Professor Gaku Minorikawa , CEO of HIEN Aero Technologies and Director of the Urban Air Mobility Research Institute at Hosei University, has been appointed as Chairman of the consortium. HIEN Aero Technologies will also play a central role.
In a LinkedIn post, HIEN Aero Technologies said the consortium was established as a place “where top-level air mobility stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and finance, including Japan Airlines and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), can gather together to share information and discuss common issues, with the aim of promoting initiatives related to next-generation air mobility in Kaga City, a national strategic special zone, and clustering the air industry”.
The company noted in its post that several key officials spoke at the launch of the consortium in late November, including Director Takizawa of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Team Leader Yasuo of the Next-Generation Air Mobility Unit, Aeronautics and Space Department at New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation; Hub Director Naoki Matayoshi of the Aviation Integration Innovation Hub, Aeronautics Technology Department at JAXA; and President and CEO Katsumata of ArduX Japan.
Mayor of Kaga City, Mr Riku Miyamoto, is a supporter of UAS operations with the city and its partners conducting various trials to develop the technology and services. Last year, simulated blood and other samples were transported in a proof of concept demonstration in partnership with Skyports Drone Services and Kanematsu Corporation. Both companies are members of the new consortium.
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