Submissions before July 31,2021.
The purpose of the Contest is to bring innovative solutions by creating partnerships between startups and Japanese stakeholders.
The Contest is divided into three (3) Challenges, chosen in collaboration with Japanese corporates/ Japanese authorities/ local governments/ industrial associations, to help achieving Society 5.0 in Japan and make people’s lives more conformable and sustainable thanks to digitalization and innovation:
(1) Environmental Friendliness
(2) Labor Shortage & Improving Productivity
(3) Smart & Resilient Japan
The Organizer wishes to support startups willing to collaborate with Japanese corporates/ Japanese authorities/ local governments/ industrial associations and to help startups break into an established industry in order to accelerate their integration in Japan.
The 3 challenges in detail :
Challenge 1 : Environmental Friendliness : Help to build a more sustainable Japan; Net-Zero/Carbon-neutrality for a positive future
- Social issues and needs in Japan :
We are looking for innovative solutions to contribute to the early realization of carbon neutrality in third largest economy in the world.
There is a growing demand to turn business and social activities more eco-friendly in Japan.
We are committed to achieve a sustainable circular economy and establish a decarbonized and decentralized society. - Expected Solutions (Include but not limited to):
-Carbon neutrality, reduction of CO2 emissions.
-Collection and reuse of greenhouse gases emitted from factories and etc.
-Environmentally friendly materials and ingredients with energy conservation and/or low environmental impact that conserve energy and minimize environmental impact.
-Effective use of renewable energy stored in storage batteries.
-Next-generation food/agritech to develop alt-proteins/meat/seafood.
-Improving agricultural and aquacultural productivity. - Scope (Collaboration partners): For Japanese companies, government and other related organizations.
Challenge 2 : Smart & Resilient Japan
- Social issues and needs in Japan:
We are looking for innovative solutions to help build a brighter society in the era of ‘the 100-year life.’ Japan has been faced a slump of working population due to the low birthrate and aging population. We are committed to improve the shortage of labor and promote economic growth through digitalization and data utilization. - Expected Solutions (Include but not limited to):
– Digital twin computing, Digital transformation (DX), and Digital solutions (AI, IoT, etc.) to improve productivity
-Smart factories
– Robotics, Avatar and any other solution for saving manpower.
– Productivity-improvement AI, expansion of physical functions/sensing (AI, power-assisted suits etc)
– Smart construction (utilization of data at construction sites)
– Power-free telecommunications - Scope (Collaboration partners): For Japanese companies, government and other related organizations.
Challenge 3 : Smart & Resilient Japan
- Social issues and needs in Japan:
Help build a safer and smarter Japan through data utilization and innovation; Be the smartest city in the world. We are looking for innovative solutions to help build the human-centered cities and regions of the future. There is a social imbalance between the densely-populated cities and depopulated rural areas of Japan. We need innovative solutions to create a resilient and comfortable society throughout Japan is to take advantage of smart city technology. - Expected Solutions (Include but not limited to):
- Integrated security systems
- Contactless biometric sensors
- Proactive and traceable supply chain solutions in logistics
- Smart disaster prevention
- Assistive technology for seniors
- EV charging
- Autonomous driving(driving assistance, traffic accident prevention and uneven road surface detection)
- Infrastructure maintenance
- Optimizing traffic volume
- Revolutionary financial services in depopulated areas
- Scope (Collaboration partners): For Japanese companies, government and other related organizations.
Selection Criteria
RELEVANCE OF THE SOLUTION :
Solutions that has unique and high added-value to resolve the challenges in Japan
MATURITY :
Companies has capacity to support international expansion
DISRUPTION :
Proposal should bring significant innovation in one or several aspects related to the challenge
FROM STARTUP TO SCALEUP :
With a proved business model and complementary management team, ideally less than 10 years
COMPLIANCE :
Not a company known to have conducted unfair or illegal activities
Winners’ Prizes
1 – Get invited for CEATEC 2021 @ JETRO Global Connection Zone
2 – Sponsored mentoring sessions by selected top Japan experts
3 – JETRO will select 3-5 high potential startups from each themes.
