Noetra Corp., alongside key partners including Sony Group Corporation, SoftBank Corp., NEC Corporation, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., has embarked on comprehensive research and development to create a Japan-developed multimodal foundation model. This initiative aims to advance AI-enabled robots and physical AI, collaborating with numerous partners engaged in sovereign AI development in Japan.
The project has drawn investments from 44 companies and organizations, primarily from the manufacturing sector, all aligned with Noetra's vision and strategy. To facilitate the development of this indigenous multimodal foundation model, Noetra has established an R&D organization, leveraging engineers from its core member companies, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Preferred Networks, Inc., and other collaborators.
Noetra plans to utilize AI computing infrastructure operated by Japan-based providers and, in partnership with NVIDIA, intends to construct infrastructure equipped with approximately 27,500 NVIDIA Rubin GPUs. This infrastructure, optimized for large-scale foundation models, will begin construction in April 2027, with operations expected by June 2028.
Starting from fiscal 2026, Noetra aims to develop a reasoning foundation model for AI agents and natural language processing, focusing on advanced Japanese language understanding, logical reasoning, and instruction following. By fiscal 2028, the goal is to create an omni-modal foundation model capable of processing text, images, video, and audio, facilitating AI's ability to interpret diverse data across modalities.
Looking towards fiscal 2030, Noetra plans to develop “Real-world Native AI,” designed for real-world environments with capabilities like spatial awareness. The models will be released in stages, considering R&D progress and real-world application.
Hironobu Tamba, President and CEO of Noetra Corp., emphasized the importance of multimodal foundation models for enhancing Japan's industrial competitiveness and addressing societal challenges. He highlighted the collaborative effort to build trusted AI infrastructure that supports industry and societal transformation in Japan.
Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO of Sony Group Corporation, noted the significance of developing a multimodal foundation model in Japan, emphasizing its potential to strengthen capabilities in physical AI and its application across various sectors, including entertainment and semiconductors.
Junichi Miyakawa, President & CEO of SoftBank Corp., stressed the importance of securely utilizing data within Japan to enhance industrial competitiveness, expressing confidence in Noetra's role in creating this environment.
Takayuki Morita, President and CEO of NEC Corporation, highlighted NEC's ability to provide end-to-end AI development and its commitment to contributing to Noetra's multimodal model development. He underscored the importance of collaboration in expanding AI options for economic security.
Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., reflected on Honda's philosophy of 'Technology for People' and the potential of AI to address societal challenges. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in accelerating the deployment of technologies derived from Noetra's efforts.