TOKYO, Nov 14, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Hitachi, Ltd. ("Hitachi") today announced that Head of Hitachi OSPO (Open Source Program Office)*1 Yuichi Nakamura has received the "Chop Wood Carry Water Award" from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)*2, the world's largest organization promoting innovation in cloud native and AI technologies. This award recognizes members who have contributed to various open source software (OSS) development projects and dedicated themselves to invigorating and supporting the communities behind them. This year, six recipients were selected from over 720 organizations affiliated with the CNCF.This award recognizes Nakamura’s dedication to establishing and operating Japan’s first official community, Cloud Native Community Japan (CNCJ)*3, in a way that transcends corporate boundaries. He was also highly recognized for his efforts in bringing the CNCF global event "KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan 2025" to Japan for the first time, together with CNCJ members, and successfully co-hosting the FinOps Foundation event. These initiatives have helped create opportunities for OSS engineers in Japanese companies to thrive and contribute to the advancement of a digital society centered on AI.Hitachi has long recognized the value of OSS as essential to the development of a digital society and has actively promoted its use in both IT and OT domains. Nakamura has driven the business application of OSS at Hitachi while also feeding back that expertise to multiple OSS communities. As a leading figure in Japan's OSS community, he has achieved numerous accomplishments. Moving forward, Hitachi will continue to work with customers, partners, and OSS communities to build an AI ecosystem that addresses social challenges and contributes to the realization of a sustainable society.(*1) News Release "Established the Open Source Program Office (OSPO) to Globally Lead the Strategic Utilization of OSS" (November 8, 2024)https://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2024/11/241108.html(*2) A non-profit organization under The Linux Foundation that globally leads the development and adoption of cloud native technologies such as containers and microservices(*3) News Release "Participating in the Establishment of Japan's First Official Community 'Cloud Native Community Japan' to Promote Cloud Native Innovation" (December 1, 2023)https://www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/month/2023/12/1201.html (Japanese only)Comment from Chris Aniszczyk, CTO of the CNCF"The Chop Wood Carry Water Award recognizes the essential, behind-the-scenes work that keeps our community strong," said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO, CNCF. "Yuichi Nakamura embodies that spirit by dedicating time and care to the often unseen but critical tasks, like improving documentation, and organizing meetups like the Cloud Native Community Japan (CNCJ). His steady commitment ensures that CNCF projects stay healthy, sustainable, and ready for the local community in Japan and also globally."Comment from Yuichi Nakamura, Head of Hitachi OSPO"I am deeply honored and grateful to receive this prestigious award from the CNCF. For over 20 years, I have dedicated myself to the development of the OSS community. As a Board Evangelist for The Linux Foundation (LF) and as the CNCF Governing Board*4, I serve as a bridge between Japan’s domestic OSS community and LF-related organizations, working to advance the OSS ecosystem within business contexts. Additionally, while fostering the growth and success of domestic engineers, I have contributed to enhancing the global value of Keycloak, an OSS project of the CNCF, as an authentication and authorization platform. More recently, I have actively shared insights on access control for AI agents*5 and advocated for establishing best practices. I will continue to contribute to solving global social issues within the OSS community."(*4) News Release "Head of Hitachi OSPO becomes a member of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation Governing Board" (February 28, 2025)https://www.hitachi.com/en/information/20250228/(*5) News Release "Launching HARC for AI to Maximize the Benefits of AI Agent Implementation" (October 7, 2025) https://www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/month/2025/10/1007.html (Japanese only)BackgroundIn recent years, cloud native and AI technologies utilized in digital transformation have seen rapid expansion of their capabilities within the OSS community. Notably, the CNCF, with over 720 member organizations worldwide and engineers globally participating in development, contributes significantly to advancing cloud native technologies essential as the foundation for AI. However, as of 2023, Japan lacked a community bridging the CNCF with local companiesand organizations, and there were few cloud native technologies originating from Japan. Therefore, Nakamura spearheaded the establishment of CNCJ, an organization that connects the global CNCF development community with Japanese companies and existing organizations. He has dedicated himself to community management and outreach activities, such as encouraging participation from engineers at Japanese companies. Nakamura's BackgroundHead of OSPO, Ph.D. (Engineering) with Hitachi, Ltd.2001–present: Engaged in OSS security R&D, leading the promotion of SELinux*6 in Japan and contributing significant code to the community2015: Recognized for OSS development activities related to SELinux, received the "Kiyasu Memorial Achievement Award" from the Information Processing Society of Japan alongside OSS security community membersLaunched an API management solution utilizing OSS Keycloak and trained maintainers2022: Appointed as a board member of The Linux Foundation2023: Participated in establishing CNCJ, the Japan Chapter of the CNCF2024: Appointed as the inaugural Evangelist for LF Japan2024: Appointed as Head of Hitachi OSPO2025: Appointed as the CNCF Governing Board(*6) SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) is a built-in Linux kernel module that enables granular control over users who can access Linux systems.Hitachi Major OSS ActivitiesHitachi has contributed to the promotion and expansion of OSS in Japan since the founding of LF in 2000 as a sponsor. We have worked to enhance the reliability of the Linux kernel and to develop features in Keycloak that comply with European and South American standards for financial security through community activities. Our long-standing track record has been recognized, with Hitachi employees playing active roles in the global community as CNCF Ambassadors, Tech Lead of the TAG Security and Compliance group*7, and as maintainers*8*9 for Keycloak and Hyperledger Fabric. The Hitachi Group continues its global adoption efforts. In recent years, Hitachi has also provided cutting-edge insights and expertise in AI agent data access control through CNCF-related projects and domestic/international communities.(*7) Announcement: "Hitachi Employee Appointed as Initial Tech Lead of CNCF TAG Security and Compliance" (August7, 2025) https://www.hitachi.com/en/information/20250807/(*8) Announcement: "Hitachi Employee Appointed as Maintainer for OSS 'Keycloak' Development Project" (October 26, 2021) https://www.hitachi.co.jp/products/it/oss/news/20211026.html (Japanese only)(*9) Announcement: "Hitachi Employee Becomes Core Maintainer for Enterprise Blockchain OSS 'Hyperledger Fabric’ Development Project—First Japanese Company to Do So" (April 18, 2024)https://www.hitachi.co.jp/products/it/blockchain/topics/20240418.html (Japanese only)Related SitesHitachi OSS (Open Source Software) https://www.hitachi.co.jp/products/it/oss/index.html (Japanese only)TrademarksOther organization and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective organizations.About Hitachi, Ltd.Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT(Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors - Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries - and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024(ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.  Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Nov 13, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The University of Osaka D3 Center and NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) have jointly commenced a demonstration aimed at the application of a wide-area distributed campus AI processing platform that enables on-demand use of GPU’s from compute servers. This demonstration will leverage NEC's "ExpEther," a technology that transmits signals from IT equipment with high reliability and low latency, to build a high-performance AI processing platform that can connect and disconnect compute servers and GPUs on-demand, even when they are in different buildings across campus.In recent years, the necessity and importance of AI analysis and utilization for vast amounts of sensitive data, such as genome data and clinical trial data, have rapidly increased. This data requires strict management, making it difficult to utilize computing infrastructure that is shared by an unspecified number of users. Therefore, there is a demand for technology that enables secure data management in a safe environment, along with on-demand access to a secure computing environment for AI analysis and utilization of the data.NEC's ExpEther transfers PCI Express communications, which are typically conducted inside computers, over Ethernet. This enables high-speed and seamless connection and disconnection of devices such as CPUs, GPUs, and storage located at distant locations, as if they were part of a single system. This demonstration will utilize ExpEther to build a wide-area distributed AI processing platform that can connect and disconnect GPUs located in a remote data center on-demand from a research lab's compute server, and will verify its effectiveness and usefulness. Furthermore, based on the results of this demonstration, the organizations aim to establish a wide-area distributed campus AI processing platform that can safely utilize sensitive data handled by research institutes, such as the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, and various departments.Outline of the DemonstrationIn this demonstration, a GPU (NVIDIA H100NVL) installed as a resource pool in the D3 Center IT Core Building on The University of Osaka's Suita Campus will be connected to a compute server (Express5800/R120j-2M) located in the main building. This connection will be established using ExpEther via a 100Gbps Ethernet optical fiber. In this environment, operational checks and performance verification will be conducted, focusing on AI applications that utilize GPUs.1. Application of a Wide-Area Distributed Computing Platform Enabling On-demand Configuration on a Campus ScaleGPUs consolidated and pooled as resources in D3 Center IT Core Building will be able to be connected and disconnected on-demand from compute servers located in remote research institutes and departments. By deploying this technology, the demonstration aims to build an AI processing platform that allows research lab compute servers to utilize remotely located GPUs on-demand.2. Efficiency Improvement through GPU Consolidation and SharingExpensive computing resources such as GPUs will be centrally managed as a common resource pool, aiming to optimize university-wide capital investment, reduce resource waste, and improve GPU utilization efficiency.Future VisionThe University of Osaka D3 Center and NEC aim to build a wide-area distributed campus AI processing platform that allows compute servers located in various buildings across the campus to connect and utilize pooled high-performance GPUs and SSDs on-demand. D3 Center also plans to offer dedicated storage services for the safe operation and management of sensitive data, such as clinical trial data and genomic information, handled by the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research and other entities. This platform aims to achieve a secure AI processing platform that can safely utilize sensitive data by combining the strict operation of sensitive data with the dynamic system reconfigurability enabled by ExpEther. This will contribute to improving the productivity of research activities involving sensitive data. Going forward, the organizations will further deepen joint research and contribute to the creation of innovation in academic research.NEC will organize and resolve technical issues for the application of a remote shared GPU utilization platform based on the knowledge gained from this demonstration, aiming for commercialization of the solution in fiscal year 2026.NEC will exhibit ExpEther, utilized in this demonstration, at its booth during SC25: The International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis, to be held from November 16 to 21, 2025, in St. Louis, USA."The wide-area distributed campus AI processing platform currently being built in this demonstration holds significant meaning for the realization of the bioinformatics platform concept promoted by The University of Osaka. Flexible utilization of high-performance computing resources is indispensable for multiple departments and graduate schools to collaborate and advance the analysis of vast amounts of data in the life sciences and medical fields. We expect that its practical application will significantly accelerate cross-departmental collaborative research and large-scale data analysis, as computing environments previously limited to individual laboratories or departments can now be safely and efficiently shared across the entire campus," said Professor Masateru Taniguchi, SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), The University of Osaka."This demonstration holds great significance as a potential solution to the challenge of balancing the expectations and interest in AI utilization in the life sciences and medical fields with confidential information management. By on-demand connection and disconnection of securely managed data resources and high-performance computing resources essential for future academic research, we can provide a dedicated secure AI processing platform for any research group. If the handling of sensitive data, which was previously difficult from a data security perspective, becomes possible, it will dramatically increase the productivity of academic research areas using sensitive data at The University of Osaka. This enables the promotion of new research formats for cross-disciplinary and inter-organizational collaboration, where even research using sensitive data can flexibly utilize cutting-edge AI platforms. To realize the bioinformatics platform concept, we will continue to stabilize and expand this platform, leading research innovation across the university," said Professor Susumu Date, D3 Center, The University of Osaka.About The University of OsakaThe University of Osaka was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and is now one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities with a broad disciplinary spectrum. This strength is coupled with a singular drive for innovation that extends throughout the scientific process, from fundamental research to the creation of applied technology with positive economic impacts. Its commitment to innovation has been recognized in Japan and around the world. Now, The University of Osaka is leveraging its role as a Designated National University Corporation selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to contribute to innovation for human welfare, sustainable development of society, and social transformation. Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/enAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.  Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Toyota City, Japan, Nov 13, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced an additional investment of up to 10 billion USD in the United States over the next five years. This will bring the company's total U.S. investment to nearly 60 billion USD since beginning operations in the U.S. nearly 70 years ago.In addition, Toyota held an opening ceremony for Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC). Now officially starting production, the facility was established in November 2021 as Toyota's first in-house battery manufacturing company outside Japan. TBMNC is Toyota's 11th manufacturing facility in the U.S., representing an investment of nearly 14 billion USD and the creation of up to 5,100 new jobs.The new battery plant is part of Toyota's "best-company-in-town" approach-investing and producing locally, contributing to the local community and offering diverse options tailored to local needs through a multi-pathway strategy. In the U.S., it employs approximately 50,000 people and has been involved in the development and manufacturing of over 35 million vehicles across 11 manufacturing plants.Tetsuo Ogawa, president and chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America, said: "Today's launch of Toyota's first U.S. battery plant and additional U.S. investment up to $10 billion marks a pivotal moment in our company's history. Toyota is a pioneer in electrified vehicles, and the company's significant manufacturing investment in the U.S. and North Carolina further solidifies our commitment to team members, customers, dealers, communities, and suppliers."Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.SDGs Initiatives: https://global.toyota/en/sustainability/sdgs/  Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller "ETI-N" Series TOKYO, Nov 13, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. (MHI Thermal Systems), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, is pleased to announce the launch of its newly developed magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller, the "ETI-N" series, for the Japanese market.The magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller the "ETI-N" series features a magnetic bearing compressor that levitates and supports the rotating shaft inside the compressor using magnetic levitation forces. This oil-free design eliminates the lubrication oil system and prevents sliding parts from being worn, thereby removing the necessity for periodic oil replacement work. As a result, the series significantly reduces maintenance work.At the same time, the necessary procedures in conventional centrifugal chillers to start the oil pump and the time needed for the lubricating oil film to be formed have been eliminated. As a result, the ETI-N realizes the quick start, contributing to improved operational efficiency for our customers.The ETI-N series offers compact small to medium capacity models ranging from 150 to 700 refrigeration tons(*1). Equipped with a built-in inverter as standard on the chiller unit, the series reduces transportation and installation work. It delivers high efficiency with a rated COP(*2) of 6.4 and an IPLV(*3) of 9.1. The refrigerant, HFO-1233zd(E), a non-flammable, non-ozone-depleting refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP)(*4) of 1 is used, underscoring the product's commitment to reducing environmental impact.MHI Thermal Systems has a proven track record of delivering products that combine greener environmental performance and higher equipment performance, including the ETI-Z series launched in 2015 using HFO-1233zd(E), the GART-ZE/ZEI series introduced in 2017 with HFO-1234ze(E), and the JHT-Y/YI series released in 2022 using HFO-1234yf. The addition of the magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller "ETI-N" series further enriches the product lineup, providing customers with a wider range of options tailored to their specific applications.As part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, which has declared its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, MHI Thermal Systems is actively engaged in reducing CO2 emissions from its production facilities as well as from customer operations through its products. MHI Thermal Systems is leading domestic market share for centrifugal chillers used in general air conditioning, industrial air conditioning, factory processes, and district heating and cooling. Moving forward, MHI Thermal Systems will continue to meet customer needs while contributing to a carbon-neutral society by delivering environmentally friendly centrifugal chillers and thermal solution products.(*1) Refrigeration ton (RT) is a unit of cooling capacity, with 1 RT = approx. 3.516 kilowatts (kW).(*2) Coefficient of performance (COP) is a performance coefficient calculated based on Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). Higher values indicate greater energy efficiency.(*3) Integrated part load value (IPLV) is the period coefficient of performance, calculated considering load fluctuations throughout the year, under load ratio and cooling water temperature conditions close to actual use.(*4) Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a coefficient expressing the greenhouse effect of a gas relative to carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a fixed GWP of 1.0. Smaller values indicate better environmental performance.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com  Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Demonstration testing at Kirin Group Logistics' Nishi-Nagoya facility TOKYO, Nov 13, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) completed a joint demonstration with Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. and Kirin Group Logistics Co., Ltd. to establish the elemental technologies for automation of inbound and outbound warehouse operations at beverage warehouses, and truck loading and unloading. Going forward, the companies will pursue further development and verification with the aim of practical application.The joint demonstration, begun in August 2024, was conducted at LogiQ X Lab, a demonstration facility located within Yokohama Hardtech Hub (YHH), MHI's co-creation space in Honmoku, Yokohama, and at Kirin Group Logistics' Nishi-Nagoya facility and other sites.(*1)For this joint demonstration, MHI utilized a new type of unmanned forklift that is currently under development equipped with ΣSynX (Sigma Syncs)(*2), part of the "Smart Connections" solutions incorporating ΣSynX technology. The demonstration tests aimed to establish elemental technologies to enable flexible autonomous operation and safe human-machine coordination, including appropriate load assortment in warehouse work, altering of operational routes in response to changes in placement locations and storage conditions, and highly efficient storage methods.Through this joint demonstration, MHI has established the processes for future automation of the entire cargo handling process, including unloading of trucks, warehouse handling, and loading onto trucks, and was able to verify the effectiveness of these processes at actual logistics facilities.MHI categorized routine logistics warehouse work, which up to now has been conducted safely and efficiently through the expertise, experience and skill of operators, into the three areas of picking, inbound and outbound processes, and the loading and unloading of trucks, and progressively implemented measures incorporating ΣSynX for automation and intelligence. An automated picking solution for cargo handling inside the warehouse was put into operation in December 2024 at Kirin Group's Ebina Logistics Center in Kanagawa Prefecture.(*3) Based on the results of this joint demonstration, MHI will continue to work to enhance the scalability of its "Smart Connections" solutions in all areas of logistics and warehouse operations.Going forward, MHI will continue to contribute to society by more deeply developing "Smart Connections" solutions incorporating ΣSynX to address the various issues facing the logistics industry, including the shortage of logistics operators, improvement in working conditions, and the challenges posed by regulatory changes implemented in 2024 aimed at reducing working hours and waiting times for truck drivers.(*1) For more information on "MHI begins joint demonstration with the Kirin Group for automation of inbound and outbound warehouse processes, and loading and unloading of trucks", see the following press release.https://www.mhi.com/news/24082201.html(*2) ΣSynX is MHI's standard platform for synchronizing and coordinating various types of machinery systems. It brings together a range of digital technologies to make machinery systems intelligent and allow for optimized operation. For more information, see the following press release.https://www.mhi.com/news/23100501.html(*3) For more information on the joint demonstration with the Kirin Group for an automated picking solution, see the following press release.https://www.mhi.com/news/22112101.htmlOverview of the Joint Demonstration- PeriodAugust 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025- Demonstration sites(MHI)LogiQ X Lab demonstration facility at Yokohama Hardtech Hub (YHH)Demonstration facility at Kobe Shipyard(Kirin Group Logistics)Nishi-Nagoya facility- Demonstration content* Determination of operational processes, including manned work, assuming the introduction of warehouse inbound and outbound process solutions* Determination of operational processes, including manned work, assuming the introduction of unmanned forklifts for loading and unloading trucks* Determination of safety concepts, rules, operating conditions, and other standards for collaborative work with manned and unmanned forklifts "Smart Connections" solutions incorporating ΣSynX About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com  Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com