The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) hosted a distinguished delegation from the University of Tokyo’s Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on April 1, 2026 for a collaborative exchange on AI education, startup incubation, and technology transfer.
The visit brought together leading voices in AI research and diplomacy from Japan with faculty and staff from across Ateneo de Manila University’s academic units to explore shared opportunities for building AI capacity among Filipino students and researchers.
A Meeting of Minds Across Disciplines
The Japanese delegation was led by Professor Yutaka Matsuo, a globally recognized figure in artificial intelligence and Professor of Technology Management for Innovation at the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering. He was joined by Technical Assistants Erin Hirakawa and Aoi Sumitani from the Matsuo Laboratory.
Representing the diplomatic and development community were Minister Naobumi Yokota, Minister for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines; Koji Isowa, First Secretary at the Embassy; and Shino Yamauchi from the JICA Philippines Office. On the Ateneo side, the discussion drew participation from a wide cross-section of the University’s academic and innovation community, including representatives from the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), School of Science and Engineering (SOSE), the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD | JGSOM), the Department of Chemistry, the Philippine Institute for Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC), the Department of Mathematics, Department of Information Systems and Computer Science (DISCS), the Management Engineering Program, and the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO).
Sharing Best Practices in AI, Incubation, and Technology Transfer
The meeting served as a platform for a rich exchange of best practices in three key areas: AI education, startup incubation, and technology transfer. Participants discussed how universities can equip students with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy and how institutional frameworks — from intellectual property management to innovation ecosystems — can support the commercialization of research.
The involvement of Ateneo BUILD, which advances applied research at the intersection of data science, AI, entrepreneurship, and human-computer interaction, and AIPO, which serves as the University’s Innovation and Technology Support Office, Knowledge Technology Transfer Office, and Technology Business Incubator, underscored the breadth of institutional capacity that Ateneo brings to these conversations. The two also shared upcoming projects that aim to better foster innovation in the university such as the recently launched new incubation track for student-led technology startups, combining expertise in IP protection, commercialization, customer validation, and data-driven venture development. The conversation also explored how cross-border academic partnerships like this one can bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and practical, real-world applications, particularly in the Philippine context.
A Free AI Course for Filipino Students
A central highlight of the visit was the introduction of the Global Consumer Intelligence (GCI) World April 2026 program — a free, three-month online lecture series offered by the Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory. The course covers the fundamentals of AI and data science, along with their application in marketing, and is open to students of any academic level and background. In 2025 alone, the program drew over 7,700 students from more than 430 universities across 30 countries.
The Matsuo Laboratory has expressed a strong interest in welcoming applications from Filipino students. Outstanding participants will have the opportunity to be invited to a study tour in Japan, providing an invaluable pathway for further growth. The course begins on April 8, 2026, and applications are open until April 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM PHT. Interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible through the Omnicampus platform.
Strengthening Japan-Philippines Ties Through Education
The visit underscores the deepening academic and institutional ties between Japan and the Philippines, particularly in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. With AI increasingly shaping industries across the globe, partnerships like the one between the Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory, the Embassy of Japan, JICA, and Ateneo de Manila University play a vital role in ensuring that Filipino students and researchers are equipped to lead in this rapidly evolving landscape.
AIPO looks forward to continued collaboration with the Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines to bring more opportunities for AI education and innovation to the Ateneo community and beyond.
For inquiries, contact the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) at [email protected].
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