#Japan #Tokyo #API Management #Scalar #Kong

Scalar and Kong Forge a Strategic Partnership

Scalar Co., Ltd. has officially formed a partnership with Kong Inc., a leading company in API management platforms. This collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to accelerate digital transformation (DX) for businesses through enhanced API strategies and integrated data frameworks.

Partnership Objectives and Background

As we approach late 2025, rapid advancement in AI agent applications has led to increasing interest in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) as a standard protocol for system integration. Businesses are now facing two critical needs: creating robust connection frameworks for external AI services and developing internal systems for agile responses. While microservices are essential for digital transformation, they come with technical challenges like complex API communications and fragmented data.

The importance of the API management layer, which serves as a gateway for AI agents to connect with systems, has never been higher. Kong, responsible for providing connectivity, and Scalar, which ensures data integrity, are positioned as two vital components of a successful digital infrastructure.

Scalar has offered solutions to ensure data reliability through its Universal HTAP engine, ScalarDB, and its data tampering detection software, ScalarDL. By integrating Kong's globally recognized API management technology with Scalar's robust data infrastructure, the partnership aims to provide comprehensive support for connecting AI agents through APIs and MCP, which is crucial in the AI era.

Value Delivered through the Partnership

Kong and Scalar’s collaboration offers multiple avenues for supporting businesses in their DX initiatives:

1. Propelling DX through API and Data Integration

By combining Kong’s API management with Scalar’s distributed data platform, enterprises can establish a secure, scalable API foundation while also ensuring reliable data management processes.

2. Enabling Connectivity for the AI Era

For AI agents to function effectively, it's essential to integrate multiple services and data sources in real-time. Kong and Scalar provide comprehensive support for the connectivity needed in the AI age, ensuring that API interactions and data trustworthiness are seamlessly implemented.

3. Supporting In-House Development Talent

Scalar will launch a new service for nurturing in-house development talent, helping companies build developers' skills to utilize Kong's technology and platform actively. This initiative aims to foster ongoing technical skill enhancement and internalities of API strategy development.

New AI-Driven Development Support Service

Scalar’s new service is designed to empower developers within client companies to design and manage their API infrastructure using microservices effectively. This program focuses on skill acquisition and practical groundwork through a combination of ScalarDB, Kong, and GitLab.

The technical features of this service include automatic analysis of existing systems by AI agents, distributed transaction management through ScalarDB, and integrated API management from Kong. As organizations transition towards microservices, they face the technical barriers of ensuring transaction integrity across diverse databases and managing the complexity of numerous APIs. By solving these issues, ScalarDB and Kong allow participants to concentrate on implementing business logic without getting entangled in the infrastructure intricacies.

Developers will engage in a hands-on learning experience using their organization's existing systems, integrating AI agents for system analysis, API development, and operational design through Kong while managing versions via GitLab. The program is currently in a pilot phase with its first customer already onboard.

Comments from Company Representatives

Mr. Daiki Arizumi, President of Kong Inc., expressed: "The partnership with Scalar elevates Kong’s API-first vision to new heights. As the significance of APIs and connectivity continues to grow, we are confident that by combining our advanced data platform with Scalar, we can provide valuable solutions for our customers. Together, we will strengthen API and data infrastructures in the Japanese market."

Mr. Wataru Fukatsu, CEO of Scalar Co., Ltd., shared his excitement about the partnership with Kong, stating, "We are thrilled to provide a next-generation DX foundation that combines API and data platforms. By integrating our expertise in distributed data infrastructure with AI-driven API development insights and Kong’s API connectivity platform, enterprises will gain reliable and flexible systems. Through this partnership, we will collaboratively support businesses in leveraging AI and realizing their digital strategies."

Company Overview

About Kong: As a leader in API management platforms, Kong's mission is to help companies worldwide become API-first organizations. They provide a comprehensive cloud API platform that streamlines the lifecycle of API creation, operation, and management, accelerating innovation. For more details, visit their website.

About Scalar: Founded in 2017, Scalar Co., Ltd. is a Japan-based global startup with offices in Tokyo and San Francisco, focused on creating the future of data management. They develop and sell the Universal HTAP engine, ScalarDB, which virtually integrates multiple and heterogeneous databases, and ScalarDL, software dedicated to detecting data tampering issues. Learn more on their website.

All company names and product names mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.