Eightknot Inc. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Kita Ward, CEO: Hiroto Kimura), a developer of maritime intelligence technology, is pleased to announce its participation in the "Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition" (hereinafter referred to as "the Coalition"), a public-private-academic consortium promoting the social implementation of autonomous vessels and USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region of the United States. The Coalition is an international stakeholder community comprising government agencies, academic research institutions, private companies, non-profit organizations, and international organizations, with the aim of researching, demonstrating, and shaping policy for autonomous maritime technology. Through this participation, Eightknot aims to grasp the market demand trends for USVs/ASVs (Autonomous Surface Vehicles) in North America, starting from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, and to secure opportunities for demonstrations in real-world fields. Additionally, we will work to form a policy and regulatory network through dialogue with administrative bodies and related organizations involved in establishing operational rules for autonomous vessels, as well as to understand competitive trends and consider potential collaborators by building networks with leading technology providers and research institutions in North America. Last year, Eightknot was selected for a North American support program deployed by Hiroshima Prefecture, and this year, we have been selected for an acceleration program in Portugal and signed MOUs with companies in Malaysia and Singapore, accelerating our business expansion not only domestically but also overseas. About the Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition The Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition is an international consortium of stakeholders with a common interest in the development and social implementation of autonomous maritime technology in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region. Its main activities includ