A research project has been selected for JST ACT-X

The research proposal by Kosei Horikawa, a doctoral student in our laboratory, has been selected for the FY2026 call of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)’s ACT-X program. The project, titled “AI駆動開発を支えるテスト品質保証基盤の創出” (“Establishing a Test Quality Assurance Foundation for AI-Driven Development,” our translation), was selected in the research area “Cyberinfrastructure for AI Empowered Society,” led by Professor Shinji Shimojo, the Research Supervisor (selected projects and selection reports, in Japanese).

In FY2026, ACT-X received 824 proposals across four research areas and selected 78 after document screening and interviews, an acceptance rate of approximately 9.5% (JST announcement, in Japanese). Within the research area in which this project was selected, 36 of the 177 proposals proceeded to interviews, and 20 were selected (selection report, in Japanese).

ACT-X supports early-career researchers, including graduate students, in pursuing original ideas and establishing themselves as independent researchers. Research supervisors and area advisors provide guidance, while exchanges with researchers from other disciplines help participants develop their research and build networks. The program generally provides funding of approximately JPY 4.5–6 million per project for up to two years and six months (program overview, in Japanese).

The selected project aims to establish a foundation for test quality assurance in AI-driven software development. The project will run from October 2026 to March 2029.

I am deeply grateful for the selection of this project and for the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn alongside researchers from diverse fields. I will bring the insights and perspectives gained through these exchanges into my research and work diligently to live up to the trust placed in me through this selection. Through research on test quality assurance, I hope to contribute to the development of AI-driven software engineering that people can rely on with confidence.