Renewal Opening of the University-Business Innovation Center (UBIC) ～Fukushima Digital Innovation Center (FDIC)～

　With the subsidy from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for the FY2022 Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Project (a project to develop incubation and industry-academia fusion centers at core universities in the region) (*1), the University-Business Innovation Center (UBIC) (*2) has been renovated and reborn as the new Fukushima Digital Innovation Center (FDIC) (*3).
　To commemorate the reopening on October 1, 2024, a ceremony was held to commemorate the reopening with the attendance of the Director of the University Collaboration Promotion Office, Innovation and Environment Bureau, METI, the Director of the Regional Industry Department, Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Deputy Director General, Fukushima Prefectural General Affairs Dept, the Mayor of Aizu Wakamatsu, and other organizations related to industry-academia-government collaboration and reconstruction and innovation support, and construction-related businesses.

■Greetings from the Organizer
Tsuneo Tsukahara, President

■Guest of Honor's Congratulatory Address
Mr. Satoshi Kawakami, Director, University Collaboration Promotion Office, Innovation and Environment Bureau, METI

Mr. Masao Uchibori, Governor of Fukushima Prefecture
(Alternate: Mr. Jun Sato, Deputy Director General, General Affairs Department)

Mr. Shohei Muroi, Mayor of Aizuwakamatsu City

■Tape cut (e.g. Ribbon cutting ceremony)

■Overview of the New UBIC
　Jiro Iwase, Vice President and Director, UBIC Cent

■Preview
　In addition to the powerful ecosystem tool of the Aizu Open Innovation Conference (AOI Conference) on the software side, the facility was renovated on the hardware side to create a new environment for open innovation using cutting-edge ICT, with the aim of accelerating the creation of new industries and start-ups originating from the region as a core base for future digital innovation (ICT + OI). The facility has been redeveloped into an open innovation environment utilizing cutting-edge ICT to accelerate the creation of new industries and startups originating from the region.
　In particular, we have newly established specialized laboratories (research environment) for five priority areas in the ICT field: AI (Artificial Intelligence), DS (Data Science), CS (Cyber Security), CN (Carbon Neutral), and CPS (Cyber Physical System).

■University-Business Innovation Center (UBIC)
～Fukushima Digital Innovation Center (FDIC) ～ Introduction Video

（*1）Subsidy for industry-academia collaboration promotion project by the METI (project for the development of incubation and industry-academia fusion centers at core universities in the region) *Japanese only

（*2）University-Business Innovation Center (UBIC) *Japanese only

（*3）Fukushima Digital Innovation Center (FDIC) *Japanese only