iU Project Selected for Longevity Science Promotion Foundation's 'AI for Solving Aging Society Issues' Grant

iU (Information and Management for Innovation, Professional University, Sumida Ward, Tokyo, President: Ichiya Nakamura) has announced that its proposal, 'iCoRP: Intergenerational Co-creation Rapid Prototyping (Practical Application of Human-Centric AI Design Utilizing Intergenerational Learning),' has been selected for the 'AI for Solving Aging Society Issues' grant program by the Longevity Science Promotion Foundation. The grant provides up to 100 million yen over two years.

Led by iU, this project will be conducted from March 2026 to February 2028.

Project Overview: iCoRP

Social Issues to Resolve Japan is one of the world's leading super-aged societies, with about 35% of its population expected to be 65 or older by 2040. However, AI development is tech-centric and youth-focused, with little consideration for the perspective and needs of the elderly. As a result, generative AI usage among those in their 60s is only 15.5%, leaving over 20 million elderly people unfamiliar with digital devices.

iCoRP Approach iCoRP promotes the 'practical application of human-centric AI design through intergenerational learning.' Its greatest feature is positioning the elderly not as 'users' or 'people being taught,' but as 'co-designers.' By combining the rich life wisdom and experience of the elderly with the technical skills of iU's young innovators, a mechanism is built to create truly user-friendly and socially useful AI solutions.

Key Initiatives: - Basic Learning Sessions: A space where the elderly learn AI knowledge and skills experientially with support from young innovators. - Dialogue Learning Sessions: A space for dialogue and discussion using prototype verification tools developed by iU. Mixed teams of the elderly and youth explore the life challenges of the elderly. - Co-creation Sessions: Joint design sessions to develop AI prototypes reflecting the needs of the elderly. - Business Plan Contest: Young innovators compete to create AI business plans utilizing elderly needs, with support for prototyping.

iU's Strengths and Uniqueness iU is a professional university with an 'entrepreneurial ecosystem,' boasting a student startup rate of 5.59% in 2024.

Future Outlook: - Collaboration with iU-originated Startups: Collaborating with iU startups, which totaled 85 by 2024. - Elderly User Test Lab: To be established within iU in May 2026, it will systematically collect and accumulate real feedback from the elderly through face-to-face interviews and behavioral observation.

Project Leader Comment: Hisayuki Kunigita, Professor at iU, stated, 'Japan faces the challenge of a super-aged society, but from another perspective, it is on the frontline of developing AI that truly cares for the elderly. iCoRP is a program that accelerates the development of AI apps/services through co-design sessions involving the elderly as co-designers.'

President Comment: Ichiya Nakamura, President of iU, stated, 'This project is the perfect stage for our implementation power to address the challenges of a super-aged society. By creating a unique learning environment where the elderly participate in AI development as co-designers, I am confident that it will create invaluable learning and encounters for both our students and the participating elderly.'