Open Innovation News] On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, HighFlyers, which operates 11 licensed "Keytos" preschools in Chiba Prefecture, concluded a collaboration agreement with Kiyose City, Tokyo, regarding operational support for preschools and childcare support!

[Open Innovation News] Musashi Seimitsu Kogyo, TOPPAN, and Healthcare Systems announced that they will collaborate in the development of functional healthcare services to solve health issues of the working-age population!

[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!

Open Innovation News] Ryukyu Astida Sports Club announces 7 companies as Corporate Partners and 21 companies and organizations as Community Partners in "Astida Fest 2023" to be held at Okinawa Arena on December 23 and 24, 2023! The concept of "Astida Fest 2023" is "Be Hope for Tomorrow. 〜The concept of "Astida Fest 2023" is to provide an environment that encourages startups and industries that create new value to rise to the challenge and become the "Hope for Tomorrow".

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] 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.

JVC KENWOOD has released the "USB-VA1," a dedicated USB flash drive that can add a sound mode specialized for the voice of popular voice actor Kenichi Suzumura, as the first optional product for the "EX-DUB1," which allows users to enjoy the "voice" of their favorite voice actor in the most suitable sound for each scene. The USB-VA1 is a USB flash drive that allows users to add a special sound mode for the voice of popular voice actor Kenichi Suzumura, and will be available at the official online store "JVC KENWOOD STORE" from early December. and "Animate," one of the largest anime stores in Japan, from early December! In addition, prior to the release, pre-orders for this product will be available at the "JVC KENWOOD Store" and "animate mail order" from today, September 26, 2012. #JVC Kenwood #HamaruStrategy #Victor # guess # voice actor # guess voice audio # Suzumura Kenichi #USB #JVC Kenwood Store # animate #Creww # Dai Creating a Challenging Era

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.

Open Innovation News] Ryukyu Astida Sports Club announces 7 companies as Corporate Partners and 21 companies and organizations as Community Partners in "Astida Fest 2023" to be held at Okinawa Arena on December 23 and 24, 2023! The concept of "Astida Fest 2023" is "Be Hope for Tomorrow. 〜The concept of "Astida Fest 2023" is to provide an environment that encourages startups and industries that create new value to rise to the challenge and become the "Hope for Tomorrow".

Abies Ventures, Real Tech Holdings, and Universal Materials Incubator are coordinating the "UAE-Japan Advanced Technology Coordination Scheme" to support startups exhibiting at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Japan. The UAE-Japan Advanced Technology Coordination Scheme is supporting start-up companies to exhibit their products at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Japan! COP28 will be held in the United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

[Event News] MEDPIA and Nikkei Inc. will co-host the 9th Healthtech Global Conference "Healthtech Summit" on Monday and Tuesday, December 11 and 12, 2023! We are pleased to announce the finalists for the Pitch Final, the main event of Healthtech/SUM! Eight companies have been selected as finalists based on a document review and online voting by Nikkei readers and others. The eight finalists will take the stage at the Pitch Contest to be held at the venue on Tuesday, December 12, and the Grand Prize and each sponsor's prize will be decided on the same day after the judging.