2024年8月27日
SBI控股股票型公司
Preferred Networks股份有限公司

SBI Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director, Chairman and President: Yoshitaka Kitao, hereinafter referred to as 'SBI Holdings') and Preferred Networks, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Chief Executive Officer: Toru Nishikawa, hereinafter referred to as 'PFN'), which develops solutions and products utilizing AI technology and AI semiconductors, have concluded a basic agreement on a capital business alliance for the development and commercialization of next-generation AI semiconductors.

PFN was founded in 2014 as a startup that vertically integrates the development and provision of hardware and software necessary for the practical application of AI technology. It develops AI semiconductors, peripheral software development, and supercomputer development using its self-developed AI semiconductors, and builds a foundation for generating AI models and develops applications utilizing them. It has been providing a computing platform using its own AI semiconductors to external users since 2023.
Since its establishment, PFN has been promoting the implementation of cutting-edge AI technology for various industries and has a track record of providing SaaS for autonomous driving of large-scale plants and atomic-level simulations for material development in domestic and overseas markets.
In recent years, in addition to software development such as AI algorithms, PFN has been developing its self-designed AI semiconductor MN-Core series. In the Green500 supercomputer power efficiency ranking, supercomputers equipped with MN-Core (1st generation) took first place three times in 2020 and 2021.

In recent years, with the advancement of generative AI technology, the demand for AI semiconductors has rapidly increased worldwide, causing supply shortages. Furthermore, it is expected that power consumption due to AI development and utilization will continue to increase, leading to the need for the development of high-performance and low power consumption AI semiconductors. In Japan, the government is promoting support for AI semiconductors based on the 5G Promotion Act, and in 2023, it will formulate a 'Semiconductor and Digital Industry Strategy' and propose a policy for medium- to long-term domestic digital infrastructure development as an important national strategy. Next-generation AI semiconductors play a central role in the development of the 'Cloud Program' based on the 'Economic Security Promotion Law' and are recognized as being of great importance.

在这样的环境下，SBI集团和PFN签订了关于资本业务合作的基本协议，并积极推进PFN开发的下一代AI半导体的社会实施。

基于此次基本协议，我们将在以下主要领域探讨业务合作。
1. PFN的下一代AI半导体的共同研究和开发以实现产品化。
2. PFN在下一代AI半导体的制造过程中，对后期工艺的协作。
3. PFN的资金筹集等金融合作。

业务合作内容不仅限于以上项目，也有可能根据SBI集团和PFN双方的协议而扩大。
SBI集团此前已设立了从事半导体业务的JSMC Holdings株式会社，推动了国内半导体产业的复兴和地方创生。目前，SBI集团正在与半导体巨头商社株式会社Reed's Inc.进行业务合作，以及在宫城县大桥村确保项目用地等，推动半导体业务的扩展。SBI集团通过与PFN的合作，将强力支持下一代AI半导体在日本的推广，促进PFN的业务扩大，为日本的半导体产业发展做出贡献。
此外，SBI集团通过进行PFN的下一代人形机器人硬件的制造，可以提高SBI集团在制造业中的知名度，并建立半导体生态系统，以促进宮城县的半导体生产，从而带来高经济效益。因此，我们认为通过此举可以大幅提升SBI集团的附加值，并成为地方产业创造的典范。为了实现这些目标，SBI集团计划通过SBI控股等方式投资最多100亿元。

【投资概要】

SBI控股和PFN将继续致力于推动日本产业发展，积极推动半导体产业的活跃。

以上。