Activity Report
New Articles in the ICF Deep Tech Column Series Published
– General Manager Fujimoto Published a New Article on Human Augmentation Technologies (January 9)
Fujimoto Atsuya, General Manager of Future Co-creation Promotion Office, recently published an article in the ICF Deep Tech Column titled A Future where Experiences can be Shared through Human Augmentation Technologies: From Skill Development to DE&I, Accelerating Practical Applications of VR/AR.
In the medical field, VR offers immense potential for training by providing a safe environment where surgeons can repeatedly practice complex procedures. Besides, human augmentation can enable the quantification of pain, allowing it to be shared and understood through multi-sensory experiences.
Similarly, in the manufacturing industry, VR and AR technologies provide powerful solutions for efficient skill transfer and operational training, directly addressing the critical challenge of labor shortages.
What will future society look like given all of these technological progress? Please take a look at this article to envision a future created by human augmentation.
https://www.mri.co.jp/knowledge/column/20260109.html (in Japanese)
– The Present and Future of Nuclear Fusion Energy: Innovative Energy Technology Determining Japan’s Competitiveness (January 22)
Nuclear fusion energy is now transitioning from the realm of research to a phase focused on practical applications and commercialization.
Researchers of Mitsubishi Research Institute recently published an article that analyzes the accelerating global development competition, the substantial investments attracted by startups, and Japan’s position within this context. Please take a look at the article to understand the current status of fusion energy technology and industry and their future potential.
https://www.mri.co.jp/knowledge/column/20260122.html (in Japanese)
ICF Quarterly Report (October-December 2025) (February 10)
ICF Quarterly Report (October-December 2025), which was previously released exclusively to ICF members, has now been made available to the public.
https://icf.mri.co.jp/activities/?lang=en
Upcoming Activities
ICF General Assembly (hybrid event) (March 5)
Established in April 2021, ICF will soon celebrate its five-year anniversary. As we reach this milestone, we would like to review our activities to date and share with all members the new direction and activity policy for ICF after April 2026. Therefore, this year, we will hold the general assembly one month earlier than usual.
Hiroshi Komiyama, Chairman of the Mitsubishi Research Institute, will deliver the keynote speech at the assembly. In addition, a panel discussion will feature representatives from major corporations and startups working to resolve societal issues in the fields of marine and space, which are gaining increasing attention from a national security perspective.
Following the program, a networking event for on-site participants will also be held, and we look forward to your participation.
Please refer to more details at
https://icf.mri.co.jp/activities/activities-25646/ (in Japanese)
Registration of in-person participation:
https://mri.smartseminar.jp/public/application/add/10119 (in Japanese)
Online participation:
https://mri.smartseminar.jp/public/application/add/10116 (in Japanese)
Regional revitalization and activation from a first-person perspective (March 13)
As Japan’s various regions face a range of pressing challenges, such as worsening labor shortages and aging infrastructure, there is currently a greater need than ever for grounded and sustainable approaches to regional revitalization and activation.
ICF will hold an event on this theme, which will explore potential beyond the central-local dichotomy that many of the current measures face. This event will welcome experts, including municipal leaders, academics, and social entrepreneurs who have engaged with addressing regional issues from their respective positions. Through fresh perspectives and approaches, we will explore regional revitalization and activation strategies through public-private co-creation.
Please refer to more details at
https://icf.mri.co.jp/activities/activities-25332 (in Japanese)
Registration of in-person participation:
https://mri.smartseminar.jp/public/application/add/10050 (in Japanese)
Online participation:
https://mri.smartseminar.jp/public/application/add/10016 (in Japanese)
New ICF Members
From December 12, 2025 to February 12, 2026, 5 organizations joined ICF.
《Current list of ICF members》
https://icf.mri.co.jp/member/ (in Japanese)