NEDO Awards Contracts to Survey Low-latency Distributed Computing for Next-generation Infrastructure

Japan's NEDO has selected three entities to investigate whether low-latency distributed processing outperforms conventional approaches in next-generation infrastructure applications through 2027.

TOKYO — Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has awarded survey contracts to three entities to assess the effectiveness of low-latency distributed computing technologies for next-generation infrastructure, running through fiscal 2027.

The awardees are Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support, Nautilus Technologies, and Nomura Research Institute. NEDO did not disclose contract values. The surveys will collect data on global trends in low-latency distributed processing and identify use cases where the approach delivers measurable advantages over conventional centralized systems, including field validation.

The initiative extends NEDO’s broader program on high-efficiency AI chips and next-generation computing, which has supported development of quantum, distributed, and neuromorphic architectures. NEDO cites surging power consumption in data centers as the driver: IoT expansion and AI deployment are pushing demand for processing capacity faster than efficiency gains can offset.

Low-latency edge and distributed architectures reduce reliance on centralized cloud infrastructure, cutting both transmission overhead and energy use, key constraints as Japan builds out AI services at scale. The surveys conclude in March 2028.