Peachtree Corners, GA., November 24, 2025 – Peachtree Corners, one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by connected infrastructure and 5G, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), a globally recognized Japanese research organization leading innovation across telecommunications, robotics, AI, and smart city systems.
The agreement formalizes more than a year of informal collaboration and establishes a structured, bilateral partnership designed to advance research, real-world technology testing, and international market development for both organizations.
The MOU creates a balanced framework through which ATR and Curiosity Lab will collaborate across intelligent mobility, IoT, cybersecurity, connected infrastructure, and urban systems. Each organization gains strategic advantages that directly support its mission and long-term goals.
Benefits for both partners include:
- Shared access to advanced research environments — ATR gains a real-world U.S. city testbed for validation and deployment, while Curiosity Lab gains new research collaboration opportunities within Japan’s highly respected innovation ecosystem.
- Parallel market-entry pathways — ATR-affiliated companies can explore and expand into the U.S. through Curiosity Lab’s ecosystem, while Curiosity Lab partners can pursue relationships and pilot opportunities within the Japanese market through ATR’s extensive networks.
- Joint technology development and pilot projects that accelerate the maturation, testing, and adoption of smart city solutions in both countries.
- Research exchange and knowledge sharing between U.S. and Japanese experts, supporting broader advancement in smart mobility, AI-driven urban systems, and next-generation connectivity.
- Strengthened global alliances that expand the reach, influence, and innovation capacity of both institutions.
The agreement positions both organizations to drive meaningful progress in the way cities deploy, evaluate, and scale emerging technologies.
“As our global partnerships continue to expand, this agreement provides a formal structure for meaningful collaboration with one of Japan’s most respected research institutions,” said Brian Johnson, City Manager of Peachtree Corners and Vice-Chairman of the Curiosity Lab Board of Directors. “ATR and Curiosity Lab each bring unique strengths to this partnership. By integrating ATR’s deep research capabilities with our real-world smart city environment, we can accelerate innovation and create new opportunities for both ecosystems.”
“At ATR, we believe that global collaboration is essential to advancing technologies that improve society,” said Dr. Hiroyuki Suzuki, Senior Executive Vice President of ATR. “Working with Curiosity Lab provides a valuable opportunity to test and validate technologies in real city conditions in the United States, while offering Peachtree Corners access to Japanese research expertise and our innovation networks. This partnership allows both organizations to grow together and drive the next generation of smart city advancements.”
Through the MOU, ATR and Curiosity Lab will jointly pursue:
- Pilot deployments of new mobility, IoT, and urban technologies
- Joint innovation initiatives within both U.S. and Japanese markets
- Delegation visits, workshops, and research exchange programs
- Collaborative testing programs that leverage Curiosity Lab’s 5G-powered living laboratory and ATR’s world-class research capabilities
- Mutual support for companies seeking to enter or expand within each market
Curiosity Lab will host ATR and its partner organizations at its Innovation Campus and citywide smart city testbed, featuring a three-mile autonomous vehicle lane, connected intersections, intelligent traffic systems, and the nation’s first municipal IoT Control Room.
ATR, headquartered in Kyoto Prefecture, will provide access to its research facilities, innovation networks, and collaboration channels across academia, industry, and government in Japan.
For more information or to schedule a briefing with Curiosity Lab or city officials, please contact peachtree@godriven360.com.
About Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners
Curiosity Lab is a 5G-enabled intelligent mobility and smart city living laboratory located in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Designed as a proving ground for IoT, mobility and next-generation smart city technologies, the Lab’s centerpiece is a three-mile autonomous and connected vehicle test lane powered by C-V2X technology. Additional infrastructure includes intelligent traffic signals, automated traffic cameras, smart streetlights, the nation’s first municipal IoT Central Control Room and a 50,000-square-foot technology incubator. Owned and operated by the City of Peachtree Corners, Curiosity Lab is one of North America’s only real-world testing environments for emerging technology and is available for use free of charge. Learn more at www.curiositylabptc.com.
About Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)
The Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), headquartered in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, is a global leader in advanced R&D across telecommunications, robotics, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, life sciences, and smart-city systems. Through its network of specialized laboratories and affiliated companies, ATR drives innovation by combining foundational research with real-world application and international collaboration. ATR plays a key role in advancing next-generation technologies, supporting research exchange, and accelerating the development and commercialization of smart-city and mobility solutions in Japan and around the world.
Learn more at https://www.atr.jp/index_e.html
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