What is AI-SHIPS Project?

AI- SHIPS stands for AI-based Substance Hazard Integrated Prediction System and the official project name is Evaluation technology & Development Project for Energy-saving Electronic Device Materials (Development of High-speed and Efficient Safety Assessment Technology Supporting Society’s Implementation of Functional Materials）

The toxicity of chemicals has been evaluated by various kinds of animal tests such as a repeated dose toxicity study. However, in general, repeated dose toxicity studies require significant cost and time. In addition, for animal welfare purposes, the movement to restrict animal studies has been getting stronger and alternative methods like in vitro studies and QSAR have been developed in Europe and North America.

This project is a five year project started in April 2017 sponsored by METI (Ministry of Economy and Trade Industry) and aims to develop a high-accuracy in silico hazard prediction system based on toxicity mechanism. It uses data accumulated in the Japanese CSCL (Chemical Substance Control Law) over the past 40 years, AI technology and human expertise and results of in vitro studies in toxicology.

（Source: METI）

AI-SHIPS Project Outline

Official Project NameEvaluation technology & Development Project for Energy-saving Electronic Device Materials (Development of High-speed and Efficient Safety Assessment Technology Supporting Society’s Implementation of Functional Materials）
ObjectiveTo develop a high-accuracy in silico hazard prediction system based on toxicology mechanism using AI technology and data accumulated in the Japanese CSCL (Chemical Substance Control Law)
Duration2017～2021年度（5年間）
Project LeaderApril 2017～March 2021 (5 years)
Organizations InvolvedNara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)
Showa Pharmaceutical University
University of Shizuoka
Meiji Pharmaceutical University
Nagoya City University (NCU)
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
The Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute (CERI)
Research Institute of Systems Planning (ISP)
Mizuho Research & Technologies

組織図

経済産業省の委託において、プロジェクト管理機関である奈良先端科学技術大学院大学を中心に、計9機関が参画したプロジェクトとなっています。