Mitate Zepto Technica, Inc. (MZT), a Tokyo-based deep-tech startup, has introduced its participation within the Japan Science and Technology Agency’s (JST) ‘Next-Generation Edge AI Semiconductor Research and Development Program.’ MZT will act because the designated social implementation and commercialization associate for the analysis theme ‘Accelerating Edge Intelligence for AI for Science,’ led by Principal Investigator Makoto Taiji of RIKEN’s TRIP Headquarters.
The initiative goals to develop superior computational infrastructure by integrating AI know-how with next-generation edge semiconductors. Genome evaluation is likely one of the key utility domains of this initiative. MZT will deal with productizing and making certain the social implementation of the analysis outcomes by its proprietary genome-analysis accelerator, RASEN.
Since its inception in 2020, MZT has been pursuing purpose-built ASIC acceleration for genome evaluation. After validating its know-how by joint analysis with Tohoku University and others, MZT now takes on the position of an R&D establishment chargeable for social implementation underneath the present analysis theme.
Within the framework of the analysis, MZT plans to combine AI analysis outcomes from RIKEN and Tohoku University into its RASEN structure. The firm will lead the R&D work in the direction of social implementation by growing and commercializing ASIC options. As the economic associate bridging analysis with real-world deployment, MZT goals for full social implementation by 2029.
Keisuke Harashima, President & CEO of MZT, said, ‘It is an incredible honor that we will lead the social implementation of this analysis theme by the acceleration of genome evaluation through devoted semiconductors — a problem now we have pursued since MZT’s founding. RASEN is at precisely the appropriate inflection level, transitioning from analysis to real-world deployment. We will use this participation to speed up commercialization throughout healthcare, drug discovery, and analysis infrastructure.’
RASEN, MZT’s proprietary genome-analysis accelerator, relies on a purpose-designed ASIC structure. Internal validation has proven that RASEN can full whole-genome sequencing evaluation in roughly 5 minutes on a regular workstation, eliminating the necessity for supercomputers or high-performance computing infrastructure. Independent validation research with Tohoku University confirmed that RASEN achieved 99.8% concordance with typical strategies throughout 12 samples, sustaining pace with out compromising accuracy.
The JST program, which started in fiscal 12 months 2025, entails a number of establishments, together with RIKEN, Tohoku University, and Keio University, alongside MZT. MZT formally began participation in April 2026.