Open Innovation News] The DEMO DAY (presentation meeting) for companies selected in the spring of the JR East Startup Program 2023, in which East Japan Railway Company and JR East Startups collaborate with venture companies to realize new services, was held online on December 6, and TOYOKO was awarded the overall TOYOKO won the overall Grand Prix "Startup Grand Prize"! In addition, the "Excellence Award" went to Kenrobotech Co. In addition, the "Judges' Special Award" went to Agnavi Inc.

Fujitsu Finland Oy, a strategic partner of Kempower Oyj, a provider of battery solutions for electric vehicles, has signed a three-year comprehensive agreement to provide comprehensive IT services in June 2023, with services starting at the end of October. Kempower Oyjitsu Finland Oy started providing the service at the end of October!

Creww News] Hirogin Area Design, together with Creww, is holding "The Meet Hiroshima Open Accelerator Gov-Tech-Challenge" on behalf of Hiroshima Prefecture. In response to regional issues faced by 15 cities and towns in Hiroshima Prefecture, the program received 304 entries and proposals from startups and other entities for services, etc. that would contribute to solving these issues. After that, each participating municipality has been brushing up their proposals and conducting the selection process over a period of about three months. The final selection was made by the participating cities and towns, and as a result of the screening process, 26 proposals were selected for the program! The participating cities, towns, and startups will now proceed with discussions toward implementation, including demonstration tests, and are scheduled to hold a presentation of the results in March 2024!

Ampersand, a full hands-on incubator offering entrepreneurship support programs, has selected two entrepreneurs from the PoliTech and HRTech fields for the "Sand Hill Road Challenge Vol. 1," an entrepreneurship support program aimed at producing entrepreneurs on Creww's new business startup support platform "STARTUP STUDIO by Creww. Two entrepreneurs from the PoliTech and HRTech fields were selected for the Sand Hill Road Challenge Vol. 1!

Creww Growth Case Study Interview】Ando Hazama has selected Cube Earth, a startup company offering a "smart disaster prevention system" to local governments through the "Ando Hazama New Business Co-Creation Program 2022," an accelerator program for fiscal year 2022, utilizing Cube Earth, a geographic information system platform patented in the United States and Japan. Cube Earth, a startup company that provides municipalities with a "smart disaster prevention system" using the geographic information system platform "Cube Earth" patented in the U.S. and Japan, was selected for the Ando Hazama New Business Co-Creation Program 2022. The startup is developing next-generation social infrastructure infrastructure such as disaster prevention systems, smart cities, drones, and digital twin systems as part of the DX approach to municipal crisis management. What specific initiatives are they pursuing? We interviewed Hiroyuki Horii, Deputy General Manager of the Innovation Department, Corporate Strategy Division, Ando Hazama, Shigehiko Amo, Chairman of Cube Earth, and Zenshi Takeda, President and Representative Director.

Sanki Kogyo Corporation, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025, has set its sights on becoming a company that will "continue to be chosen" in accordance with its vision for 2050, and is working to strengthen its core businesses and enhance the Sanki brand. One of our new initiatives is to strengthen our core business and improve the Sankiki brand. Therefore, as one of the new initiatives, we are challenging the "SANKI Open Innovation Program 2023". We interviewed Mr. Hiroyuki Sasaki, Facility Systems Business Department, Mr. Tadashi Ishiwata, Corporate Planning Department, Corporate Planning Office, and Mr. Naoya Tokuda, Corporate Planning Department, who are challenging the accelerator program for the first time, about their frank thoughts from their respective standpoints.

Ando Hazama, a general construction company that promotes the creation of new businesses through open innovation, has selected Air Digital Inc. Air Digital, Inc., a company involved in the development of digital sports space and the operation of digital sports fields, was selected for the program. Subsequently, Ando Hazama, Air Digital, and Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, signed a collaboration agreement and are now working together on "Sports 60 & Smart," one of the largest digital sports clubs in Japan, which is located in the "Ario Washinomiya" shopping mall facility in Kuki City. What specific initiatives are being undertaken? We interviewed Tsubasa Sakakibara, Manager of the Innovation Department of Ando Hazama's Corporate Strategy Division, Sobaku Maeda, Representative Director of Air Digital, and Takeshi Kanazawa, a member of the Sports Promotion Section of the Health and Sports Department of the Kuki City Office.

Aisei Pharmacy has more than 400 dispensing pharmacies nationwide. As the company will soon celebrate its 40th anniversary, we are challenging the accelerator program in search of the next pillar of our business! Aiming to become a pharmacy that is needed by local residents, the company will explore the possibility of creating new businesses. In this interview, we spoke with Hiroyuki Hori, General Manager of the Business Planning Department of Aisei Pharmacy Inc. about why Aisei Pharmacy is now taking on the challenge of open innovation with startups.

Startup News] The world finals of Startup World Cup 2023, one of the world's largest startup pitch contests, which this year featured qualifiers from 52 countries and regions, were held on December 1 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square! The world champion was Iris, a representative of the Tokyo preliminary round. Iris is engaged in the development of AI medical devices and has succeeded in commercializing the world's first endoscope equipped with an AI to diagnose infectious diseases that can determine if a patient has influenza. The company's outstanding technology and business scheme were highly evaluated, and the company successfully took first place in the world championship, attracting the attention of approximately 3,000 people.

[Startup News] ALGO ARTIS, a provider of automated operational planning optimization solutions with optimization AI, has won the "Startup CTO of the Year 2023 powered by Amazon Web Services" contest!

ELSA has completed a Series C equity financing totaling US$23 million! The round was led by Singapore-based UOB Venture Management, with new investment participation from UniPresident from Taiwan and Asia Growth Investment Fund, an investment fund jointly established by Aozora Bank and the Development Bank of Japan, from Japan. In addition, the existing investors, Grassroots Investment Fund, Inc. Existing investors Gradient Ventures, Monks Hill Ventures, Globant Ventures, and Vietnam Investment Group also made additional investments in this round.

Open Innovation News] DNP will start providing RFID-based library collection inspection services to libraries nationwide in October 2023! With regard to library book inspection, DNP will develop unique robots and systems in collaboration with Fuji Logistics to significantly reduce work hours. In addition, DNP will exhibit its library collection inspection services, including this service, at the Library Exhibition 2023 to be held at Pacifico Yokohama from October 24 (Tue.) to 25 (Wed.), 2023.

Open Innovation News] The DEMO DAY (presentation meeting) for companies selected in the spring of the JR East Startup Program 2023, in which East Japan Railway Company and JR East Startups collaborate with venture companies to realize new services, was held online on December 6, and TOYOKO was awarded the overall TOYOKO won the overall Grand Prix "Startup Grand Prize"! In addition, the "Excellence Award" went to Kenrobotech Co. In addition, the "Judges' Special Award" went to Agnavi Inc.

The event will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, under the theme of "Offline Measures to Increase Engagement with Customers/Partners"! Three companies that have been involved in various online/offline measures at the forefront of the business matching industry, which is centered on "connecting", will give a talk that you can only hear here with specific examples.

Startup News] The world finals of Startup World Cup 2023, one of the world's largest startup pitch contests, which this year featured qualifiers from 52 countries and regions, were held on December 1 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square! The world champion was Iris, a representative of the Tokyo preliminary round. Iris is engaged in the development of AI medical devices and has succeeded in commercializing the world's first endoscope equipped with an AI to diagnose infectious diseases that can determine if a patient has influenza. The company's outstanding technology and business scheme were highly evaluated, and the company successfully took first place in the world championship, attracting the attention of approximately 3,000 people.

TechBIZKON VII Digitalizing the world - Microelectronics for DX", a Japan-Europe startup event that brings together the best technology startups from Japan, Austria, Germany and Flanders, Belgium, will be held on Tuesday, December 12! Microelectronics for DX" will be held on Tuesday, December 12! This year's theme is microelectronics/semiconductor technology to accelerate digital transformation (DX). A prize for the best speaker will be awarded at the pitch event. This is a great opportunity to experience cutting-edge DX technologies from Japan and Europe and network with startups from other countries.