Mitate Zepto Technica, Inc. (MZT), a Tokyo-based deep-tech startup, has announced its participation in the Japan Science and Technology Agency's (JST) 'Next-Generation Edge AI Semiconductor Research and Development Program.' MZT will act as the designated social implementation and commercialization partner for the research theme 'Accelerating Edge Intelligence for AI for Science,' led by Principal Investigator Makoto Taiji of RIKEN's TRIP Headquarters.
The initiative aims to develop advanced computational infrastructure by integrating AI technology with next-generation edge semiconductors. Genome analysis is one of the key application domains of this initiative. MZT will focus on productizing and ensuring the social implementation of the research outcomes through its proprietary genome-analysis accelerator, RASEN.
Since its inception in 2020, MZT has been pursuing purpose-built ASIC acceleration for genome analysis. After validating its technology through joint research with Tohoku University and others, MZT now takes on the role of an R&D institution responsible for social implementation under the current research theme.
Within the framework of the research, MZT plans to integrate AI research outcomes from RIKEN and Tohoku University into its RASEN architecture. The company will lead the R&D work towards social implementation by developing and commercializing ASIC solutions. As the industrial partner bridging research with real-world deployment, MZT aims for full social implementation by 2029.
Keisuke Harashima, President & CEO of MZT, stated, 'It is a tremendous honor that we can lead the social implementation of this research theme through the acceleration of genome analysis via dedicated semiconductors — a challenge we have pursued since MZT's founding. RASEN is at exactly the right inflection point, transitioning from research to real-world deployment. We will use this participation to accelerate commercialization across healthcare, drug discovery, and research infrastructure.'
RASEN, MZT's proprietary genome-analysis accelerator, is based on a purpose-designed ASIC architecture. Internal validation has shown that RASEN can complete whole-genome sequencing analysis in approximately 5 minutes on a standard workstation, eliminating the need for supercomputers or high-performance computing infrastructure. Independent validation studies with Tohoku University confirmed that RASEN achieved 99.8% concordance with conventional methods across 12 samples, maintaining speed without compromising accuracy.
The JST program, which began in fiscal year 2025, involves multiple institutions, including RIKEN, Tohoku University, and Keio University, alongside MZT. MZT officially started participation in April 2026.
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