Peachtree Corners, Georgia, a pioneering smart city known for its cutting-edge infrastructure and 5G capabilities, has announced a significant partnership with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world’s largest financial organizations. This collaboration, revealed on July 1, 2025, aims to enhance the city’s innovation pipeline through the research, development, and deployment of next-generation smart city technologies.
The agreement formalizes a longstanding relationship between Peachtree Corners, Curiosity Lab, and MUFG, establishing a framework to support and advance smart city systems. This partnership is expected to fuel economic development within the city by leveraging MUFG’s global reach and regional presence in Atlanta to connect clients with real-world testing opportunities and smart infrastructure access.
Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem
According to Brian Johnson, City Manager of Peachtree Corners, the partnership with MUFG is more than a bridge between sectors. “We are continuing to build a launchpad for global smart city innovation and further supply innovators with a real-world testing environment to continue the validation and success of new emerging technology,” he stated.
MUFG has already played a pivotal role in bringing promising companies to Peachtree Corners, and this formal partnership will allow for even closer collaboration to ensure that cutting-edge technologies are successfully tested and deployed for public benefit.
Expanding the Innovation Center
The partnership will enable MUFG to access a collaborative Innovation Center, which is expanding to 50,000 square feet, adding 25,000 square feet of new innovation space. This facility offers a comprehensive 5G-powered testing environment, including a three-mile autonomous vehicle test lane and other smart city infrastructure.
Peachtree Corners provides access to city infrastructure without intellectual property or equity requirements, and boasts a NIST 171 certified ecosystem for top-tier cybersecurity for unclassified data. MUFG will also engage with Curiosity Lab’s incubator program, working alongside global startups and established companies to develop cutting-edge technology.
Global Implications and Future Prospects
By formalizing their partnership, MUFG and Peachtree Corners are reinforcing their commitment to fostering long-term innovation while maximizing public benefit through the development of safe, efficient, and interconnected smart city systems. MUFG’s involvement with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and its engagement with startups and corporate clients across the Pacific positions it as an ideal partner in expanding Peachtree Corners’ influence as an international hub for urban technologies.
“This agreement enables MUFG to better support our clients by offering them unique opportunities for real-world engagement and innovation in the smart city space,” said Yutaka Fujishiro, Head of Japanese Corporate Banking for MUFG. “We’re proud to expand our collaboration with Curiosity Lab and the City of Peachtree Corners to help bring forward the future of connected urban development.”
A ceremony to announce the partnership was held at Peachtree Corners’ City Hall on July 1, with photos from the event available online.
Background on Key Players
About MUFG: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is a leading global financial group headquartered in Tokyo, with a history spanning over 360 years. It operates approximately 2,000 locations in more than 40 countries, offering a wide range of financial services. MUFG aims to be “the world’s most trusted financial group,” fostering shared and sustainable growth.
About Peachtree Corners: Located in the metro-Atlanta region, Peachtree Corners is a vibrant municipality home to over 45,000 residents and a hub for innovation. As the U.S.’s premier smart city, it serves as a model for collaboration between government and private industry, showcasing technologies like teleoperated e-scooters and autonomous shuttles.
About Curiosity Lab: Curiosity Lab is a 5G-enabled smart city living laboratory near Atlanta, designed as a proving ground for IoT and mobility technologies. It features a three-mile autonomous vehicle lane and other smart infrastructure, making it one of North America’s only real-world testing environments available free of charge.
The partnership between Peachtree Corners and MUFG marks a significant step forward in the evolution of smart city technologies, promising to deliver innovative solutions that could shape the future of urban development globally.