UnityStep AI, Inc. (Headquarters: Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Issei Saito; hereinafter "UnityStep AI"), a startup originating from the Matsuo Lab at the University of Tokyo, is pleased to announce that Professor Yutaka Matsuo of the Department of Technology Management and Strategy, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, has been appointed as a technical advisor.
■Background of the appointment
UnityStep AI aims to rapidly commercialize research knowledge and create sustainable value, and has now welcomed Mr. Yutaka Matsuo, a leading expert in artificial intelligence research, as a technical advisor.
Mr. Matsuo's extensive research experience in deep learning and large-scale language models, along with his expertise in industry-academia collaboration gained through nurturing numerous AI startups, will be a significant driving force in our efforts to "integrate research knowledge with practical knowledge" and "accelerate the social implementation of AI technology." With Mr. Matsuo joining us as a technical advisor, UnityStep AI will redouble its efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese companies and realize a sustainable society.
■Comments
Yutaka Matsuo (Professor / Technical Advisor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
UnityStep AI is a team with a strong foundation in academia, combined with organizational discipline and execution capabilities. What's crucial in the social implementation of AI is not the cutting-edge technology itself, but the attitude of applying it to real-world problems, continuously verifying and improving it. We believe that UnityStep AI's culture, a combination of insights gained through research and a tenacious drive to see things through, will propel AI adoption in industry forward step by step. As a technical advisor, I support their endeavors.
Issei Saito (CEO, UnityStep AI Co., Ltd.)
We are deeply honored to welcome Professor Yutaka Matsuo as our technical advisor. Professor Matsuo has pioneered the forefront of AI research, translated his achievements into practical applications in society, and nurtured many talented individuals.
UnityStep AI has always valued a development style that involves working alongside clients from problem definition to in-house development support, based on the philosophy of "walking together." With the cooperation of Professor Matsuo, we will further deepen the integration of research knowledge and practical knowledge, promoting project expansion and the development of next-generation AI talent. Rather than focusing on short-term results, we will contribute even more to strengthening the competitiveness of Japanese companies through the accumulation of knowledge in the medium to long term and sustainable value creation.
(Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory Official Website)https://weblab.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/news/2025-12-18/(Quoted from)
■ Profile of Mr. Yutaka Matsuo
Position/Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Technology Management and Strategy, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo / Research Center for Advanced Technology and Engineering
Career:
Graduated from the Department of Electronic and Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 1997. Completed doctoral program at the same university in 2002, receiving a PhD in Engineering. After working as a researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and a visiting researcher at Stanford University, became an associate professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 2007. Became a professor in 2019. Specializes in artificial intelligence, deep learning, and web mining. Received numerous awards from the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence, including the Paper Award (2002), the 20th Anniversary Commemorative Project Award (2006), the Field Innovation Award (2011), and the Distinguished Service Award (2013). Served as a director of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence and the Information Processing Society of Japan from 2020 to 2022. Chairman of the Japan Deep Learning Association since 2017. Outside director of SoftBank Group since 2019. Expert member of the Council for the Realization of a New Capitalism since 2021. Chairman of the AI Strategy Council since 2023. Chairman of the AI System Research Group since 2024. From 2024, Director of the Japan AI Robot Association. From 2024, Chairperson of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government AI Strategy Council. From 2025, Outside Director of Panasonic Holdings Corporation. From 2025, Chairperson of the Cabinet Office's Expert Committee on Artificial Intelligence Strategy. From 2025, Chairperson of the Cabinet Office's Expert Committee on Artificial Intelligence Strategy. From 2025, Expert Member of the Japan Growth Strategy Council.
(Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory Official Website)https://weblab.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/member/yutaka-matsuo/(Quoted from)
■UnityStep AI Company Profile
UnityStep AI Co., Ltd. operates under the mission of "Leaving a brighter, stronger Japan for future generations through the power of AI," aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese companies and realize a sustainable society beyond that. We work as a team with our clients, providing comprehensive support tailored to their needs, from consulting and requirements definition to AI development and operation, and even in-house development and human resource training to ensure sustainable results.
Company Name: UnityStep AI Co., Ltd.
Location: Head Office 6-25-14 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Representative: Issei Saito (Representative Director and CEO)
Business activities: Research, development, design, planning, education, sales, maintenance, and consulting services related to AI (artificial intelligence).
Company website URL:https://unitystepai.co.jp
[Contact Information]
UnityStep AI Co., Ltd.
(Person in charge) Mai Hoshina
（E-mail） contact@unitystepai.co.jp
Alternatively, please use the inquiry form on our website.
Inquiry form:https://unitystepai.co.jp/inquiry-2
