#Japan #Tokyo #MiraiE.ai #Microbase #Publink Summit

Microbase's Notable Achievement at Publink Summit 2026

Microbase Inc., a cutting-edge AI technology and data science company located in Tokyo, Japan, recently celebrated a significant milestone by winning the prestigious Grand Prize at the Publink Summit 2026. This award is a critical affirmation of public-private partnerships designed to drive open innovation. The company’s CEO, Hiroaki Senko, presented their groundbreaking AI system, MiraiE.ai, which predicts the emergence of empty houses based on changes in water usage data. This innovative approach earned high praise for its practical effectiveness in addressing social issues and its potential scalability for future urban management.

The Empty House Crisis in Japan

Japan faces a stark reality, with around 9 million vacant homes, translating to a staggering one in seven residential properties. Projections suggest that by 2040, this figure could escalate to one in five residences, leading to significant risks such as increased accidents, water leakage issues, and public safety concerns. The main hurdles in effectively managing this issue are twofold: the inability to predict which homes will become vacant and difficulties in communication with property owners. This often leads to significant property damage and delayed intervention measures.

Recognizing this challenge, Senko and his team turned their attention to one of the country's most prolific data streams—water usage data—collected bi-monthly nationwide. By training their AI system on the changing patterns of water consumption, they developed MiraiE.ai, which can detect shifts in residents’ lifestyles (for instance, moving into nursing homes or signs of frailty) to forecast potential vacancies before they occur.

Launching a Partnership with Toyota City

Microbase initially faced skepticism from many municipalities due to their lack of track record in these innovative domains. However, fate intervened with a chance meeting with two dedicated officials in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, who were struggling with issues relating to winter water pipe freezes stemming from empty houses. The shared vision and commitment between Microbase and Toyota City officials initiated a collaborative project against this pressing backdrop.

Navigating the intricacies of public sector data collection, security challenges, and administrative regulations proved to be formidable tasks. Nonetheless, through open communication and repeated testing of their technologies alongside local employees, they overcame these obstacles to successfully implement their predictive models.

Proven Results and Future Prospects

During the pilot program in Toyota City, the AI successfully identified regions at risk for water pipe freezing related to vacant homes, leading to earlier detection of these issues. Additionally, a seminar held for city residents targeted towards these predictive areas saw participation double compared to standard attendance levels, showcasing tangible administrative success.

This system's efficacy has attracted attention beyond Toyota City, with implementations now occurring in Tokyo and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. MiraiE.ai has evolved into what is now termed an