Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Preferred Networks, a Tokyo-based AI company, said on September 16 that they signed a capital and business alliance on August 31.

Under the deal, MHI will invest 10 billion yen (US$64.6 million) in PFN through a third-party share allotment, subject to approval at PFN’s shareholder meeting and other procedures.

The deal follows a June 2026 business alliance to jointly develop and implement AI technologies for mission-critical machinery and systems in areas including social infrastructure and national security.

The partnership combines MHI’s operations in social infrastructure, aerospace, defense, and space with PFN’s work on AI chips, computing infrastructure, and generative AI foundation models.

PFN separately described the effort as part of building Japan-made AI solutions.

The investment also comes as Japan is considering using AI in preemptive cyber defense, highlighting broader policy interest in security-related AI.

🔗 Source: Preferred Networks, Inc.

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