Konica Minolta and the University of Toronto Agree to Extend Joint Research Agreement for Five Years
To Strengthen the Acquisition of Technologies in the AI-enhanced Sensing Field

Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) and the University of Toronto today announced that they have agreed to extend their joint research agreement for five years on March 14, 2025, to accelerate technology development in the AI-enhanced sensing field.

Since September 2020, Konica Minolta has been conducting joint research with the University of Toronto, which attracts AI researchers from around the world, on systems applying imaging AI technologies to acquire technologies for improving the processing performance of imaging AI, using AI in manufacturing quality control, and improving the data processing performance when using AI in distributed systems. To accelerate the acquisition of new AI-related technologies in line with the extension of the agreement, Konica Minolta has decided to step up efforts in the AI-enhanced sensing field with the aim of developing materials for reducing the environmental impact and achieving unmanned operation of manufacturing processes by using AI to process large amounts of data gathered from various sensing devices.

In the technology strategy in the Medium-term Business Plan (2023–2025), Konica Minolta focuses on two priorities: “to enhance technology development to expand strengthening businesses” and “to prepare technologies for future growth.” Regarding the latter priority, Konica Minolta develops technologies that contribute to business growth by utilizing its proprietary technologies based on backcasting from the perspective of a possible future society. In particular, the Company focuses on solving the issues of “using limited resources effectively” and “addressing climate change.” Konica Minolta will continue to take on challenges to solve social issues by leveraging its strengths in sensing and AI technologies.

The University of Toronto is a public university established in Canada in 1827. It is also a world-class research university which constantly holds a top position in various global university rankings. It attracts researchers from all over the world in various fields, including medical care, biotechnology, materials chemistry, and mechanical and industrial engineering, and conducts innovative research using AI, computer science, and robot technologies in these fields.

“We are privileged to continue the comprehensive agreement on joint research, which has been conducted since 2020, with the University of Toronto, known for world-class researches on cutting-edge AI technologies,” said Toshiya Eguchi, Executive Vice President & Executive Officer responsible for technologies, Konica Minolta, Inc. "We will be able to contribute more to society toward reducing environmental impact, such as by developing materials that help make effective use of limited resources and resource recycling, through collaboration with the University of Toronto, which conducts world-leading AI research in the material design, development, and manufacturing fields.”

“We are happy to celebrate that Konica Minolta is extending its partnership with U of T until at least 2030 and we are confident that it will continue for many years beyond that,” said, David Wolfe, Associate Vice-President of International Partnerships, the University of Toronto. “We also recognize that you are doing so because there is nowhere else in the world where you can conduct research with expertise at scale like you can at U of T. It’s not every day you get to combine a world class enterprise solutions research community working with a disruptive artificial intelligence innovation hub. We are proud to say that today is one such day.”

For More Information

• University of Toronto
• Konica Minolta's technology