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The first phase will take place in Shimokitazawa, starting on Monday, October 2!
Since last fiscal year, Keio Corporation has been engaged in a full-scale business co-creation program to create new businesses and services with startup companies and other external partners. This program is based on the concept of "transforming regional values into values along the rail line," and will utilize the regional resources and assets that Keio Corporation has cultivated to date, as well as related people, companies, and places, while also collaborating with local businesses and organizations, including local shopping districts and town councils, to create new businesses and services in the area with external partners such as start-up companies. This is an open innovation program that creates new businesses and services in the area as a starting point, utilizing local resources, assets, and related people, businesses, and places that have been cultivated so far.
The first phase of the project will be set in Shimokitazawa, where diverse cultures intermingle and change freely and continuously, and will call for ideas under six themes: "Play," "Work," "Learn," "Life," "Environment," and "Health.
Hitokara Media, a partner in this program, is based in Shimokitazawa and is responsible for producing and operating the "SYCL by KEIO" workspace facility in the "Mikan Shimokita" complex under the elevated Shimokitazawa Station. Keio Dentetsu and Hitokara Media will work closely together to revitalize this program.
Keio Corporation aims to expand the framework of this program implemented in Shimokitazawa to the entire Keio Line line in the future.
About KEIO AREA OPEN INNOVATION PROGRAM "ROOOT
(1) Concept
Transforming Regional Value into Alignment Value
(2) Outline
While utilizing Keio Corporation's regional resources and assets, as well as related people, companies, and places, we will also collaborate with local businesses and organizations, including local shopping districts and town councils, and create new businesses and services with external partners such as startup companies to enhance the value of the region, thereby increasing the value of the rail lines. This is an open innovation program that starts in the area.
(3) Origin of the program name "ROOOT
The name was chosen with the hope that the soil and roots (ROOT) of the communities that have been cultivated in each region up to now will be expanded to the entire Keio Line area (ROUTE).
The three "O's" in "ROOOT" stand for "Region," "Unique Player," and "Keio Dentetsu.
The first phase of the project will be conducted in Shimokitazawa.
(1) Background of choosing Shimokitazawa
In Shimokitazawa, which continues to change freely, Keio Dentetsu will open the "Mikan Shimokita" complex under the elevated Shimokitazawa Station in March 2022, and together with Hitokara Media, which produces and operates the "SYCL by KEIO" workplace facility, we have been promoting the "Shimokita Delusion Conference" as a place to trigger experimental initiatives based on fantasies, and "studioYET" to bring ideas into reality. The "Shimokita Mousou Conference," which serves as a venue for experimental initiatives based on fantasies, and "studioYET," where ideas are embodied, have been promoted. We chose Shimokitazawa as the location for the first phase of the program in the hope of providing new value through this program while taking advantage of this environment.
(2) Application period
Monday, October 2 through Sunday, November 19
(3) Theme of Application
The following themes will be set and proposals will be solicited from startups and other external partners to realize open innovation with the area as a starting point.
(4) Application requirements
The applicant must share the concept of this program, "local value to rail line value".
The proposal must demonstrate the possibility of effective solutions to the issues and needs based on the theme of the call for proposals.
Demonstrate the possibility of implementing products, services, and collaborative projects during the program period.
The contents of the plan or business are not offensive to public order and morals.
(5) Schedule
Application period begins: October 2 (Monday)
Meetup (information session and social event): Tuesday, October 17, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Application deadline: Sunday, November 19
Announcement of selected companies: Late December
Program kick-off: Mid-January
Interim presentation: Late March
Demo Day (presentation of results): Mid-June
*Schedule is tentative at this time. Details will be announced on the website.
(6) Application website
Please access the following website URL to apply.
Program details and schedules are also available.
URL of the application site:https://keio-innovation-shimokita.com
(7) Meetups (information sessions and social events)
A meet-up (information session and social gathering) will be held at BROOKLYN ROASTING COMPANY SHIMOKITAZAWA (address: B101, 2-6-2 Mikan Shimokita B Street, Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) on Tuesday, October 17, from 5:00 pm. Registration will be accepted at the following website.
URL of the application site:https://keio-rooot-meetup.peatix.com
(8) Privileges for companies that pass the final screening
Partial payment of the cost of the demonstration experiment and consideration of investment from Keio Dentetsu
Mentoring support by the secretariat
Free provision of the "SYCL by KEIO" workplace in Shimokitazawa during the demonstration period
Support for coordination with related departments and local people, companies, and places
Related Sites
KEIO OPEN INNOVATION dedicated website:https://www.keio.co.jp/company/environment/keio-open-innovation/index.html
Facebook: Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551994312408&mibextid=LQQJ4d
X (Twitter):https://twitter.com/keio_program
About Keio Electric Railway
| name of company | Keio Electric Railway Co. |
| Establishment | June 1, 1948 |
| Location | 1-9-1 Sekido, Tama City, Tokyo |
| representative | Representative: Satoshi TSUMURA |
| Business Overview | Railroad business Leasing and sales of land and buildings, etc. |
| uniform resouce locator | https://www.keio.co.jp/ |
About Hitokara Media
| name of company | Hitokara Media Inc. |
| Establishment | May 2013 |
| Location | B1F Shimokitazawa Big Ben Building, 2-5-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo |
| representative | Junichiro Takai |
| Business Overview | Office relocation support, space planning, building owner support, Rental office and rental space management, community development business |
| uniform resouce locator | http://hitokara.co.jp/ |
Reference 3] "KEIO OPEN INNOVATION PROGRAM
Keio Corporation has been implementing an open innovation program through co-creation with external partners, including startup companies, since 2022. Last year, the first year of the program, the company invited applications under the theme of "Challenges to the Transformation of the Railway Business," with the railroad business as the starting point.
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