Kimitsu City, Seino HD, Aeronext, Terra, and KDDI SmartDrone Sign Cooperation Agreement for Regional Co-creation to Use Next-Generation Advanced Technologies Including Drones～Aiming to develop drone related human resources that can contribute to addressing regional issues and building a new smart logistics system ～

Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture (Mayor: Hiroko Ishii), Seino Holdings Co., Ltd. (Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, President: Yoshitaka Taguchi, hereinafter “Seino HD”), Aeronext Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Keisuke Toji, hereinafter “Aeronext”), Terra (Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Wataru Sato, hereinafter “Terra”), and KDDI SmartDrone Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masafumi Hirono, President＆CEO; hereinafter “KDDI SmartDrone”) concluded a cooperation agreement (the “Agreement”) on November 28, 2023 to promote regional co-creation through the use of next-generation advanced technologies, including drones.

The purpose of this Agreement is to further accelerate the development of drone related human resources and the construction of new smart logistics, as well as to promote activities utilizing drones and other next-generation advanced technologies through mutual coordination and cooperation, and that will contribute to regional development.

In May 2023, Terra opened “Code Base Kimitsu,” a comprehensive drone field, in the former Matsuoka Elementary School in Kimitsu, which was closed by the city of Kimitsu, which was looking for businesses to effectively utilize the school facilities to revitalize the community.

Terra, in cooperation with KDDI SmartDrone, has opened the KDDI SmartDrone Academy in Code Base Kimitsu, where drone personnel can be trained in a comprehensive manner to learn how to earn a national drone license, as well as for expertise in different subjects regarding the use of drones.

In addition, KDDI SmartDrone will collaborate with Seino HD and Aeronext, who have a long track record of working together toward the societal implementation of drone delivery and new smart logitics (Note 1) “SkyHub^®” (Note 2), a system that combines drone delivery and land transportation, to pursue regional co-creation in the field of logistics for Kimitsu City.

＜Outline of Agreement＞

1. Date　November 28, 2023
2. Details of the Agreement
   The objective of the Agreement is to address regional issues and promote regional development by promoting activities utilizing next-generation advanced technologie2s, including drones.

• Promote commerce, industry, agriculture, tourism, and other industries in Kimitsu City
• Disaster prevention, disaster response, and infrastructure inspection in Kimitsu City
• Address regional issues facing regional transportation and logistics in Kimitsu City
• Kimitsu City’s Efforts Toward Human Resource Development and Drone Training Projects
• In addition to those listed in the preceding items, to achieve the purpose of this Agreement

３. Overview of Planned Initiative
Kimitsu City is located adjacent to the city center, but is also blessed with nature, providing both good access and a good environment for drone personnel training.

By locating the drone school in the Matsuoka Elementary School, which has the affection of residents, we hope to not only train drone personnel, but also develop the local economy by providing food, clothing, and shelter for the staff and personnel working at the school, and to create jobs for residents at the school.

In addition, Kimitsu City is a very developed city with industries where drones are expected to play an active role, such as pesticide spraying, inspection of bridges and communication towers, logistics, and disaster prevention. It will also aim to develop human resources by making use of the environment where real-world educational opportunities are available everywhere.

While making maximum use of the opportunities mentioned above, the parties to Agreement will work in close cooperation with each other to realize concrete actions.

The five representatives from the parties made the following comments at the Agreement ceremony held at Kimitsu City Hall on November 28, 2023.

<Comments from Hiroko Ishii, Mayor of Kimitsu City>
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this Agreement. We expect that this Agreement will further expand the possibilities of drone applications, such as package delivery in mountainous areas, infrastructure inspections, and transportation of goods in times of disaster, and we believe that it will serve as a new driving force for regional development.
With the help of those who have experience in various fields of drones, we will work to solve a wide range of issues as “Kimitsu, the City of Drones”.

<Comments from Shuji Kawai, Executive Officer of Seino Holdings>
In the area of last-one-mile delivery, Seino Holdings is responding to lifestyle and structural changes by leveraging its strengths in trunk line transportation, and is actively promoting and expanding the development of last-one-mile solutions to social issues such as measures for vulnerable shoppers and impoverished households. In Kimitsu City, logistics companies will work together to improve the efficiency of existing logistics, as well as through the implementation of technology, to promote the development of a city where residents can live with peace of mind and where the city can maintain and improve services for residents. In the future, we will work toward the establishment of a new air and land logistics model, with a view to automating logistics by drones.

<Comments from Keisuke Toji, CEO of Aeronext>
We are pleased to conclude this Agreement with Kimitsu City, which has been focusing on drone related human resource development. We believe that the collaboration with the parties in Kimitsu City will be a new model of collaboration, combining human resource development at the drone school and societal implementation of new smart logistics.
I look forward to working with this team to establish a completely self-sustaining drone operation system in Kimitsu City, and, furthermore, to create a mechanism to expand the new smart logistics service area centered on Kimitsu City to the entire Boso Peninsula.

<Comments from Wataru Sato, President, Terra>
We are very pleased to be a part of this Agreement. I would like to thank Kimitsu City for being very positive and receptive regarding the range of drone activities. Working together, we will respect each other, engage in friendly cooperation, grow, and contribute to society. We believe that creating this virtuous cycle is our raison d’etre.

<Comments from Masafumi Hirono, President＆CEO of KDDI SmartDrone>
We are very pleased to conclude this Agreement. We believe that this Agreement is a concrete step toward addressing regional issues and promoting regional development through the use of drone technology.　From industrial development to disaster prevention measures and human resource development, as well as the creation of a sustainable logistics model, we are committed to working together to create the future of Kimitsu City.

Reference

(Note 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.

(Note 2) New Logistics SkyHub®︎
Aeronext Inc. and Seino Holdings Co., Ltd. are jointly promoting a new smart logistics system that connects existing logistics and drone logistics, connecting ground and air infrastructure to deliver goods anytime, anywhere. The introduction of SkyHub®︎ will contribute to solving social issues in the region from the aspect of logistics reform, such as the shortage of workers due to the declining population and aging population, transportation 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 for residents and will be meaningful in promoting regional revitalization.

【About Seino Holdings Co., Ltd.】
With logistics as its central axis, Seino HD also provides one-stop value in areas peripheral to logistics, such as finance, human resources, and procurement. We aim to be a corporate group that connects hearts and minds beyond logistics to contribute to the prosperity of our customers and bring smiles and happiness to all. Under the slogan of “Team Green Logistics,” we are currently working to develop an open public platform (O.P.P.) that transcends industry and corporate boundaries as an overall strategy to solve social issues facing Japan, such as the declining birthrate, aging population, and environmental problems, and to take on the challenge of co-creating “green logistics” that will optimize a sustainable logistics network. In the last mile area, we are actively building a “last mile O.P.P. that solves social issues” as a countermeasure for vulnerable shoppers and poor families, in line with the changing lifestyles and structures of society as a whole. *Open Public Platform (O.P.P.) Our concept is to build a logistics platform that is open and accessible to all, regardless of industry or location, to improve the efficiency and value to each user, and to contribute to industry, the environment, and people’s lives as an infrastructure.
*For more information: https://www.seino.co.jp/seino/shd/overall-condition/

【About Aeronext Inc.】
Aeronext, an IP driven R & D technology startup for next-generation drones, is a company that designs the sky through technology to create a world where the sky becomes a social infrastructure, is economized, and solves social issues through drones. Our core technology is 4D GRAVITY®︎, a unique structural design technology that improves basic drone performance such as stability, efficiency, and mobility of industrial drones by optimizing the center of gravity of the aircraft. In order implement this 4D GRAVITY®︎ as standard equipment on industrial drones, we have constructed a strong patent portfolio and are promoting a partnership-based platform business for the 4D GRAVITY®︎ license globally. Aeronext has also founded a subsidiary to implement the SkyHub® smart logistics and pursue drone delivery.
*For more information: https://aeronext.com/company/

【About Terra】
Terra creates new value by connecting various things, products, and people, with the mindset of “creating new winds with solutions that are one step ahead and bring happiness to people.”
*For more information: https://www.terracom.co.jp/company/

【About KDDI SmartDrone】
KDDI SmartDrone builds services that enable safe remote and long-distance flights by controlling drones using mobile communications such as 4G LTE. KDDI SmartDrone is working to create new businesses with drones and provide agile services that meet customer needs in various fields such as inspection, logistics, surveillance, agriculture, and surveying.
*For more information: https://kddi.smartdrone.co.jp/

*Aeronext, the Aeronext logo, and NEXT DELIVERY, as well as “4D GRAVITY®” “SkyHub®“ “Drone Depot®” “Drone Stand®” 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.