Initiative for Life Design Innovation (iLDi)

Datability* Expert Training Project

When a super smart society (Society 5.0) is realized, it will become increasingly important to utilize big data collected from numerous sensors around the globe, including data from robots integrated in society and IoT. Due to recent advances in AI technologies such as deep learning, the utilizable domains of such technologies have expanded and a social revolution called “the fourth industrial revolution” is underway. Moreover, the fierce international competition requires Japan to strengthen its industrial competitiveness; one possible way is to integrate big data and AI technologies and link them into businesses. Consequently, it is essential to train human datability experts such as researchers, engineers, AI researchers, and data scientists who, by integrating and utilizing PLR data, can fulfill the vision of Society 5.0.

Datability expert training to date and its achievements

Osaka University and The University of Tokyo have partnered to jointly offer the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Special Seminars “AI Frontier Course” and “AI Seminar Leaning from Real Data” since the second half of 2017 fiscal year. These lectures aim to cultivate engineers with immediately applicable AI skills required for AI-related research and development. This newly developed, general purpose educational program is supported by NEDO. The approximately 100 students who have participated so far have highly praised the effectiveness of the courses.

Purpose

In 2018 fiscal year, we initiated the development of learning material in order to cultivate AI experts with an ability to innovate in the field of Health and IoT. Specifically, we revised the NEDO Special Seminar AI Frontier Course. It now consists of five subjects from the basics to a practicum of AI, where each seminar is paired with an actual programming practicum.