AIRJ SYMPOSIUM 2025: Building Trustworthy AI and Advancing Collaboration Between Italy and Japan
The Embassy of Italy in Tokyo and the Association of Italian Researchers in Japan (AIRJ) are proud to present the AIRJ Symposium 2025, focused on critical issues in AI safety, privacy, and ethics. This event continues a series of initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and collaboration between Italy and Japan in cutting-edge scientific and technological fields. The symposium occurs within the framework of the Strategic Partnership between Italy and Japan, signed by the two Prime Ministers in January 2023. As part of the 2024–2027 Action Plan, agreed upon by the two Governments in June 2024 at the margins of Italy’s 2024 G7 Summit, both countries committed to implementing actions and initiatives to further strengthen bilateral ties across a wide array of sectors, including emerging technologies, scientific research, and the space economy.
Leading experts will explore the evolving landscape of AI from strategic, practical, and corporate perspectives, exploring Tokyo’s emergence as a leading AI center, integrating ethical considerations into AI applications, and harnessing digital ethics to promote business expansion and collaborative innovation. The symposium will also highlight opportunities for bilateral collaboration, demonstrating how ethical AI practices can drive technological advancement, societal benefit, and cross-border partnerships.
Through this event, the Embassy of Italy and AIRJ reaffirm their commitment to promoting meaningful engagement between Italy and Japan on technology, ethics, and society. The insights shared will contribute to ongoing discussions on ensuring AI develops in ways that are safe, trustworthy, and aligned with democratic values.
Agenda:
16:30 - 16:35: Welcoming remarks, by Gianluigi SERIANNI, Scientific Attaché at the Embassy of Italy to Japan
16:35 - 16:40: Opening Remarks and Introduction, by Andrea ORTOLANI, Associate Professor at University of Tsukuba and AIRJ President
16:40 - 17:30: Presentation Session, introduced and moderated by Andrea SANSICA, Researcher at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and AIRJ Coordinator:
"Proving AI safety", Manuel BALTIERI, Research Team Lead at Araya
"Democratic AI in Action: How Italy-Japan Collaboration Can Chart a Third Way", Ilya KULYATIN, Founder of TAI
"AI-Aided Ethical Design: Let's Advance Productive Ethics Together", Keita SEKIGUCHI, Project Researcher at University of Tokyo
"Realizing Ethical AI through Open Innovation: NEC’s Initiatives and the Potential for International Collaboration", Hirohiko ITO, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Coordinator at NEC
17:30 - 17:50: Panel Discussion, introduced and moderated by Viviana CRESCITELLI, AI Ambassador and Senior Researcher at Hitachi
17:50 - 18:00: Closing Remarks, by Francesco Paolo CANNITO, Head of the Economic and Commercial Office at the Embassy of Italy to Japan
18:00 - 18:30: Networking Session
Presenters Info:
Manuel BALTIERI, Research Team Lead at Araya
Presentation title: "Proving AI safety"
Abstract: Modern AI systems come with opportunities, risks and questions on their role in our present and future (co)existence. In this talk, I will give a brief overview of a project I'm part of that seeks to identify current AI models as safety-critical systems. Safety-critical systems are central in transports (railways or spaceflights), engineering (nuclear reactors or gas production) and other fields. To handle this class of system, it is common to adopt "formal verification" methods that lean on formal, mathematical proofs of certain desirable properties of a system. Using this idea, I will sketch some ideas behind our project, while providing an overall perspective of the strengths and challenges of the Japanese research ecosystem, and its synergies with the Italian one in the area of AI Safety.
Bio: Manuel obtained his PhD in Computer Science (with a focus on AI) from the University of Sussex, UK, in 2019, completing a project that combined artificial intelligence, artificial life, control theory, and theoretical neuroscience. He then moved to RIKEN CBS in Japan, where he continued this line of research before joining Araya Inc. in 2021, where he now serves as a Research Team Lead. His current work spans (1) client-facing projects that integrate software engineering, applied mathematics, and models of decision-making; (2) the mathematical foundations of agents and AI systems; and (3) AI safety, as an ARIA R&D Creator based at Araya.
Ilya KULYATIN, Founder of TAI
Presentation title: "Democratic AI in Action: How Italy-Japan Collaboration Can Chart a Third Way"
Abstract: Amid intensifying competition between American market-driven and Chinese state-controlled AI development models, Italy and Japan are pioneering a "third way": democratic AI that prioritizes human dignity, ethical innovation, and societal benefit. We will examine how Italy and Japan, navigating different regulatory approaches and innovation challenges, can learn from each other's experiments in balancing AI safety with economic growth. From regulatory philosophies and data protection achievements, we will explore potential concrete collaboration opportunities around AI, Robotics, Science, and cross-border entrepreneurship. Drawing on experience building Japan's largest international AI community, the presentation will identify gaps in current frameworks, where regulation alone cannot ensure safety and deregulation alone cannot guarantee innovation. We will conclude with specific proposals that position the Italy-Japan partnership as a collaborative laboratory for the "third way" of AI development, as well as for an evidence-based AI governance future.
Bio: Ilya is building Japan's largest international AI community (3,000+ members) into a comprehensive ecosystem for deep-tech ventures. With an interdisciplinary background spanning Business, Finance, and Machine Learning, and entrepreneurial experience across Italy, USA, Netherlands, Singapore, UK, and Japan, he combines technical expertise with cross-cultural business insight. As a former quantitative researcher and three-time Fintech and AI startup founder, Ilya understands both frontier innovation and regulatory realities of AI development. His work focuses on promoting international partnerships that position Japan as a global hub for responsible AI, hardware, and robotics innovation, with a special focus on his home country, Italy.
Keita SEKIGHUCHI, Project Researcher at University of Tokyo
Presentation title: "AI-Aided Ethical Design: Let's Advance Productive Ethics Together"
Abstract: As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve rapidly, increasing attention is being paid to ethical AI. Our research defines ethical design as a systematic approach that connects the social aspects of artifacts with their internal mechanisms, including the promotion of positive social values such as freedom, equality, and sustainability. We further extend this concept to link data evidence with design narratives, treating them as a seamless whole. We have developed AI-based design support tools to help engineers apply ethical perspectives in practice, namely Dfrome and HieNaR Copilot Tool. Experimental results indicate that when engineers introduce ethical considerations, their design solution space expands and creative thinking is enhanced. Thus, our work suggests that integrating ethics into the design of artifacts is not a brake on innovation, but a source of new possibilities for both engineers and society, offering a promising avenue for Italy-Japan collaboration.
Bio: Dr. Kaira Sekiguchi holds a PhD in Engineering from The University of Tokyo and currently serves as a Project Researcher in the School of Engineering at The University of Tokyo. His research focuses on developing practical methodologies for ethical design that address contemporary challenges in AI systems and society through AI-based design support tools. Dr. Sekiguchi has received multiple awards, including the AI ELSI Award (Special Category) from the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence (2025) and both the Best Paper and Kunifuji Awards at KICSS2023.
Hirohiko ITO, Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Coordinator at NEC
Presentation title: "Realizing Ethical AI through Open Innovation: NEC’s Initiatives and the Potential for International Collaboration"
Abstract: At NEC, we view “ethics” not as a constraint, but as a key driver for accelerating innovation. Under the concept of Digital Ethics, we engage in discussions with diverse stakeholders about the ethical use of digital technologies, including AI, and actively share the outcomes of these dialogues with society. In this presentation, I will introduce NEC’s AI technologies and governance frameworks, as well as examples of how we are expanding the concept of Digital Ethics through open innovation. I will also discuss prospects for creating social value through future international collaboration.
Bio: Hirohiko Ito joined NEC in 2008 to promote open innovation with a long-term perspective. After contributing to business model research at the Industry-Academia Collaboration Initiative Nonprofit Organization, he returned to NEC and participated as a founding member in the launch of NEC Laboratories India, where he supported new business development in transportation and logistics through local hackathons and partnerships. Since 2020, he has led various industry-academia-government collaborations, including joint research on AI ethics with the University of Tokyo. Currently, he is actively engaged in advancing NEC’s thought leadership in Digital Ethics through open innovation and international cooperation.