Visual Bank Launches Free Qlean Dataset Program to Support Academia in AI Research
In a significant move to bolster AI research, Visual Bank, based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has announced the launch of the 'Qlean Dataset Academia Support Program'. This initiative will provide over 500,000 high-quality datasets, including voice, image, and video data, to academia free of charge for research and development purposes. The datasets are part of the Qlean Dataset, which is known for its rigorous rights clearance, ensuring that researchers can utilize these materials without legal complications. The program aims to accelerate the development and application of AI technologies in Japan, responding to the growing demand for high-quality learning data in diverse fields such as manufacturing, healthcare, and education.
The evolution of AI technologies has been rapid and widespread, with advancements in image recognition, speech recognition, and natural language processing making their way into various sectors, including manufacturing, medical science, education, and public administration. Central to these advancements is the need for high-quality training data; the performance and versatility of AI models are heavily influenced by the data they are trained on. However, collecting and assembling sufficient training data poses significant challenges, especially in terms of time, cost, and legal risks associated with copyright and utilization permissions. This is particularly true for startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and academic institutions that often face resource constraints.
Visual Bank's approach, through its subsidiary Amana Images, addresses these systemic challenges directly with the Qlean Dataset. This platform offers a diverse range of data types — including images, audio, video, 3D graphics, and text — all cleared for research use, creating a safe environment for AI development.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and NEDO, Visual Bank's Qlean Dataset has been recognized as part of the 'GENIAC' (Generative AI Accelerator Challenge), further enhancing its mission to promote a secure and trustworthy data ecosystem in Japan.
The newly established program will enable researchers and developers in academia to access over 80 types of datasets without charge for a limited time. By facilitating access to high-quality data, Visual Bank aims to address fundamental barriers to AI technology development in Japan. This initiative is a commitment to strengthen the nation's AI capabilities and competitive edge in the global technology arena.
Looking forward, Visual Bank intends to continue evolving the Qlean Dataset Academia Support Program, addressing deeper-rooted issues faced by research entities. The company recognizes that the lack of adequate training data during the initial stages of research can impede progress and prevent real-world application of AI technologies. Visual Bank is committed to ensuring that researchers can access reliable and high-quality data as needed.
Plans include increasing the diversity and volume of provided datasets, developing specialized data recipes tailored to specific fields, and improving metadata and annotation quality. Through these efforts, Visual Bank aims to cater precisely to the needs of research environments consistently.
Additionally, by deepening partnerships with universities, research institutions, and startups, Visual Bank hopes to foster an open and practical research environment and accelerate the social implementation of technologies through collaboration with the public and private sectors.
Nagai states, “The implementation of AI technologies is gaining momentum globally. However, the scarcity of high-quality training data in the early stages of research remains a significant bottleneck. Particularly for academic institutions operating with limited resources, the lack of access to essential data hampers technological evolution. We have launched the Qlean Dataset Academia Support Program to provide a practical solution to these issues, hoping it will aid cutting-edge research activities in Japan. Visual Bank remains committed to harnessing the power of data to contribute to the assured and secure advancement of AI technologies in our society.”
The Qlean Dataset, a product of Visual Bank's subsidiary Amana Images, provides high-quality, legally processed datasets tailored for AI development. The 'data recipes' are flexible and customizable, catering to various needs and timelines for training data.
For further details on the Qlean Dataset offerings, please visit Qlean Dataset Official Site.
Visual Bank aims to build and provide the next-generation data infrastructure to maximize the potential of AI development. With a mission to 'unlock the possibilities of all data', the company continues to innovate, providing tools like 'THE PEN' for creators and supporting AI learning solutions through the Qlean Dataset.
Background of the Program
The evolution of AI technologies has been rapid and widespread, with advancements in image recognition, speech recognition, and natural language processing making their way into various sectors, including manufacturing, medical science, education, and public administration. Central to these advancements is the need for high-quality training data; the performance and versatility of AI models are heavily influenced by the data they are trained on. However, collecting and assembling sufficient training data poses significant challenges, especially in terms of time, cost, and legal risks associated with copyright and utilization permissions. This is particularly true for startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and academic institutions that often face resource constraints.
Visual Bank's approach, through its subsidiary Amana Images, addresses these systemic challenges directly with the Qlean Dataset. This platform offers a diverse range of data types — including images, audio, video, 3D graphics, and text — all cleared for research use, creating a safe environment for AI development.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and NEDO, Visual Bank's Qlean Dataset has been recognized as part of the 'GENIAC' (Generative AI Accelerator Challenge), further enhancing its mission to promote a secure and trustworthy data ecosystem in Japan.
Goals and Future Outlook
The newly established program will enable researchers and developers in academia to access over 80 types of datasets without charge for a limited time. By facilitating access to high-quality data, Visual Bank aims to address fundamental barriers to AI technology development in Japan. This initiative is a commitment to strengthen the nation's AI capabilities and competitive edge in the global technology arena.
Looking forward, Visual Bank intends to continue evolving the Qlean Dataset Academia Support Program, addressing deeper-rooted issues faced by research entities. The company recognizes that the lack of adequate training data during the initial stages of research can impede progress and prevent real-world application of AI technologies. Visual Bank is committed to ensuring that researchers can access reliable and high-quality data as needed.
Plans include increasing the diversity and volume of provided datasets, developing specialized data recipes tailored to specific fields, and improving metadata and annotation quality. Through these efforts, Visual Bank aims to cater precisely to the needs of research environments consistently.
Additionally, by deepening partnerships with universities, research institutions, and startups, Visual Bank hopes to foster an open and practical research environment and accelerate the social implementation of technologies through collaboration with the public and private sectors.
Insights from CEO Masayuki Nagai
Nagai states, “The implementation of AI technologies is gaining momentum globally. However, the scarcity of high-quality training data in the early stages of research remains a significant bottleneck. Particularly for academic institutions operating with limited resources, the lack of access to essential data hampers technological evolution. We have launched the Qlean Dataset Academia Support Program to provide a practical solution to these issues, hoping it will aid cutting-edge research activities in Japan. Visual Bank remains committed to harnessing the power of data to contribute to the assured and secure advancement of AI technologies in our society.”
Program Highlights
- - Overview: The Academia Support Program offers free access to over 80 types of datasets from the Qlean Dataset.
- - Period: Applications are open until August 22, 2025, or until the quota is filled.
- - Target: Universities, research institutions, corporate research departments, and nonprofit tech development teams are eligible to apply.
- - Special webpages for inquiries and application details can be found at Qlean Dataset Special Page.
- - Usage Terms: The dataset is strictly for research and development purposes, prohibiting commercial use without prior agreement.
Qlean Dataset Information
The Qlean Dataset, a product of Visual Bank's subsidiary Amana Images, provides high-quality, legally processed datasets tailored for AI development. The 'data recipes' are flexible and customizable, catering to various needs and timelines for training data.
For further details on the Qlean Dataset offerings, please visit Qlean Dataset Official Site.
Visual Bank aims to build and provide the next-generation data infrastructure to maximize the potential of AI development. With a mission to 'unlock the possibilities of all data', the company continues to innovate, providing tools like 'THE PEN' for creators and supporting AI learning solutions through the Qlean Dataset.
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