Tokyo University of Technology and Hachioji City Sign Consortium Agreement for Autonomous Driving Implementation

Tokyo University of Technology (Hachioji City, Tokyo; President: Yutaka Kagawa) has signed a consortium agreement with Hachioji City—already a partner under an AI/DX collaboration agreement (Note 1)—to advance the implementation of autonomous driving.

The university will begin demonstration experiments in March 2026 toward automating its campus shuttle buses. Hachioji City has been selected for the FY2026 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) subsidy program, "Regional Public Transportation Security, Maintenance, and Improvement Subsidy (Autonomous Driving Social Implementation Promotion Project)" (Note 3), and is actively working to address challenges such as maintaining and expanding regional transportation networks.

Under this agreement, both parties will collaborate on demonstration experiments for autonomous bus deployment, technical verification of autonomous driving (including safety and operational methods), and the development of operation strategies leveraging AI and digital transformation (DX). Demonstration runs are planned between the newly developed integrated facility "Sotonomori" and JR Hachioji Station starting October 2026, followed by services between the university’s Hachioji Campus and JR Hachioji Station within the 2026 fiscal year. With the passage of the revised "Act on Revitalization and Regeneration of Regional Public Transportation" (Note 4) in June 2026, the university aims to fully utilize autonomous school buses to sustain and revitalize regional mobility.

Overview of the Consortium Agreement between Hachioji City and Tokyo University of Technology

Signing Date: July 9, 2026 Name: Consortium Agreement for the Promotion of Autonomous Driving Social Implementation Contents: Matters related to the introduction of autonomous buses - Conducting demonstration experiments for autonomous bus deployment - Technical verification of autonomous driving (safety, operation methods, etc.) - Examination of operational methods utilizing AI and DX - Other related initiatives

Agreement Signing Ceremony (July 9, 2026, at Hachioji Campus; attended by Mayor Kazuo Hatsujuku of Hachioji City and President Yutaka Kagawa of Tokyo University of Technology, among others)

(Note 1) In October 2025, the university introduced "Seiran," Japan’s fastest supercomputer among private universities. Simultaneously, it signed an AI/DX collaboration agreement with Hachioji City (Reference: https://www.teu.ac.jp/information/2025.html?id=234)

(Note 2) Demonstration experiment between JR Hachioji Minamino Station and the campus (Reference: https://www.teu.ac.jp/information/2026.html?id=66)

(Note 3) The MLIT supports initial investments by local governments in autonomous mobility services as a solution to challenges such as driver shortages and ensuring transportation access in regional areas.

(Note 4) A legislative amendment passed in June 2026 aims to achieve sustainable regional public transportation by fully utilizing transportation resources and promoting collaboration and integration to eliminate "transportation deserts."

Overview of Autonomous Bus (Concept)

- Monitoring autonomous driving status via onboard displays - Recognizing surrounding environments using LiDAR and cameras

Campus Shuttle Bus Demonstration Experiment (March 2026)

Tokyo University of Technology

Established in 1986 by the Katayanagi Educational Corporation, Tokyo University of Technology is a comprehensive science and engineering university celebrating its 40th anniversary. Since its founding, it has championed "practical learning" and has actively pursued innovation with flexibility to respond to societal changes. The university operates two campuses in Hachioji, Tokyo, and Haneda, Ota Ward, offering six undergraduate faculties—Engineering, Applied Biosciences, Computer Science, Media, Design, and Medical Health—as well as graduate programs, with approximately 8,000 students enrolled. In October 2025, it launched "Seiran," Japan’s largest and fastest supercomputer among private universities, powered by NVIDIA’s latest GPUs. In the June 2026 TOP500 global supercomputer performance ranking, Seiran ranked 398th globally (41st in Japan, 1st among private universities). The Katayanagi Group also operates Nihon Kogakuin College, one of Japan’s largest vocational schools.