NMSU, Japanese tech firm create new ‘innovation hub’ to test AI and other advanced tech

New Mexico State University and Japan’s Fujitsu will establish an innovation hub at NMSU starting 2027 to test artificial intelligence, edge computing and other advanced technologies in sectors such as agriculture, aerospace and clean energy.

NMSU, Japanese tech firm create new ‘innovation hub’ to test AI and other advanced tech
(Patrick Lohmann / Source New Mexico)

NMSU and Japanese tech firm Fujitsu sign MoU to create Southern New Mexico innovation hub for AI, edge computing and advanced research

Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico

This article was originally published by Source New Mexico.

The president of New Mexico State University and a prominent Japanese tech company signed an agreement Monday enabling the creation of a testing ground for the company’s latest technologies at the university.

The signing ceremony in Santa Fe marked the second New Mexico appearance Monday for  Shigeo Yamada, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, alongside Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The first, a news conference at the Roundhouse, announced a new push for natural gas exports from Rocky Mountain states like New Mexico to Japan and other Asian countries.

Fujitsu describes itself as the biggest digital services company by market share in Japan and a leading innovator on artificial intelligence and supercomputer technologies. It also markets its innovations in “edge” computing, which enables faster computing time.

Five people stand together holding a framed document during a signing ceremony marking a new partnership between New Mexico State University and a Japanese technology company.
NMSU and Japanese tech firm Fujitsu signed a memorandum of understanding Oct. 20, 2025 in Santa Fe creating a new “innovation hub” at the Las Cruces university. Prominent officials marked the occasions, including (from left) Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, NMSU President Valerio Ferme, Fujitsu Vice President Yoichi Murakami, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. (Patrick Lohmann / Source New Mexico)

The company also works on so-called “edge” computing tech, which is commonly used in autonomous vehicles to enable split-second computations within each car. 

All of those cutting-edge technologies will be battle-tested at NMSU beginning early next year, thanks to a memorandum of understanding signed by NMSU President Valerio Ferme and Naoki Shinjo, Fujitsu’s head of advanced technology development. 

“But technology alone is not the story,” Ferme said Monday at the signing ceremony. “The real story is what this partnership makes possible: new opportunities for our students to work on global problems; new pathways for small and rural communities to access advanced computing resources; and new solutions for sectors that are critical like energy, water security and health.”

NMSU could potentially field test Fujitsu’s tech on agriculture, water monitoring and aerospace, among other areas, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

NMSU President Valerio Firme speaks Oct. 20, 2025 at the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe. The university and Fijutsu, a Japanese tech firm, signed a “memorandum of understanding” that promises to field-test the company’s AI and “edge computing” tech while also aiding the university’s research on agriculture, aerospace and clean power. (Patrick Lohmann / Source New Mexico)

“We look forward to continuing this collaboration, fostering together the technological and economic advancement on a global scale for many years to come,” Shinjo said in a statement.

The agreement will last at least until 2029, according to the memorandum, which the governor’s office provided to Source New Mexico. 

In the document, NMSU agrees to establish an “innovation hub with reliable power and cooling infrastructure,” as well as procure servers with “diverse computational needs.” Fujitsu agrees to deploy its tech and hardware and provide ongoing support.

The first tests of the company’s “leading-edge” processor technology, known as MONAKA, will begin in 2027, before it fully deploys its products there in 2028, according to the agreement.

Patrick Lohmann is a reporter for Source New Mexico.

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