TOKYO — August 17, 2026 — Z Venture Capital (ZVC), the corporate venture capital arm of LY Corporation, today announced a strategic business partnership with Global Innovation Labs (GIL).

For decades, SRI has been one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development institutes, turning breakthrough research into businesses that have transformed everyday life, including Siri and Intuitive Surgical. GIL was established as the exclusive partner for commercializing SRI's technology and intellectual property globally.

The partnership brings together GIL’s access to SRI’s technology and intellectual property (IP) and its commercialization expertise with ZVC’s experience investing in and supporting startups in Japan and its extensive network across Japanese industry.

In particular, across areas where SRI conducts world-class research and development, including AI, semiconductors, robotics, space, defense, communications, and quantum technologies, the two firms will connect leading U.S. technologies and IP with Japanese deep tech startups, with the goal of building globally competitive companies.

ZVC and GIL are also discussing the establishment of a fund in Japan to provide a more effective framework for advancing the partnership.


About SRI and GIL

Founded in 1946 by Stanford University and later established as an independent organization, SRI is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development institutes. Across computing, AI, robotics, advanced materials, drug discovery, and national security, SRI has consistently translated fundamental research into practical technologies and commercial applications.

Its spin-offs include Siri, now integrated into the iPhone; Intuitive Surgical, a global leader in surgical robotics; Nuance, the speech recognition and conversational AI company acquired by Microsoft for approximately $19.7 billion; and LeoLabs, which tracks and manages objects in Earth’s orbit. Many technologies that have shaped modern life originated from research conducted at SRI.

GIL is a venture capital firm established as the exclusive partner for commercializing SRI’s technology and intellectual property globally. With offices in the United States, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, among other locations, GIL works with leading local partners to provide access to SRI’s IP, technologies, and expertise.

Japan offers a strong industrial base and deep technical talent that closely align with SRI’s areas of expertise. The Japanese government has also been expanding investment and support in many of these fields as part of its national strategy. Recognizing this opportunity, GIL selected ZVC as its exclusive partner in Japan.

ZVC's Role and Focus Areas 

Drawing on the extensive network across Japanese startups and industry that it has built as LY Corporation’s CVC, ZVC will serve as the central hub for the partnership in Japan. Through sourcing and investment in promising startups, ZVC will connect SRI’s technology and IP with companies in Japan. ZVC’s existing portfolio companies will also be within scope, and the firm will combine these efforts with business opportunities across LY Corporation and its group companies to accelerate the growth of Japanese startups.

 Focus areas 

The partnership will focus primarily on the following areas, connecting technologies with startups and supporting their commercialization.

The two firms will also actively explore opportunities with startups and research institutions beyond these areas.

About the Companies

Z Venture Capital（ZVC） is the corporate venture capital arm of LY Corporation. With offices in Tokyo, Seoul, and San Francisco, ZVC invests globally across all stages, from seed to late stage. In addition to supporting the growth of innovative startups, ZVC leverages the resources, expertise, and assets of LY Corporation and its group companies to build the future together with entrepreneurs.

Global Innovation Labs（GIL） is a venture capital firm established as the exclusive partner for commercializing SRI’s technology and intellectual property globally, with offices in the United States, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, among other locations. For more information, visit gilabs.co.

SRI International is a nonprofit scientific research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, California. For more information, visit sri.com.

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