Open Assessment Technologies
As Part of the Transaction, Uchida Yoko Makes Significant TAO® Roadmap Investment to Develop Next-Generation Assessment Design and Item Bank Solutions
LUXEMBOURG / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Open Assessment Technologies S.A. (OAT™), provider of TAO®, the leading open-source digital assessment solution for education and career advancement, announced the acquisition of 100% of its shares by Uchida Yoko Co., Ltd., Japan's Education Technology market leader, to further expand OAT's global customer base and to advance the development of its award-winning suite of integrated digital assessment products.
OAT is a market leader in assessment innovation. Accessible and fully interoperable, the TAO platform gives users the freedom to construct a best-of-breed solution around their individual needs. Its ability to fit into any existing learning ecosystem offers immediate cost-savings today and unparalleled investment protection for the future.
Building on their seven-year partnership, the acquisition of OAT by Uchida Yoko represents a significant step forward in the evolution of TAO-based solution offerings. By leveraging the strengths and resources of both companies, OAT and Uchida Yoko aim to create a more comprehensive digital education ecosystem that meets the evolving needs of educators globally.
"Since our launch in 2013, OAT has been a key driver in the adoption of modern and affordable e-assessment solutions across the world," says Marc Oswald, co-founder and CEO at OAT. "Now with Uchida Yoko, we're going to continue innovating by capitalizing on open source and open standards, the foundation that empowers education leaders to advance learning outcomes at all levels."
"The Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) established computer-based testing (CBT) across all schools in Japan. Using TAO, which has received worldwide acclaim, made it possible to promote it more effectively. By acquiring OAT, Uchida Yoko, which has been involved in education since 1946, will continue to contribute to open source assessment and learning solutions, and with a stable business foundation, both companies will continue to work together toward the future of education," says Noboru Okubo, President and CEO of Uchida Yoko.
Together with the TAO User Group, OAT and Uchida Yoko will set the direction for the evolution of TAO and the provision of integrated learning solutions globally.
Uchida Yoko's roadmap investment includes additional funding for the development of TAO Studio™, OAT's next-generation assessment design and item bank solution. TAO Studio will offer WCAG-compliant item authoring functionalities, making it easier to create accessible content from the ground up. To ensure a user-friendly experience, OAT will collaborate with the TAO User Group to develop a new, intuitive user interface for item banking and content design. This investment represents a significant step towards the company's goal of providing fully inclusive and accessible e-learning experiences.
"We are excited to continue working with our global customer base that includes ministries of education, content publishers, and educators at all levels," says Patrick Plichart, co-founder of OAT and Director of Product Strategy. "With the development of TAO Studio, we are able to provide a unique and intuitive experience for creating fair, valid, and reliable assessments."
TAO is being used nationwide by Ministries of Education such as France, Italy, Norway, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom, and by leading school districts such as New York City. More recently, TAO has been selected as OECD's platform of choice to deliver the PISA 2025 assessment program in more than 80 countries.
In Japan since 2020, TAO has been the official digital assessment solution for the Japanese Ministry of Education's national computer-based testing (CBT) program, MEXCBT, used in approximately 25,000 schools by 8.4 million students from elementary to high school across all prefectures. MEXCBT aims to realize a new learning method that can only be achieved digitally through the use of one PC/tablet per student (GIGA School Program) promoted by MEXT.
About TAO
TAO, from Open Assessment Technologies, is the leading digital assessment solution for education and career advancement. Modular and interoperable by design, TAO empowers you to break free from the confines of proprietary silos, eliminate expensive licensing fees, take full control of your testing resources, and enjoy enterprise-class support.
- Company name: Open Assessment Technologies S.A.
- Established: 2013
- Capital: Privately Held
- Main business activities:
- Digital assessment authoring, delivery, rostering, and reporting software
- Digital testing program implementation, strategy & development
- IMS assessment software standards development
- Assessment tools UX/UI & accessibility
- Institutional shareholders:
- ACT - https://act.org
- Cito - https://www.cito.com/
- LIST - https://www.list.lu/
- Official website: https://www.taotesting.com/
About Uchida Yoko Co. Ltd.
- Founded: 1910
- Capital: 5 billion yen
- Representative: Noboru Okubo, President and CEO
- Consolidated sales (as of July 2022): 221.8 billion yen
- Listing: Tokyo Stock Exchange (Prime Market)
- Major customers:
- Private companies, educational institutions from elementary schools to universities, national and local governments, etc.
- Major businesses:
- ICT-related business: approx. 70% (hardware, software, network, system integration, training services, etc.)
- Environment construction-related business: approx. 30% (office space design, office furniture, teaching materials, etc.)
- In the school market, which accounts for about 30% of total sales, the company provides total services from ICT solutions to build learning spaces and is known as a top brand with extensive experience and a proven track record.
- Official website: https://www.uchida.co.jp/
Contact Information
Ashley Senkarik
Vice President, Digital Marketing & Inbound Sales
ashley@taotesting.com
+16095136074
Related Files
SOURCE: Open Assessment Technologies
To view this piece of content from stats.newswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/755227/Open-Assessment-Technologies-SA-Agrees-to-Acquisition-by-Uchida-Yoko-Co-Ltd-in-Continuation-of-Its-Global-Growth-Strategy
To view this piece of content from www.accesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
About ACCESS Newswire
Subscribe to releases from ACCESS Newswire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from ACCESS Newswire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from ACCESS Newswire
AI and Cybersecurity Leader, SecureAuth, Appoints Geoffrey Mattson to Help Enterprises Secure Complex Human, Machine, and AI-agent Identities10.12.2025 17:30:00 CET | Press release
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / December 10, 2025 / SecureAuth, a leader in AI-driven identity security, today announced the appointment of Geoffrey Mattson as Chief Executive Officer. Mattson's appointment marks the beginning of the company's next phase of growth as enterprises confront a rapid rise in AI agents with real authority, a shift that is increasing the complexity of business relationships and driving urgent demand for modern identity security. The Board of Directors thanks outgoing CEO Joseph Dhanapal, who will remain as a strategic advisor. During his tenure, SecureAuth invested heavily in creating a next generation security platform, featuring our market leading, AI-driven risk engine. With this platform in place, SecureAuth is positioned to capture accelerating demand for identity and access management as agentic AI transforms identity from a static access check into a dynamic control plane for managing complex human, machine, and AI-driven relationships. Mattson
Nasdaq Verafin Joins Global Anti-Scam Alliance10.12.2025 15:00:00 CET | Press release
THE HAGUE, NL / ACCESS Newswire / December 10, 2025 / The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) is pleased to announce that Nasdaq Verafin has joined GASA as a Foundation Member, strengthening the global effort to combat scams, financial crime, and digital fraud. As fraud tactics continue to evolve across borders and digital channels, cross-sector collaboration has become essential to protecting consumers and building safer financial ecosystems. Nasdaq Verafin's participation marks a meaningful step forward in the shared mission to advance trust, transparency, and resilience across the globe. In addition to joining the global effort, Nasdaq Verafin will join both the Brazil and Mexico chapters of GASA to partner with stakeholders across the financial ecosystem in Latin America, bolstering regional initiatives to combat financial crime. "Criminals are innovating at an unprecedented rate, taking advantage of information siloes and the shortcomings of legacy technology to avoid detection. We a
TIS Helps Treasury Teams Navigate the Ongoing ISO 20022 Transition After the 2025 Banking Deadline10.12.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release
BERLIN, DE / ACCESS Newswire / December 10, 2025 / Treasury Intelligence Solutions (TIS), a leading cloud-based platform for payments and cash management, is future-proofing organizations with specialized translation services in the wake of the recent November 2025 ISO 20022 deadline. A major turning point for the financial industry, SWIFT now requires banks to move their cross-border payment messages to ISO 20022. As a result, treasury teams are already seeing differences in how their banks send and receive payment information. Adapting to these changes will require a strategic approach to modernizing systems and processes. ISO 20022 replaces a patchwork of older standards with a single approach to structuring payment data. The new universal standard is designed to reduce confusion across markets, improve data quality, and support the level of transparency that regulators around the globe now expect. Moving to ISO 20022 payments takes time and strategic vision, especially when legacy
Majority of Australian Parents (65%) and U.S. Parents 58% Support Social Media Ban for Under 16s, but Kids Say It Risks Cutting Them Off from Key Connections9.12.2025 15:00:00 CET | Press release
New survey of 4,000 parents and children in the U.S. and Australia reveals sharp generational divides in support, fears, mental health expectations, and belief in government enforcement. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / December 9, 2025 / The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) released new research today examining how parents and children in the United States and Australia view social media bans for anyone under 16. The findings reveal strong parental support for such bans, in contrast with widespread concern from children who fear losing friendships and support systems that exist primarily online. The research arrives as Australia implements a national under 16 social media ban, placing global attention on how the policy will affect youth and their families. FOSI's study surveyed 4,000 parents and children ages 10 to 17 to understand how both groups feel about restrictions, enforcement, and the broader impact of social media on daily life. Support for the Ban: Parents vs Children
Techmer PM Joins Formerra's Portfolio in North America9.12.2025 15:00:00 CET | Press release
Formerra will distribute Techmer PM color masterbatches, high-performance additives, and pre-colored compounds across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. ROMEOVILLE, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / December 9, 2025 / Formerra, a leader in performance materials distribution, today announced the addition of Techmer PM color masterbatches, high-performance additives, and pre-colored compounds to its expansive portfolio of materials. With this partnership, Formerra advances its application-specific lineup, aligning its material portfolio to customers' evolving needs across North America. A U.S.-based plastics compounder, Techmer PM specializes in value-added color and additive masterbatches and engineered compounds for high-performance plastics and fibers. These products are used in various industries such as medical, automotive, packaging, and consumer goods applications. Techmer PM has consistently invested in its optical and color capabilities, including the recent acquisition of OptiColor Inc.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom