[News] AiRato Inc., Founded on Medical Physics Group Research, Wins “Regional Revitalization Award” at the 21st Japan New Business Creation Awards

Achievement News 2026年11月6日

AiRato Inc., a venture established based on years of research and expertise from our group (Tohoku University Medical Physics Group), has received the “Regional Revitalization Award” in the Entrepreneur Category at the 21st Japan New Business Creation Awards, organized by the Japan Association of New Business Councils (JNB).
Notably, this marks the first time a Tohoku University-launched startup has received an award at the Japan New Business Creation Awards.
The award ceremony took place during the “22nd JNB National Forum for New Business Creation in Kanagawa” on October 29, 2026.

▲ Tohoku University Press Release (November 6, 2026)

Background of the Award and Social Implementation of Academic Research

AiRato Inc. was established in March 2022 following its selection for the Business Incubation Program (BIP) run by the Startup Incubation Center at the Tohoku University Head Office for Enterprise Relations and Innovation in April 2021. This award highly recognizes how the expertise in medical physics and AI research cultivated by our group is actively contributing to solving real-world clinical challenges.

Advanced Practical Application of Research Insights:
Dramatically reduced the treatment planning time for Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)—which previously required around six hours and heavily depended on the expertise of seasoned specialists—to approximately 30 minutes using proprietary AI.
Reliability Backed by Clinical Data:
Achieved both high-quality treatment planning and automated safety verification by combining top-tier clinical data obtained from leading medical facilities in Japan with insights gained through academic research.
Addressing Healthcare Disparities and Contributing to Regional Revitalization:
Obtained Japan’s first Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) regulatory approval for specially controlled medical devices, opening up the possibility to deliver advanced radiation therapy even to regional medical facilities facing specialist shortages. Furthermore, the company was recognized for revitalizing the local economy as a medical AI startup originating from Sendai City.

Message from the Medical Physics Group

Our group strives not only to deepen advanced medical physics and AI research, but also to drive translational research and social implementation so that these insights truly reach healthcare settings and patients. AiRato’s award is a significant milestone demonstrating how basic and clinical research seeds born in academia can evolve into societal innovation through university support frameworks (such as the BIP) and collaboration with healthcare professionals.

Moving forward, the Medical Physics Group remains committed to serving as an academic hub of knowledge—driving research and workforce development that fundamentally transforms the quality and accessibility of radiation therapy.

東北大学BIP採択案件から誕生したアイラト株式会社… | プレスリリース・研究成果 | 東北大学 -TOHOKU UNIVERSITY-

2026年度第21回ニッポン新事業創出大賞受賞者決定 | 公益社団法人日本ニュービジネス協議会連合会