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① Japan Automotive AI Challenge 2026: Registration is now open! (May 25th - July 31st)
Event overview pagePlease check the details and register your team using the tournament registration form below!
② Collaboration project with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AI Quality Management Initiative (AIQMI)) (2) About the Ideathon
(2) About Ideathons
Name:"Let's learn how to use AI safely, focusing on autonomous driving."
Date and time:Monday, May 19, 2026 10:00-17:00
Venue:National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Waterfront Subcenter Annex
Number of participants:50 people (open to everyone)
*If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available spots, a lottery will be held. Those who have been selected (and those who have not been selected) will be notified of the results.December 13 (Tue.)We will send it to you by email.
*The ideathon will be conducted in teams formed by the organizers. Team assignments will be communicated to participants before the event, so please be aware of this before registering.
Contents:For details, please see “Notices from the Career Support Office” onCLICK HERE
③ University of Tokyo Mobility Innovation Collaboration Research Organization (UTmobI) Collaboration Project: Registration now open!
This event will include (1) a demonstration tour and (2) a hands-on experience session of autonomous driving vehicles equipped with V2X technology.
For details, please see “Notices from the Career Support Office” onCLICK HEREPlease also see here.
(1) Demonstration tour
This event, taking place on September 7th (Monday) from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, includes a vehicle demonstration and presentation. Anyone can participate (even if you are not a participant in the Japan Automotive AI Challenge 2026). There is no limit to the number of participants.
(2) Actual vehicle experience event
This is a hands-on experience event where you can actually operate a vehicle, taking place from September 7th to 9th. Only participants of the Japan Automotive AI Challenge 2026 are eligible to participate.
About Japan Automotive AI Challenge
- What kind of competition is the Japan Automotive AI Challenge?
- This is Japan's largest autonomous driving competition, offering the thrill of driving a real vehicle. Teams that have advanced through the online qualifiers will take on the challenge of controlling vehicles in a realistic, race-like environment.
- How is this different from other competitions?
- It's a culture of "not hiding technology and sharing it with others." It's Japan's most open engineering community, where participants share and enhance their knowledge, transcending the boundaries of companies and students.
- Can I participate even if I specialize in software?
- Absolutely! From developing with simulators using Ros2 and other technologies, you'll gain invaluable experience in ultimately "making real mobility devices move" with your own code. Even beginners can participate with confidence, as there are plenty of manuals covering everything from environment setup to how to run the simulator!
- Why is "mutual support" encouraged in a competition?
- This is because we prioritize the "development and nurturing of next-generation technologies" more than winning. By sharing problem-solving methods and connecting organically with rivals, we can gain insights that we couldn't achieve alone.
Past tournaments
Simulation and real vehicle competition
Community
A feature of this event is knowledge sharing and interaction between participants!
Japan Automotive AI Challenge 2025 Final Digest
Qualifying round awards ceremony digest
A digest video of the Japan Automotive AI Challenge 2025 finals has been released!
How to view the run order and live streaming screenClick Here
Holding schedule
Participant feedback
Posted by moyashii
"Reflecting on our efforts after passing the qualifying round of the Japan Automotive AI Challenge 2025" (September 14, 2025)This article is a real-life account of a participant who joined the competition with the motivation of learning about autonomous driving, and went from having no experience to securing first place in the qualifying round. The participant says they enjoyed learning about key autonomous driving technologies such as "Autoware" and "ROS2" through the competition. This article provides a great insight into the participants and the overall atmosphere of the competition!
Posted by Amon
"The Appeal of the Japan Automotive AI Challenge" (October 26, 2025)We hone our skills through trial and error and improve together with engineers outside the company.
This book describes a unique talent development program, where students and working professionals alike are seriously striving for the "fastest" results, from a student's perspective. In particular, "3. A culture of openly sharing knowledge" is a key theme of this conference, and it provides insight into the reality of the community.
To all participants
This tournament provides a wide range of information necessary for the competition, from registration procedures to the contents of the preliminary and final rounds, as well as how to set up the environment and how to develop. A comprehensive support system is in place so that even first-timers can take on the challenge with confidence.
This competition will create challenges and connections, allowing you to learn from your peers, compete with your skills and test your potential.
