We have released the source code of the prize winners as follows.


Quantitative Evaluation 1st&Qualitative Evaluation Winner: FYSignate1009
Quantitative Evaluation 2nd&Qualitative Evaluation Winner: Petr(CZ)
Quantitative Evaluation 3rd: askbox
Qualitative Evaluation Winner: Kot

Notice

[2024/03/18] The video of the award ceremony has been released. https://youtu.be/CJgVi_I_i1k
[2024/01/11] The submission deadline has been extended to 1/12(JST).
[2023/12/12] Submission is now available.

Objective

While early social implementation of artificial intelligence technology is expected, technology that accelerates the introduction of artificial intelligence technology is crucial. When introducing artificial intelligence technology there is an issue in that it takes a tremendous amount of time to tune establishment and studying of artificial intelligence models. In order to solve this problem, NEDO has a project called “Development of integration technology that becomes the core of the next-generation artificial intelligence and robots/ Research and development that expands the areas of application of artificial intelligence technology”: As a common fundamental technology that promotes early social implementation of artificial intelligence technology, the project develops technology that shortens the time to tune establishment and studying of the artificial intelligence models as well as an artificial intelligence acceleration modules using the technology. 

Specifically, within the R&D themes of the above project, "Research and Development of Technology to Construct Cyber Physical Value Chains and Accelerate the Introduction of AI" and "Research and Development of Technology to Accelerate the Introduction of Artificial Intelligence Technology through Automatic Machine Learning," we have developed technologies such as the search for optimal hyperparameter (Hyperparameter Optimization, hereafter HPO) and the search for optimal neural network structures (Neural Architecture Search). The results have been compiled into an open source software called aiaccel, which is being released to the public in turn.

In order to further promote this project it is essential to induce technological development in a competitive environment which is joined by a wide range of participants including universities, corporations and overseas researchers.  Therefore, we decided to hold an AI introduction acceleration module competition which will induce the creation of AI introduction acceleration modules that display excellent individual performance and versatility.  

The first HPO Module Contest was held in FY2022, and despite the short duration of the contest, we were able to make it a fulfilling contest with the participation of many people. We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone who participated.

In this second session, we will develop a module to mechanically generate pre-training datasets with mathematical formulas, algorithms, etc. to improve the performance of transfer learning. In research and development of AI, including the above research topics, it is essential to prepare good quality image datasets. However, in general, the construction of natural image datasets necessary for AI training requires a great deal of effort in image collection and labeling. In addition, the use of existing natural image datasets has challenges, such as restrictions on commercial use and the possibility that they may contain copyrighted images that cannot be used. Reference [1] reported that pre-training on a mechanically generated image dataset such as fractal images, combined with transfer learning, can ensure the same discrimination accuracy as when training on a natural image dataset. If such image datasets can be used for pre-training, it is expected to solve the issues related to the use of natural image datasets, and we look forward to your challenge as this is an excellent opportunity to try to develop a potentially revolutionary learning process for AI.

概要


Final Round
Task
Quantitative evaluation: Development of modules for generating pre-training datasets
Qualitative evaluation: Prepare and submit a report explaining the ingenious features of the created module.
Both submissions are required.
Requirement
Developing a module that works with SIGNATE server.
Eligibility
By the end date, prepare and submit a report explaining the ingenious features of the created module.Must add and publish the open-source license to the source code if awarded with a prize.The winners will be asked to make a presentation based on the above report at the awards ceremony (scheduled to be held in March 2024).
Assessment Method
Quantitative evaluation: Evaluated by recognition accuracy for a number of tasks (1000 classes) that are subject to transfer learning. 
Qualitative evaluation: Evaluation of submitted reports by a panel of judges.
Prize

Quantitative evaluation: 1st: ¥1,200,000 2nd: ¥1,000,000 3rd: ¥800,000

Qualitative evaluation: ¥500,000 × 2 teams


Tasks for the Final Round

Performance(Quantitative evaluation) is evaluated in terms of recognition accuracy for a number of tasks (1000 classes) that are subject to transfer learning.Report(Qualitative evaluation) is evaluated in terms of the novelty and superiority of the methodology.

To be a prize winner (win a prize), you must both submit a module and a report. Please note that failure to submit a report will disqualify you from winning either the quantitative or qualitative evaluation.

*See Data tab for details.

Test Environment

Participants will make submission materials with only your owned computation resources.

Quantitative evaluation

Posting Method

The participants shall post the source code of module they developed. Once posted, the source code will be automatically executed and module will be assessed. Please see the attached data “readme.md” for how to create the file to post. Note: It will take time for the assessment results to be displayed on the leaderboard because it required execution of the source code.

Accuracy Assessment

In the final round, a pre-trained model is created by learning from images in the modules for generating pre-training image datasets, and is evaluated by the cumulative misclassification rate when the model is fine-tuned on the dataset corresponding to the tasks.

  • The number of classes is 1000
  • The misclassification rate is calculated as 100-Accuracy(%)
  • The cumulative misclassification rate from 50% to 100% of the total epoch is used as the evaluation value


Qualitative evaluation

Posting Method

Please submit the report format "report.pptx", which can be downloaded from the Data tab, with a description of the developed module and its innovations, in pdf format by the "Deadline for Submission of Model Reports, etc.".

Report Evaluation

Based on the submitted reports, winners will be selected through discussions and deliberations among experts in terms of the novelty and comprehensibility of the methods.

Determination of winners

The competition is divided into three phases: (1) the submission period, (2) the evaluation period, and (3) the acceptance period.

(1) the submission period
  1. The maximum number of times you can submit is "10" times within the submission deadline.
  2. The evaluation during the submission period (Public) will be evaluated with some evaluation datasets.
  3. By the end of the submission period plus the submission file selection period (1 day), one of the submitted modules will be selected for evaluation in Private.
    *Please take enough of time for your submission as it may take some time for the results to be displayed. Please be especially careful when submitting on the last day of the submission period.
(2) the evaluation period
  1. All participants are required to submit the following by the "End of deadline for submission of models, reports, etc.". (We will contact you separately with details on how to submit the reports, etc.)
    • Report(For Qqualitative evaluation)
    • Description of the source code (clearly indicating the pre-processing part, learning part, etc.)
    • Execution environment (OS version, software used, analysis method), etc.
  2. The modules selected for the submission period are evaluated with a different dataset for evaluation than for Public.Therefore, the rankings may significantly change between during and after the competition.
  3. The final ranking will be determined based on the evaluation at the end of the evaluation period (final evaluation).
    (If there are teams which have received the same score, the participants who submitted the submission files earlier will be considered higher ranked.)
(3) the acceptance period
  1. A potential prize winner and his/her submitted model will be disqualified if any of the following applies.
    • Required documents have not been submitted.
    • Failure of meet the eligibility or rules.
    • Does not agree to grant an open source license to the submitted work.
    • When our office determines something is inappropriate.
  2. The winners of the quantitative evaluation will be determined among the individuals who are confirmed by the office.
    And the winners of the qualitative evaluation will be determined by panel of experts based on the submitted reports.

Prerequisites for participation

  • Please understand the objectives set forth for the competition and establish a system with practicality in mind.
  • Participation by cheating or ignoring the rules will not be permitted.
  • Slandering others and offensive behaviors regarding public order and morals is forbidden.
  • In a case of a serious offense determined by the office, please note that the eligibility to the competition prizes and membership eligibility may be forfeited. 
  • Attendance at the competition's awards ceremony is a prerequisite for winning.

System Usage

  • One account per person.
  • The maximum number of modules that can be posted is 7 during the entire posting period.

Information Handling Precautions

  • (During the competition) Sharing the codes with anybody else outside the team is forbidden. However, they can be shared on the forum which can be viewed by all participants.
  • (After the competition) Please see the “Information Disclosure Policy.”

Implementation Method

  • Please develop a module that works and complies with IF specifications set forth by “aiaccel.”
  • You can also improve and develop existing modules that have already been published. However, in that case the accuracy must be better than the existing module to win a prize. Please ensure compliance with and confirm the following if using an existing module. 
    • Follow the license designated by the existing module.
    • Specify the source (data location and links to essays) of the existing module and how you improved which part of the module clearly in the source code explanatory document.
    • Being able to add an open-source license to the improved module and publish it. 

Disclosure policy

As a general rule, in accordance with Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the terms of participation, diclosing any contents such as insights and deliverables transmitted through the information or data provided by our company in relation to this competition is not permitted, however, only after the completion of this competition and for non-commercial purposes, it will be possible to disclose the contents within the score of the table below
Model *1
Public
Analysis results *2
Public
Public : Posting to social media sites, blogs and source repositories, and citing to papers
Restricted : Using in a limited range from research, education to seminars, where many unspecified people cannot access
*1 Execution unit source code and learned models
*2 The insights obtained using the information and data provided, or the solutions including scripts and processed data such as summary statistics

▼Special Terms and Conditions for this Competition


As a condition of participation in the SIGNATE.JP Site Terms of Use and the SIGNATE Competition Terms and Conditions, participants in the Modules for Generating Pre-training Image Datasets Contest(Final Round) (the "Competition") acknowledge that the Special Terms and Conditions for the Competition (the "Terms") apply to them in addition to the Terms and Conditions for the SIGNATE.JP Site and the SIGNATE Competition Terms and Conditions, and agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions. Module Contest (the "Competition"), and agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions. Please note that Article 3 (2) and (3) of the SIGNATE Competition Terms and Conditions are not required for this competition.

Article 1 (Attribution of Rights)

1. If a Participant is selected for a prize, the Participant agrees to grant an open source license (the "License") to the Participant's Submission for Final Judging. The License shall not restrict in any way the commercial use of the models, source code and deliverables accompanying the source code.
2. If you do not commit to the granting of this license as set forth in the preceding paragraph, you will not be allowed to participate in the Conpetition.
3. There are no restrictions on the public release of algorithms developed by the Participant and other materials created in connection with the Participant's participation in the Competition (including final submissions and submissions for final judging), provided that the Participant clearly states at the time of release that such materials were created in connection with the Participant's participation in the Competition. However, there shall be no restrictions on the release of such materials to the public, provided that the Participant clearly states at the time of release that the materials were created in connection with the Participant's participation in this Competition. However, when such materials are made public, a clear statement to that effect (including links, etc.) must be included in the Competition forum so that all participants can view them.

Article 2 (Conditions for Winning a Prize)

1. If a participant wins a prize, the participant must be able to provide the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) with personal information necessary for the payment of the prize money.


Terms of Participation in SIGNATE Competition

In order to participate in the Competition, you are required to agree to these Terms, in addition to the Terms of Use of SIGNATE.JP Site (hereinafter referred to as the “Terms of Use”). You should participate in the Competition after reading carefully and agreeing to these Terms. These Terms, the matters that are displayed as “additional matters” that you have agreed to when participating in a Competition, the Terms of Use and other terms and conditions that you have agreed to (hereinafter collectively referred to as “these Terms, etc.”) shall all be binding on the Participant.


Article 1 Definitions

1. For the purpose of these Terms, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

(1) “Site” means the website “SIGNATE (https://signate.jp)” on which the Competitions are posted.
(2) “Competition” means any competition on AI development or data analysis on the Site as held by the Host.
(3) “Host” is the host(s) of the Competition. The Host may be SIGNATE, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”) or the Company’s client companies, affiliated companies, schools or organizations, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Client(s)”).
(4) “Participant(s)” means the member(s) (which mean “member(s)” defined in the Terms of Use, and the same shall apply hereinafter) who participate in a Competition.
(5) “Submissions” means, collectively, the analysis and prediction results, prediction models and reports, etc. as submitted in the Competition.
(6) “Final Submissions” means the Submissions submitted by a Participant that the Participant has specified as a final submission on the prescribed page in the Site by the time of completion of a Competition.
(7) “Winner Candidate” means the Participant who has received a notice from the Company that he/she is nominated as a winner candidate.
(8) “Submissions for Final Judgment” means the Submissions and other items designated by the Company as submitted by a Winner Candidate pursuant to the instructions of the Company.
(9) “Final Judgment” means the acceptance inspection and judgment, including reproducibility verification, by the Company for the Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment of a Winner Candidate.
(10) “Winner” means the Winner Candidate who is informed by the Company that he/she has won a prize.
(11) “OSS” means software licensed based on OSS License Terms.
(12) “OSS License Terms” means any of the following license terms
(1) Either the GNU General Public License or the GNU Lesser General Public License published by the Free Software Foundation, Inc.;
(2) License terms listed at www.opensource.org/licenses/ or derivatives thereof;
(3) License terms that regard the software as “free software” or “open source software”; and
(4) License terms or agreements similar to the license terms listed in each of the three preceding items which request the user to disclose, distribute or license to a third party, or not to exercise, etc., the licensed software, its derivatives and the intellectual property rights associated therewith in whole or in part.

Article 2 Competition

1. A member who desires to participate in a Competition shall be required to agree to these Terms, etc. and to satisfy the conditions for participation as specified in each such Competition. Any person who is not a member shall not participate in any Competition.
2. Participants shall participate in each Competition in the manner as advised by the Company and shall be obligated to comply with the rules as prescribed in each Competition.
3. Participants may submit the Submissions for the assignment of a Competition during the period of such Competition and submit as many proposals on the method of solving the problem as specified by the Company to the Host by the end of the period of the said Competition.
4. Participants may submit Submissions in the form specified in the Competition and specify those Submissions as a Final Submission on the prescribed page in the Site by the end time specified by the said Competition.
5. Participants’ Final Submissions shall be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation method specified in the Competition and the final ranking shall be determined based on such evaluation.
6. Participants may, as a general rule, check their own evaluation results and the evaluation results of each of the other Participants for Submissions that may be evaluated quantitatively on the Site.
7. Participants shall be solely liable for their own Submissions, including the legality and non-infringement of the Submission.
8. Participants shall not submit any Submissions that have no direct relationship to each Competition.
9. Unless otherwise provided for, Participants may not directly communicate to, consult with, make a request to, solicit or take any other actions with the Host in respect of the matters related to a Competition during the period of the said Competition.
10. Participants shall direct any questions or concerns regarding any Competition to the Company or the third party designated by the Company in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Company as posted on the Site.
11. Participants shall produce Submissions in compliance with the OSS License Terms related to the OSS when using or incorporating OSS in a Submission. However, Participants shall not use or incorporate OSS for which commercial use is prohibited in a Submission.
12. The Host shall not be obligated to pay any remuneration or other consideration for any act of the Participants in a Competition under any pretext. And the Company shall not be obligated to pay any remuneration or other consideration other than those prescribed in the following Article for any act of the Participants in a Competition.

Article 3 Reward and Vesting of Rights

1. Unless otherwise provided for, any Participant shall satisfy the requirements set forth in the following items in order to be entitled to receive a reward in any Competition that offers a reward:

(1) To be a winner;
(2) To agree to transfer to the Host and the relevant transferee of rights in such Competition all transferable rights, such as copyrights (including the rights as prescribed in Article 27 and Article 28 of the Copyright Act, and the same shall apply hereinafter), rights to obtain patents and know-how, etc. in and to all analysis and prediction results, prediction models, reports, etc., written explanations on algorithms, source code and reproduction method, etc. (although not limited to these), and the Submissions contained in the Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment (hereinafter referred to as the “Rights”) along with a guarantee that the Participant has the authority to transfer such Rights;
(3) To guarantee that any relevant transferee of rights may use the Rights contained in the Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment for its own business and other purpose without any restriction and to agree to their exclusive use of such Rights;
(4) To agree not to exercise moral rights to the Rights against the relevant transferee of rights;
(5) To enter into an agreement for the transfer of the Rights with the relevant eligible transferee of rights, including the guarantee of and agreement to the matters in the preceding three (3) items and other reasonable provisions;
(6) To have the personal identity of such Participant verified by the Company; and
(7) Not to breach any provision of these Terms, etc.

2. Any Winner Candidate shall, after having received a notice from the Company that he/she is nominated as a winner candidate, submit the Submissions for Final Judgment on or before the designated date and communicate the matters requiring confirmation or response in relation to the Final Submissions and the Submissions for Final Judgment to the Company on or before the designated date, in accordance with the instructions of the Company. The Company shall carry out the final judgment based on such matters requiring confirmation or response. If the Company receives no confirmation or response satisfactory to the Company on or before the designated date, the Company may exclude such Winner Candidate from the subject of the final judgment and the Winner Candidate shall not raise any objection thereto.
3. If the Company considers that the Final Submissions or Submissions for Final Judgment need to be amended or modified, or there occur any additional matters requiring confirmation, in the course of the final judgment, any Winner Candidate shall take action or make response in relation to the matters that require amendment or modification, or the matters requiring confirmation, on or before the designated date in accordance with the instructions of the Company. If the Company receives no action or response satisfactory to the Company on or before the designated date, the Company may exclude such Winner Candidate from the final judgment and the Winner Candidate shall not raise any objection thereto.
4. The Company shall determine the Winner through the final judgment and inform the Winner to that effect.

Article 4 Confidentiality

1. Any Participant shall treat any information and data that they receive from the Company in relation to Competitions as well as knowledge and products, etc. obtained using such information and data (including Participant Submissions; hereinafter referred to as the “Company-Provided Information”) as confidential information and shall not disclose the same to any third party and use the same for any purpose other than for such Competition and purpose specified by the Company separately; provided, however, that the confidential information shall not include any information that falls under any of the following items:

(1) Information that is known to the public at the time it was received;
(2) Information that is already possessed by the Participant at the time it was received (only in the case where such Participant may demonstrate such fact by reasonable means);
(3) Information that becomes known to the public without the fault of the Participant after it was received;
(4) Information that is independently developed by the Participant without reference to any information received; or
(5) Information that is rightfully received from any third party having a right to disclose such information without the obligations of confidentiality (only in the case where such Participant may demonstrate such fact by reasonable means).

2. Any Winner shall handle his/her Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment in the same manner as Company-Provided Information after receiving notification that they are a winner. And Participant Submissions other than the Winner’s Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment shall not be included as Company-Provided Information after the Company has determined the Winner notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
3. Any Participant may publish any algorithms that they have developed as well as any other materials they have created in connection with their participation in a Competition (including Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment) after that Competition in accordance with the Competition Information Disclosure Policy (hereinafter, "Information Disclosure Policy") posted on the Site. However, Participants shall observe the following matters when publishing information and may not publish any materials prohibited by the Information Disclosure Policy:

(1) Clarify that the materials were created in connection with participation in the Competition;
(2) Give credit in accordance with the notation method prescribed in the Information Disclosure Policy when the materials to be published contain part of a dataset; and
(3) Clarify the location accessible to all Participants (including but not limited to the Competition forum and other locations designated by the Company) where the materials are published (including links, etc.) if publishing materials outside the Competition forum.

4. Any Participant shall delete or return to the Company the Company-Provided Information (excluding the information prescribed in paragraph 3) immediately after the completion of a Competition.
5. If there is any separate arrangement in relation to the confidential information in a Competition, the provisions of such arrangement shall prevail over the provisions of these Terms.
6. If any dispute occurs between a third party and the Host or the Company due to the breach by any Participant of the provisions of this Article and such other party makes any claim against the Company or the Host, such Participant shall compensate for any damage, loss, expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees), lost profits and lost revenues, etc. incurred by the Company and the Host.
7. The provisions of this Article shall survive the termination of the relevant Competition or the Participant’s completion of the procedures for withdrawal from all services provided by the Company, with respect to the Company-Provided Information and the Winner’s Final Submissions and Submissions for Final Judgment for a period of five (5) years thereafter.

Article 5 Prohibited Acts of Participants

1. The Company shall prohibit Participants from engaging in any of the following acts in any Competition:

(1) An act of cracking, cheating, spoofing and other misconduct;
(2) An act of redistributing data files included in the dataset;
(3) An act of directly communicating to, consulting with, making a request to, soliciting or responding to solicitation or other activities to other Participants or the Host (other than the Company) without the involvement of the Company for the purpose of furthering the Participant’s own interests;
(4) Any profitmaking activities using the Competition (including but not limited to solicitation or scouting activities, and use for a third party in educational business, etc.) without the prior approval of the Company in writing or any other manner specified by the Company;
(5) An Act of transferring, offering as collateral or otherwise disposing of the Participants’ standing, or the rights or obligations, as a Participant in any Competition (except with the prior written consent of the Company);
(6) Acts that infringe upon the intellectual property rights, trade secrets or any other rights of third parties; and
(7) Any other act in breach of these Terms, etc.

2. If the Company deems that a Participant has engaged in, or may engage in, any of the prohibited acts as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the Company may, without prior notice to the Participant, disqualify the Participant from the Competition in which the Participant participates, temporarily suspend the Participant from using some or all of the services provided by the Company, withdraw the Participant’s membership, claim damages from the Participant or take any other measures deemed necessary by the Company.

Article 6 Modification of Terms

1. The Company may modify, add or delete any provisions of these Terms from time to time without the approval of Participants.

November 27, 2023