Tokyo Science University to build AI‑robot powered 39‑storey skyscraper in Meguro

Science Tokyo, the university created by merging Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University, announced a partnership with NTT Urban Development and 70 leading firms—including NTT, Hitachi, Denso, SoftBank and Mazda—to construct a 39‑storey mixed‑use tower on its Meguro campus. The building will serve as a testbed for "Physical AI," integrating humanoid robots, automated farms, health‑monitoring sensors, autonomous‑vehicle and drone logistics, and AI‑driven restaurant services. A digital twin will be used to simulate and optimise operations. The project is slated for phased opening beginning in 2031 and is expected to generate about ¥4.5 billion (≈US$8.8 million) in annual rental income, providing a significant new revenue stream for the university amid Japan’s declining birthrate and limited public funding. The development is made possible by a 2017 regulatory change that relaxed restrictions on university land rentals, allowing institutions to commercialise prime urban assets.