Japan and U.S. hunt for tech to fight bio, misinformation threats

Corporate pitch challenge to deepen defense partnership, U.S. defense official says

Doug Beck is the director of the Defense Innovation Unit at the U.S. Defense Department. (U.S. Navy)

SHINNOSUKE NAGATOMI, Nikkei staff writer

December 12, 2024 22:32 JST

Updated on December 14, 2024 05:05 JST

TOKYO -- Japan and the U.S. will search for Japanese technologies to fight shared threats from biological weapons and misinformation, starting with a corporate pitch challenge with an up to $300,000 prize, Doug Beck, director of the U.S. Defense Department's Defense Innovation Unit, told Nikkei.

The Japanese Defense Ministry's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency and the Defense Innovation Unit will soon begin taking applications for the Japan-U.S. Global Innovation Challenge. Winning companies will be selected by March.