Overview AI-ENGAGE (Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen AGriculturE)

Background and Objectives of the Program

In recent years, there has been growing interest in food security to enhance food productivity and resilience in response to crises, such as rising food demand and the shortage of land and water resources. Against this backdrop, support for joint research among the Quad countries (Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India) utilizing emerging technologies was endorsed at the Quad Leaders' Summit in May 2023.

To address global challenges significantly impacting society, such as food issues, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), in cooperation with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) of Australia, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) of India will jointly promote advanced research aimed at utilizing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensing.

JST implements support for international joint research (AI-ENGAGE) in the field of "Advancing Innovations × Agriculture" as part of a framework for multilateral collaborative research under the Moonshot Research and Development Program. This initiative aims to enhance international collaboration among the Quad countries and achieve outcomes that strengthen Japan's scientific and technological capabilities.

This program is implemented under the Moonshot Research and Development Program; however, the framework for supporting joint research differs from the existing Moonshot Goals 1 to 10.

Management Structure

Collaboration Structure

Technical Lead (TL):

As the head of AI-ENGAGE in Japan, TL manages each Japan-side collaborative research project (referring to the portion handled by the Japan team) through the following activities:

• Coordination of research plans, including research funding and team composition.
• Exchanging opinions with the Project Leader (PL) and providing advice on the research.
• Research management through project evaluation and other necessary means.

Project Leader (PL)**:

As the person in charge of the Japan team, PL implements and manage each Japan-side collaborative research project.

Co-Project Leader (Co-PL)**:

Co-PL represents the “Collaborative Research Group” comprising the Japan team and collaborates with PL to carry out the Japan-side collaborative research project.

**In terms of management, the titles used are Project Leader (PL) and Co-Project Leader (Co-PL). However, in the call for proposals, they are referred to as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), respectively.