Tokyo, October 22, 2025 – TIER IV CEO Shinpei Kato proudly received the JX Awards 2025 Special Jury Prize at a ceremony in Tokyo on Tuesday, organized by the Japan Association of New Economy (JANE). The JX Awards honor entrepreneurs of cutting-edge startups who demonstrate bold and forward-thinking leadership. This recognition reinforces TIER IV’s commitment to advancing autonomous driving and accelerating the development of safe and sustainable mobility.
TIER IV has carried out autonomous driving projects in about 100 regions across Japan since 2016, powering vehicles with Autoware*, open-source software for autonomous driving pioneered by the company. These efforts address urgent challenges stemming from population decline and an aging society, including labor shortages in public transportation and logistics. They also embody TIER IV’s vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all, with the open Autoware ecosystem fostering global collaboration and accelerating innovation in autonomous driving technology worldwide.
The judges cited the following reasons for the award:
- Amid intensifying global competition and stricter regulations, TIER IV’s autonomous driving technology and open-source approach underscore Japan’s potential to play a leading role in the sector.
- With the automotive industry a core part of Japan’s economy, TIER IV’s decade-long commitment to autonomous driving and global collaboration exemplifies the company’s bold and forward-looking approach.
“I am deeply honored to receive this distinguished prize,” said Shinpei Kato, founder and CEO of TIER IV. “Since TIER IV was founded in December 2015, we have pursued our vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all, advancing technology from research and development through deployment. Autoware was born from a research project I led as an associate professor at Nagoya University and became the foundation for TIER IV’s business growth. Thanks to the dedication of our employees and the invaluable support of our partners, Autoware is now powering autonomous vehicles worldwide, driving technological development and commercialization. Aligned with the pioneering spirit of the JX Awards, I will continue embracing challenges, advancing the deployment of autonomous driving, and contributing to the rollout of safe and sustainable transportation.”
About JX Awards
The JX Awards celebrate entrepreneurs whose leadership, vision and actions embody the principles of Japan Transformation (JX), a JANE initiative that empowers visionary entrepreneurs to shape Japan’s future. JX was announced in 2022 to mark the 10th anniversary of JANE, aiming to unite entrepreneurs as key drivers of change, harnessing their collective strengths to transform Japan. In its fourth edition in 2025, the awards recognized one Grand Prize winner and two Special Jury Prize recipients, selected through a rigorous evaluation by a distinguished panel of five experts from diverse industries.
*Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.
About TIER IV
TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep-tech innovation, pioneering Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving. With a comprehensive suite of platforms and services built around Autoware, TIER IV provides everything from software development and vehicle procurement to operational support. Through the Autoware ecosystem, TIER IV works with partners worldwide to shape the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, aiming to create mobility that is safer, more sustainable, and accessible to all.
Media contact
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