KDDI and Couger Lead Japan to Initiate "Smart Contract" Proof of Concept Projects Utilizing Enterprise Ethereum

KDDI Corporation (TOKYO:9433), KDDI Research, Inc., and Couger Inc. initiate proof of concept projects for a “Smart Contract” system, the first in Japan to utilize Enterprise Ethereum (*1).
Additionally, KDDI has joined the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA)(*2) on September 27^th, 2017.

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”Smart Contract” is a system that uses blockchain (*3) technology to insert pre-determined agreement and contract terms into a software program in a way that is difficult to falsely tamper or alter. When the conditions are fulfilled, they will be executed automatically.

This proof of concept will extend beyond blockchains utilized by existing business and will validate business and technical issues and benefits for (a) Open services built on platforms such as the Ethereum and includes non-financial interactions, and (b) Smart Contracts for coordination with partner company services.

Specific first step will be to validate operational productivity benefits by application of blockchain to share necessary information securely and in real-time for the service flow from customer’s cellphone repair request at AU shops to the completion of the repair process.

Smart Contract will also be validated for handset reuse services that require versatile coordination between multiple business entities. Specifically, we will validate that program can autonomously discern data from different systems such as repair price, model exchange price, used handset market price to make an optimum contract.

KDDI and Couger will further explore and validate ways to combine Smart Contract with IoT and AI technologies in ways to achieve new levels of closeness, value, and experiences for the customers.

In addition to working with Couger to develop ways to combine and apply AI, robotics, and blockchain, KDDI will work with blockchain developer Trident-Arts co., ltd., legal tech developer Kentauros Works Inc., and in cooperation with other members of the EEA to create a robust next generation service platform based on the combined "AI x IoT x Blockchain” technology.

(*1) Enterprise Ethereum is a distributed application platform for the enterprise.

(*2) Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) is an alliance formed to unify Enterprise Ethereum use cases, decide upon standardization, and develop open-source programs. There are more than 150 participating companies.

(*3) A blockchain is a continually operating system that makes falsification of data very difficult through distributed computing and verification. Because of this, users can expect to safely share data even in the absence of a trustworthy central management figure.

[Corporate Profile: KDDI CORPORATION]
Company Name		:		KDDI CORPORATION http://www.kddi.com/
Date of Establishment		:		June 1,1984
Head Office		:		3-10-10, Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
President		:		President Takashi Tanaka
Main Business		:		Telecommunications business
[Corporate Profile: KDDI Research, Inc.]
Company Name		:		KDDI Research, Inc. http://www.kddi-research.jp/
Date of Establishment		:		April 1, 1998
Head Office		:		2-1-15 Ohara, Fujimino-shi, Saitama, 356-8502 Japan
President		:		President and CEO Yasuyuki Nakajima
Main Business		:		Research, development, production, sale, and licensing of technologies and systems for information and communications. Survey, research, and consulting on policies, markets, and businesses mainly in the information and communication fields.
[Corporate Profile: Couger Inc.]
Company Name		:		Couger Inc. http://couger.co.jp/
Date of Establishment		:		December, 2006
Head Office		:		Koshiichi Bldg #403, 6-19-16, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001, Japan
President		:		CEO Atsushi Ishii
Main Business		:		Architecture and development of platforms to apply artificial intelligence, robotics, and blockchain technologies and large-scale server-side system.
[Corporate Profile: trident-arts co., ltd.]
Company Name		:		trident-arts co., ltd. http://trident-arts.net/
Date of Establishment		:		2016
Head Office		:		Chuo-ku Ginza 7-11-3 Yajima building 8F-10, Tokyo, Japan
President		:		CEO Koji Machi
Main Business		:		Development of open source softwares
				Consulting of enterprise smartcontract development
				Design and development of enterprise smartcontract
[Corporate Profile: Centaurus Works inc.]
Company Name		:		Centaurus Works inc. http://centaurusworks.jp/
Date of Establishment		:		April, 2017
Head Office		:		Chiyoda-ku Kudan-minami 1-6-17 ,Tokyo, Japan
President		:		CEO Kenichiro Kawasaki
Main Business		:		Development and operation of smart contract system using AI and blockchain technology

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Contact information

KDDI CORPORATION
Naoki Hiraoka, +81-3-6678-0690
Public Relations
or
Couger Inc.
Tomomi Kiyono,+81-3-6433-5226
Public Relations
pr@couger.co.jp