AiRato Wins “Impact Startup Award” at the Tohoku New Business Awards for Its AI Tackling the Growing Disparities in Radiation Therapy Caused by Workforce Shortages

AiRato Inc. , (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture;Co-CEO: Yuto Kimura, CTO Noriyuki Kadoya) a company engaged in the development and commercialization of AI-powered radiation therapy planning support software, is pleased to announce that it received the Impact Startup Award at the 31st Tohoku New Business Awards, held on January 28, 2026.

The Tohoku New Business Awards recognize companies, organizations, and social entrepreneurs in the Tohoku region that are engaged in innovative and original business activities contributing to regional revitalization. This award reflects the high evaluation of AiRato’s mission—to create a society where everyone can access world-class radiation therapy—as well as its concrete initiatives toward achieving that vision.

Social Challenges

In Japan today, one in two people is expected to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and the number of cancer patients is projected to continue increasing due to population aging. Among the three major cancer treatments—surgery, drug therapy, and radiation therapy—radiation therapy plays an especially important role in an aging society, as it is less physically burdensome and can deliver highly effective outcomes.

However, within Japan, the number of medical institutions capable of providing radiation therapy is limited, and a shortage of specialized physicians remains a serious challenge. In particular, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which offers advanced therapeutic benefits, has traditionally required more than six hours to create a treatment plan. The heavy workload placed on specialized staff, the complexity of the process, and variations in treatment quality depending on physician experience have hindered its widespread adoption.

AiRato’s Approach

AiRato has focused on innovating treatment planning, the most critical process in radiation therapy. By staying close to the perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals alike, the company aims to enhance both the quality and sustainability of healthcare, fundamentally rethinking complex challenges in radiation therapy through the power of AI.

<Social Impact>

• Addressing the growing number of cancer patients：AiRato’s AI-powered radiation therapy planning support software enables advanced treatments to be delivered to a greater number of patients, even with limited medical resources.
• Reducing the burden on healthcare professionals：The software reduces treatment planning time from more than six hours to approximately 30 minutes, achieving greater standardization and efficiency. This significantly alleviates the workload of healthcare professionals.
• Improving treatment accuracy：By providing standardized radiation therapy plans generated by AI, disparities in treatment outcomes between medical institutions can be reduced, allowing patients to receive high-quality care regardless of location.

Comments from the Judges

“AiRato has steadily translated cutting-edge, world-class AI-driven radiation therapy research into a viable business, and we understand that the company is now moving toward launching its first product following regulatory approval.

We intentionally selected AiRato for the Impact Startup Award because we believe it has the potential to deliver truly global and social impact beyond Japan in the years ahead. We look forward to seeing AiRato help usher in a new era of radiation therapy and cancer treatment.”

Comment from AiRatoCTO Noriyuki Kadoya

“We are deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award. The name ‘AiRato’ reflects our commitment to AI (artificial intelligence), radiation therapy, and to pioneering the future of healthcare from Tohoku.

Radiation therapy plays a vital role as one of the three main pillars of cancer treatment, alongside surgery and chemotherapy. However, challenges remain, including variations in treatment quality due to differences in institutional experience, the significant time required to create treatment plans, and structural issues such as the shortage of radiation oncology specialists, which prevent advanced treatment techniques from being delivered nationwide.

To address these challenges, AiRato has developed AI-based radiation therapy planning software that reduces planning time from approximately six hours to about 30 minutes, achieving a level of quality comparable to that of highly experienced medical institutions. Encouraged by this award, we will continue working to deliver high-quality radiation therapy to cancer patients not only in Tohoku, but around the world.”

Future Outlook

Building on this award, AiRato will continue to advance its technological development. By expanding the deployment of its AI-powered radiation therapy planning support software to medical institutions both in Japan and overseas, the company aims to realize a society in which anyone can access high-quality radiation therapy.

About the Tohoku New Business Awards

The Tohoku New Business Awards are organized by the Tohoku New Business Conference and honor companies and organizations expected to contribute to the development of new businesses and regional revitalization in the Tohoku area. Awards are given to initiatives that demonstrate originality and innovation in products, services, manufacturing methods, delivery models, or management practices. Evaluation criteria include business novelty, growth potential, and entrepreneurial spirit, and award recipients are provided with support opportunities to accelerate business growth.