolve the aforementioned challenges.(1) Streaming semantic communication technology (The University of Tokyo)This applied form of semantic communication detects contextual changes and transmits only semantic differences, thereby reducing wireless communication resources dramatically.(2) AI-oriented media control technology (NEC)Assigning a data identifier to an AI agent and then selectively feeding only key sensor data to the AI agent reduces the computational resources required for inference. Learning inference results from the AI agent, the data identifier is able to identify critical sensor data.(3) In-Network Computing (INC) architecture technology (NTT)Rather than relying on a single massive AI model, highly efficient and reliable AI processing is made possible by combining small, specialized AI distributed across the network with external information sources.Figure 2. Technological challenges and the proposed approach4. Trial OverviewThis trial was conducted to verify the impact of the proposed technologies in terms of reducing latency through the improvement of transmission and computational processing efficiency, taking into account the characteristics of end-to-end latency(*8) (E2E latency) when using AI agents. In this trial, a video dataset including critical situations (60 seconds; 1,800 frames) was used to conduct a phase-by-phase evaluation of the configuration with which an AI agent processes video input from sensors. The intended use cases are scenarios requiring real-time performance where an AI agent continuously monitors the surroundings of a user wearing augmented reality (AR) glasses to identify environmental and contextual changes that can be used to predict and assess risk indicators.First, the latency characteristics in a configuration where all frames fed from a sensor were sequentially processed using AI were assessed as a preliminary evaluation. The results confirmed that processing wait time increases cumulatively with each frame, resulting in a tendency for E2E latency to build over time. This implies an increase in the amount of time it takes from the occurrence of a critical situation in front of the user until assessment results and guidance are provided, thus revealing that this could pose an issue in use cases involving real-time AR assistance.Next, on the basis of the results of the preliminary evaluation, a system configuration was assessed in which the proposed technology was applied in this trial. The evaluation confirmed that both communication traffic and computational load were reduced, and that E2E latency could be maintained at an almost constant level throughout the entire video stream. In addition, no tendency was observed for processing wait times to increase cumulatively. Furthermore, no degradation in AI inference accuracy was detected as a result of applying the proposed technology. These results demonstrate that, for this use case, which requires real-time performance, the proposed technology can stably reduce E2E latency while maintaining AI inference accuracy. Figure 3.1. Use of AR glasses in the trial Figure 3.2. AR glasses display5. Roles and Responsibilities(1) The University of Tokyo:Responsible for research and development of streaming semantic communication technology, primarily contributing to addressing technical challenges related to bandwidth constraints in wireless network segments.(2) NEC:Responsible for research and development of AI-oriented media control technology primarily contributing to addressing the technical challenge of increased computational load resulting from continuous AI processing of sensor data.(3) NTT:Responsible for research and development of In-Network Computing (INC) technology, primarily contributing to addressing technical challenges related to increased computational load and power consumption associated with the scaling of AI models.Through the interaction and integration of each party’s technologies, the collaboration has also enabled contributions to addressing additional technical challenges beyond their primary areas of responsibility.6. Future outlookThis initiative has been selected for exhibition at the Japan Pavilion at MWC 2026, where the research findings and underlying concept will be presented to an international audience.Going forward, with a view toward the social implementation of the research findings, the three parties will accelerate research and development aimed at realizing AI agents and next-generation ICT infrastructure that support safety and security.Notes:*1.6G6G (sixth-generation mobile communication systems) refers to next-generation mobile communication technologies currently under research as the successor to 5G. In addition to ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency, and high reliability, 6G is expected to provide a communications infrastructure designed to support massive device connectivity and AI-native applications.*2.IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network)The IOWN concept envisions a network and information processing infrastructure, including end devices, that optimizes both individuals and systems as a whole based on diverse information. By leveraging innovative technologies centered on optical communications, IOWN aims to provide ultra-high-speed, large-capacity communications and vast computational resources.*3.AI AgentAn AI agent is an AI technology that understands objectives based on surrounding conditions and input data, and autonomously makes decisions and takes actions to execute tasks. In addition to conventional AI systems that operate based on human-issued instructions (prompts), growing attention is being given to AI agents that continuously perceive and assess their environment using non-human-originated inputs, such as sensor data.*4.Streaming semantic communication technologySemantic communication is a communication method that focuses on the meaning and importance of data, extracting and compressing only the necessary information for transmission. Compared with conventional bit-level communication, it significantly reduces communication volume while efficiently transmitting information required for AI processing. Streaming semantic communication technology is an applied form of semantic communication that detects changes in surrounding context and transmits only semantic differences, thereby dramatically reducing communication resource usage in wireless segments.Related publication:Shota Ono, Akihiro Nakao, "Semantic Communication Scheme for Real-Time Video Streaming Considering Temporal Semantic Continuity," IEICE Technical Report, March 2026 (in Japanese).*5.AI-oriented media control technologyAI-oriented media control technology analyzes input data, such as sensor data and video, prior to AI processing and selectively filters it based on importance and necessity. This reduces the computational load required for AI inference, enabling improved real-time performance and more efficient use of computing resources.Related publication:K. Azuma, H. Itsumi and K. Nihei, "Similarity-based Frame Screening for Edge-Cloud In-Cabin Monitoring," In Proc. of 2026 IEEE 23rd Consumer Communications & Networking Conference (CCNC), Las Vegas, NV, USA, 2026.*6.In-Network Computing (INC) architecture technologyIn-Network Computing (INC) is an architecture that integrates computational functions, such as AI processing, within the core of mobile networks, allowing critical processing to be completed inside the network. By effectively utilizing distributed computing resources across devices, networks, and cloud systems, INC enables low-latency and highly reliable service delivery.Related publications:Kentaro Hayashi, Shiku Hirai, Tatsuya Matsukawa, and Hiroki Baba, "High-Speed End-to-End Information Synchronization and Collaboration Technology ‘In-Network Service Acceleration Platform’ for the 6G/IOWN Era," NTT Technical Journal, October 2024 (in Japanese).Kentaro Hayashi, Shota Ono, Tomonori Takeda, Akihiro Nakao, "Network and Cost-Aware Tool Selection System for MCP-Integrated LLM," IEICE Technical Report, December 2025. (in Japanese).Hiroki Baba, Kentaro Hayashi, Shiku Hirai and Tomonori Takeda, "Unified Control of Network and Compute Toward 6G In-Network Computing Service," In Proc. of 2026 IEEE 23rd Consumer Communications & Networking Conference (CCNC), Las Vegas, NV, USA, 2026.*7.Multimodal dataMultimodal data refers to data that combines multiple types (modalities) of information, such as video, audio, sensor data, and location information.*8.End-to-end latencyEnd-to-end latency refers to the total time required for data to be transmitted from the source, processed at the destination, and returned as a response. It includes both communication latency and computational processing latency, and is a critical metric for AI services that require real-time performance.About The University of TokyoThe University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 5,000 international students.About NTTNTT contributes to a sustainable society through the power of innovation. We are a leading global technology company providing services to consumers and businesses as a mobile operator, infrastructure, networks, applications, and consulting provider. Our offerings include business consulting, agentic AI solutions, managed application services, cloud, data center and edge computing, all supported by our deep global industry expertise. We are over $90 billion in revenue and 340,000 people, investing 30% of our profits into fundamental research and development each year. Our operations span across 70+ countries and regions, allowing us to serve clients in over 190 of them. We serve 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies, thousands of enterprises, government clients and millions of consumers.About NEC CorporationThe NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society. For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube. Copyright 2026 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com