RISE, a Consortium Promoting Unmanned Assets in Defense and Security, Holds Its First Meeting

JISDA Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Shota Kunii, hereinafter "JISDA") held the first meeting of "RISE," a consortium aimed at promoting the use of unmanned assets in the defense and security domain and forming a public-private ecosystem centered on startups. RISE is an initiative aimed at discussing not only the development of individual technologies for unmanned vehicles and surrounding technologies, but also actual operational concepts, doctrines, field issues, institutional design, joint research and development, and public-private dialogues.

The first meeting was attended by startups, experts, and stakeholders involved in the defense, security, and deep tech sectors. The number of participating companies has continued to expand since the event, exceeding 25 companies at present. Participating companies include not only those that develop the unmanned vehicles themselves, but also component companies specializing in propulsion, communications, control, AI, power sources, and materials, as well as companies handling sensors, radars, digital twins, data infrastructure, simulations, and operational support related to the actual operation of unmanned vehicles.

Background In recent years, topics such as "promoting startup entry" and "agile development" have gained increasing interest in security policy discussions. Driven by rising geopolitical risks and changes in defense technologies, the utilization of advanced technologies held by private companies, particularly startups, has become a critical point of discussion. However, utilizing technology in the defense sector requires more than just the entry of new companies and technologies; it demands a development process connected to actual operations.

For instance, defense equipment like unmanned vehicles is closely related not just to performance, but to operational premises—against what threats, by whom, in what environment, and how they will be used. Therefore, it is crucial to have a system that works backward from operations and makes iterative improvements in short cycles while receiving field feedback. Additionally, alongside establishing institutional and budget frameworks, there is a need for appropriate information sharing between the public and private sectors, sharing of operational issues and missions, test fields for verifying prototype equipment, and opportunities for personnel exchange and dialogue between the government and private sector.

Private companies are also required to consider how their technologies contribute to missions and actual operations. Since defense equipment concerns the safety of JSDF personnel and citizens, as well as national security, understanding both technology development and operations is vital. Against this backdrop, RISE was launched as a platform for cross-sectional collaboration among startups, experts, and stakeholders involved in the defense and security domain.

Areas Addressed by RISE RISE primarily handles technological, institutional, and operational topics related to the use of unmanned assets in defense and security. Target technology areas include unmanned vehicles, sensors, radars, communications, AI, digital twins, simulations, data infrastructure, operational support, and component technologies. The consortium emphasizes not just addressing these technologies individually, but exploring the potential for collaboration across multiple technologies and companies based on actual operational concepts and missions.

Furthermore, JISDA continuously collects information on the use of unmanned assets and technological shifts in modern warfare through on-site surveys in Ukraine and other means. Drawing on these international examples, RISE will discuss the ideal approach to utilizing unmanned assets in a manner suited to Japan's security environment, systems, and industrial structure.

Overview of the First Meeting At the first meeting, the founding purpose, problem awareness, and future activity policies of RISE were shared, followed by an exchange of opinions among participating companies and stakeholders.

At the beginning, it was shared that in the defense and security domain, overall design—encompassing not just the superiority of individual technologies but also operations, training, decision-making, institutions, budgets, and inter-company collaboration—is crucial. Furthermore, discussions highlighted the necessity of startups collaborating as needed and combining their technologies and expertise to drive defense innovation that contributes to real-world operations. Participants exchanged views on their respective technology domains, connecting with field issues, dialogue with the Ministry of Defense and related agencies, potential for joint R&D, and learnings from overseas cases.

Over 25 Participating Companies Triggered by the first meeting, participation in RISE has expanded among companies interested in the defense and security domain. Currently, the number of participating companies has exceeded 25, and including those under review, the total surpasses 30.

The domains of participating companies are diverse. In addition to companies developing unmanned vehicles themselves, they include companies with strengths in structural components, communications, control, propulsion, AI, power sources, and materials, as well as those related to the unmanned vehicle ecosystem, such as sensors and radars.