– Implication for instantaneous memory and potential medical application to bipolar disorder –

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: OHNO Hideo, Ph.D.) has discovered molecular mechanism of synaptic facilitation, instantaneous strengthening of synaptic transmission, which may be physiological basis of instantaneous memory. Synaptic facilitation has been known for a long time and studied by major physiologists. However, its mechanism and its biological meaning still remain ambiguous. This study revealed that intramolecular interaction of a calcium binding protein, Synaptotagmin 7 (Syt7) functions for synaptic facilitation, and the interaction between Syt7 domains is required for memory. This study using a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which is a model animal for genetic analysis, provides an insight for general mechanism of memory, which may suggest new designs of future ICT. Since this is the first elucidation of molecular mechanism of Syt7, this study has the potential in the future to be applied to diseases, which has been reported to be related to Syt7.

From Biological to General Artificial Intelligence: Computational and Experimental Approaches to Understanding and Modeling the Brain

We bring together expert perspectives from human cognitive neuroscience, animal neuroscience and artificial intelligence from academia and industry in the US, Europe, and Asia. We hope to have fruitful discussions about how we can understand intelligence and the brain, whether neuroscience can lead to better AI, whether neuroscience should keep using AI models that stray from biology, and related further topics.

— New Technology for Large-Scale Networked Quantum Computers —

Osaka, Japan - A research group in Japan led by Professor YAMAMOTO Takashi, Deputy Director, Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology / Graduate School of Engineering Science, the University of Osaka, in collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., has successfully demonstrated a world-record 10-channel multiplexed quantum photonic interface based on an integrated waveguide array, a key technology for optically interconnecting multiple quantum computers.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has completed its response to a security issue identified in the multilingual speech translation app “VoiceTra” and has released an updated version of the app. Accordingly, the VoiceTra service, which had been temporarily suspended, has now been fully resumed.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has completed its response to a security issue identified in the multilingual speech translation app “VoiceTra” and has released an updated version of the app. Accordingly, the VoiceTra service, which had been temporarily suspended, has now been fully resumed.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: OHNO Hideo, Ph.D.) has announced its 6th Mid- to Long-Term Plan, covering the five-year period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.

- Operation confirmed as a satellite communication user terminal, enabling installation on drones and vehicles -

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: OHNO Hideo, Ph.D.), Sharp Corporation (Sharp, CEO: KAWAMURA Tetsuji), Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Mitsubishi Chemical, President: CHIKUMOTO Manabu), and TECHLAB Co., Ltd. (TECHLAB, President and Representative Director: HATAKEYAMA Hiroshi) jointly reduced the total weight of a planar antenna for NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) applications by 47% (from 5.5 kg to 2.9 kg) through a new heat dissipation device design.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: OHNO Hideo, Ph.D.), together with 5 international research partners, has demonstrated a record-breaking 450 terabits per second (Tb/s) optical transmission - the first time such a rate has been achieved over a field-deployed legacy fiber. The link, in London, UK, connects University College London (UCL) to the Telehouse North data center. This work is part of a long-standing collaboration between NICT and UCL.

Dr. Ruben Soares Luís (Executive Researcher of Photonic Network Laboratory, Photonic ICT Research Center, Network Research Institute) was elevated to be a Fellow of the Optica in class of 2026, which is the highest grade of membership.

On May 4, 2026, NICT signed an MoU with the University of Luxembourg and a collaborative research agreement with Odysseus Space to advance research in space communications and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), as well as to demonstrate optical satellite-to-ground communications through international collaboration.