At the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture from August 20 to 22, 2025, SORA Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan; CEO: Yosuke Kaneko) signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with African governments and institutions. These agreements focus on collaboration in the fields of public health and infectious disease control, leveraging AI and drone technologies.

Photo Credit : JETRO

Key Agreements Signed at TICAD9

• ・Letter of Intent with Ghana Health Service
  A commitment to strengthen surveillance of waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases using SORA’s AI-based outbreak prediction and risk-mapping platform. 
• ・Letter of Intent with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) of Ghana
  A joint commitment to develop sustainable malaria control initiatives, including the use of AI and drones for habitat identification and targeted interventions such as Larval Source Management (LSM). 
• ・MOU with the Ministry of Health of Zanzibar and the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP)
  Establishment of a framework to support Zanzibar’s malaria elimination efforts through drone- and AI-powered mosquito breeding site detection, risk classification, and targeted insecticide application. 
• ・MOU with the National Malaria Control Program of Benin
  An agreement to strengthen malaria control in Benin by mapping mosquito larval habitats, classifying risks, and conducting precision larval control activities using AI and drone technologies. 
• ・MOU with the National Malaria Control Program of Sierra Leone
  A framework to support malaria elimination in Sierra Leone through AI-enabled drone mapping of larval sources, risk classification, larvicide spraying, and knowledge transfer. 
• ・MOU with Amref Health Africa
  A partnership framework to advance joint research and development, surveillance, training, and resource mobilization using drones and AI, with a focus on malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), food systems, and community well-being. 

Comment from CEO Yosuke Kaneko

“TICAD9 marks an important milestone for us. By integrating AI and drone technologies, we aim to deliver tangible results in infectious disease surveillance and public health support across African nations. Through these MOUs, we will work hand in hand with local experts to provide effective and sustainable solutions.”

Future Developments

• ・Implementation of Joint Projects: Designing pilot programs, securing funding, and building operational frameworks with local partners. 
• ・Monitoring and Evaluation: Establishing feedback loops and quantifying the impact of AI- and drone-based interventions using health and disease indicators. 
• ・Expansion of Cooperation: Extending the application of AI and drone technologies to additional countries and regions, including broader use cases such as disaster response and agricultural support.