Obayashi Corporation and Tohoku University have established the “Obayashi Corporation × Tohoku University Co-Creation Research Institute for Next-Generation Construction Technologies” within Tohoku University's Tough Cyber-Physical AI Research Center. They will jointly advance the research, development and practical implementation of technologies that operate autonomously and reliably at disaster sites and in other harsh environments.
Tohoku University and Obayashi Corporation jointly established a research institute within the university's Tough Cyber-Physical AI Research Center on 1 November 2026. Its purpose is to combine Tohoku University's comprehensive knowledge with Obayashi Corporation's ability to implement technologies at operating sites, and to promote the research, development and practical implementation of Tough Physical AI technologies in an integrated manner.
The research institute will link physical simulation, robot control and AI, with an emphasis on field testing and practical application. Areas of focus include the use of digital twins in construction and civil engineering, autonomous driving functions, energy, disaster science and reconstruction, and 3D concrete printers. The institute will work to improve applicability at operating sites.
The establishment period runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2031. The research institute will promote the research and development of Tough Physical AI technologies, develop next-generation talent, and create joint research projects connecting the needs of universities with those of construction sites. Its activities are planned to link physical simulators, robot control and AI with field testing.
The initiative addresses social challenges including labor shortages and increasingly severe natural disasters. It aims to use Tohoku University's research base and Obayashi Corporation's practical expertise at operating sites to advance the process from research and development through demonstration, practical application and implementation in society in an integrated manner.