SoftBank, Tech Firms Form xIPF Consortium for AI Data

Tokyo, Japan — SoftBank Corp., NTT DATA Group Corp., NEC Corp., Fujitsu Limited, and several other Japanese organizations announced Wednesday the establishment of the xIPF Consortium.

Formed on April 10, the consortium is developing a decentralized computing infrastructure to integrate artificial intelligence and data across corporate and geographic boundaries.

The initiative aims to address the limitations of centralized data platforms by creating what it calls an “AI Space”—a decentralized environment connecting edge devices to cloud systems.

The architecture is designed to process sensitive, real-time data across multiple organizations without centralized data pooling.

The consortium will use the cross Integrated Platform (xIPF), a decentralized computing system developed by SoftBank as part of a project commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.

The technology integrates enterprise AI platforms, large language models, and existing organizational data systems.

The consortium said the shared infrastructure will target applications in logistics, mobility, energy management, and urban planning.

“The industrial structure is irreversibly changing into a data-driven society, and it is clear that AI will play an important role in its realization,” said Noboru Koshizuka, professor at the University of Tokyo and representative director of the consortium. “By creating an environment where AI can safely utilize highly sensitive and real-time data, we believe we can offer new solutions to social issues that were previously difficult to resolve.”

The consortium comprises 10 regular member corporations, including East Nippon Expressway Company, Dentsu Inc., and PwC Consulting LLC, as well as six associate members and eight academic and governmental entities.

Founding organizations also include the Ouranos Ecosystem Promotion Center and the Data Society Alliance.

An inaugural ceremony is scheduled for May 21, 2026, at the University of Tokyo’s Ito Hall.