Japan doubles defense tie-ups with private sector in drones, AI

Government expands joint R&D program with partners from Hitachi and NEC to startups

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The Japanese Ministry of Defense's research partners include big industrial groups. (Source photos by Nikkei)

YUSUKE TAKEUCHI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan's Ministry of Defense has doubled joint research projects with the private sector, Nikkei has learned, working with such partners as Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric to hone technologies like drones and AI.

The ministry was involved in about 30 such projects in fiscal 2023, the most ever and up from 14 a year earlier.

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