Aeronext Accelerates Commercialization of New Smart Logistics SkyHub® in Mongolia～SDGs Business Validation Survey for Introducing Drone Delivery Network of Medical Supplies in Mongolia is selected for JICA’s FY2023 “SDGs Business Supporting Survey” ～SDGs Business Validation Survey～

Aeronext Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Keisuke Toji, hereinafter “Aeronext”) was selected for Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s FY2023「SDGs Business Supporting Survey」～SDGs Business Validation Survey～ (hereinafter ”surveys”) in conjunction with ”SDGs Business Validation Survey for Introducing Drone Delivery Network of Medical Supplies in Mongolia.” Last year, Aeornext was selected for JICA’s FY 2022 “SDGs Business Supporting Survey’s” “Needs Confirmation Survey”, which makes this the second year participating. This year Aeronext was also selected for the ”SDGs Business Validation Survey.”
In Mongolia, half of the total population (approximately 1.6 million people) is concentrated in Ulaanbaatar. In terms of logistics and transportation, the logistics network is weak and ambulance traffic is sometimes obstructed due to chronic traffic congestion and inadequate road infrastructure, adversely affecting not only medical care but also economic activities. Air pollution is also increasing due to localized use of gasoline-powered vehicles in urban centers.
Aeronext recognizes that these social issues are related to the viability of life infrastructure, and in order to streamline and optimize the flow of goods and find solutions from a logistics perspective, Aeronext has been working to promote and study “New Smart Logistics*1”, a new logistics infrastructure that utilizes drone technology. To that end, through the JICA “SDGs Business Supporting Survey,” the Mongolia New Smart Logistics Symposium was held in Ulaanbaatar last September, and the “Mongolia New Smart Logistics Promotion Working Group*2” was established.
In November last year, as the first step in the activities of the Mongolia New Smart Logistics Promotion Working Group, Aeronext received official approval from the Mongolian Civil Aviation Authority to establish a regular medical delivery network in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The blood transportation by drone experiment was successfully conducted*3 on a 10 km round-trip route between the National Blood Transfusion Center and the Mongolia-Japan Hospital of Mongol National University of Medical Science, in harsh conditions at an altitude of 1300 m and an ambient temperature of -15°C.

Through these surveys, we will further advance the above activities conducted in the previous fiscal year, and in cooperation with local businesses and organizations in Mongolia, we will build and verify a concrete business model for the commercialization of a new smart logistics SkyHubTM*5 utilizing drones in Mongolia and accelerate its societal implementation.

【Outline Survey】

１．Proposal
“SDGs Business Validation Survey for Introducing Drone Delivery Network of Medical Supplies in Mongolia”

２．Survey Period　　　March 2024～June 2025 (Planned)

３．Outline of Implementation (Planned)

１）Business model development and verification
Along with a study of operating costs, the project will develop and study a sustainable business model with assumed specific customers.

２）Preparations for establishing a drone operations
Verify the functionality of the aircraft and equipment for operation under local climatic and weather conditions (cold temperatures, altitude, wind, etc.), establish a drone operation system, and study operational rules for drone flights.

【About the JICA “SDGs Business Supporting Survey”】
SDGs Business Supporting Surveys is a program based on proposals from private companies. It is aimed at building win-win relationships between developing countries that want to use Japanese technologies, products, and know-how for addressing their challenges and Japanese companies that seek to venture into developing-country markets. In order to improve the effectiveness of the program, further promote business development, and further contribute to development impact, the program was reorganized on a trial basis in FY2022, and three types of support were offered according to the stage of business consideration: “Needs Confirmation Survey” (Note 1), “SDGs Business Validation Survey” (Note 2), and “SDGs Business Verification Survey” (Note 3).

(Note 1) ”Needs Confirmation Survey”: a business plan that is initially developed after collecting basic information and verifying the alignment of products/services with the needs of developing countries.
(Note 2) ”SDGs Business Validation Survey: To improve the accuracy of the business plan for starting a business that can contribute to solving problems in developing countries by confirming the acceptability of the product/service to customers, establishing a system for providing the product/service, and setting a goal for securing profitability.
(Note 3) ”SDGs Business Verification Survey”: business plan is developed through verification of the business model, including demonstration activities of technologies, products, know-how, etc., and promotion of understanding of the proposed products, etc.

Reference: “SDG Business Supporting Survey” for FY2023; 68 projects selected (December 25, 2023)
https://www.jica.go.jp/information/press/2023/1527096_25245.html

【Inquiries】
Aeronext Inc. Public Relations Department (Contact: Ito)
Tel: 03- 6455-0626 Email: info@aeronext.com

Reference

*1 New Smart Logistics
A public-private initiative to find solutions to the issues commonly faced by the logistics industry, such as labor shortages, environmental and energy issues, and DX areas, while utilizing digital and technology to ensure the future sustainability of logistics, which is an indispensable infrastructure for people’s daily lives. The project aims to realize the last mile joint delivery, the best mix of land and air transportation, freight and passenger consolidation, automated technology, etc., through co-creation based on an open public platform (O.P.P.) that transcends the boundaries between the industry and the outside world.

*2 Mongolia New Smart Logistics Promotion Working Group
A working group of 10 Mongolian and Japanese organizations and businesses was established at the New Smart Logistics Symposium held in Ulaanbaatar on September 28 this year to study the possibility of building a drone delivery network in Mongolia and the societal implementation of drone delivery using SkyHub™, a new smart logistics system. Participating organizations are: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Newcom Group, National Center for Transfusion Medicine, Mobicom Corporation LLC, Mongolia-Japan Hospital of Mongolian National University of Medical Science, Tok Tok LLC, Aeronext Inc., ACSL Ltd., KDDI SmartDrone Inc., and Seino Holdings Co., Ltd.

*3 Successful Demonstration of Blood Transport by Drone in Ulaanbaatar
On November 13, 2023, in the city of Ulaanbaatar, located at an altitude of 1,300 meters above sea level, a 9.5 km round-trip route between the National Center for Transfusion Medicine and the Mongolia-Japan Hospital of Mongol National University of Medical Science was successfully completed by AirTruck, a drone dedicated to logistics, in extremely cold outside temperatures of -15℃. The blood was delivered by AirTruck, a drone specially designed for logistics, using automatic navigation over a third party, which falls under the Japanese term of “Level 4 (unassisted, unobserved flight in a manned area)” under the harsh environment of -15°C outside temperature. This was the first flight in Mongolia for the purpose of transport and delivery that was officially approved by the Mongolian Civil Aviation Authority.
(For more information: https://aeronext.com/news/mongolia-poc/)

*4 Dedicated Logistics Drone AirTruck
AirTruck, the first mass-produced logistics drone developed in Japan by Aeronext, a next-generation drone technology startup, in collaboration with ACSL, achieves stable flight with Aeronext’s proprietary 4D GRAVITYTM airframe structure design technology. AirTruck is a dedicated logistics drone that goes “faster, farther, and is more stable” with enhanced for logistics, specialized for forward motion, and aerodynamic characteristics required for long-distance flight. AirTruck has flown in demonstration tests in various regions of Japan and has a top-class flight record in Japan.

*5 New Logistics SkyHubTM
A new smart logistics platform jointly developed and deployed by Aeronext and Seino HD that connects existing land transportation and drone logistics, as well as connecting ground and air infrastructure to deliver goods anytime, anywhere. An open and standardized platform with built-in drone delivery, operating from Drone DepotsTM and using cars and drones as delivery vehicles, and SkyHubTM TMS as the base for SkyHubTM Delivery (shopping service), SkyHubTM Eats (food delivery), SkyHubTM Medical (pharmaceutical delivery), as well as joint delivery of packages from different logistics companies in bulk, to develop and provide services tailored to local issues and needs. The introduction of SkyHubTM not only has the logistics benefits of promoting unmanned and inventory-free operations and improving last mile delivery efficiency, but also introduces a new logistics infrastructure. Where the logistics industry facing the “2024 Logistics Problem,” SkyHubTM will contribute to solving social issues in the region, such as transportation problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, SkyHubTM will also contribute to address regional issues such as traffic problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, as well as raise the level of satisfaction of residents and communities by improving convenience and quality of life. Societal implementation has already begun in more than 9 municipalities in Japan.

【About Aeronext Inc.】
The Aeronext Group’s mission is “A new societal infrastructure for the 100-year life era, a world where enrichment is spread to every corner of the world.” To that end, Aeronext established strategic subsidiary of Aeronext, whose main business is drone delivery, in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture in 2021. Aeronext and Seino HD jointly develop and deploy SkyHubTM, a new smart logistics system that connects existing logistics and drone logistics to create a new social infrastructure and pursue the nationwide deployment of SkyHubTM. We are also developing related businesses such as development, sales, operation, and maintenance of both hardware and software related to integrated delivery and drone delivery. Starting with Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, we are working to improve the efficiency of regional logistics and address regional issues throughout Japan, including Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido, and Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture.
*For more information: https://aeronext.com/company/

*Aeronext and the Aeronext logo, as well as “4D GRAVITY®” “SkyHub®“ are trademarks of Aeronext Inc.
*Other company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.