Deadline: 31-Jul-21
JapanGov has launched Society 5.0 to enhance industrial competitiveness and help with the establishment of a society more attuned to individual needs.
Society 5.0 is Japan’s vision for the next step in human evolution after hunter-gather, agrarian, industrial and information society stages.
The focus is on the vast potential of accumulating data, and new technologies of the fourth industrial revolution, in order to find solutions to social issues such as the declining birth rate, an aging population, and environmental and energy issues.
Challenges
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:
- They are looking for innovative solutions to contribute to the early realization of carbon neutrality in third largest economy in the world.
- They is a growing demand to turn business and social activities more eco-friendly in Japan.
- They 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.
- For Japanese companies, government and other related organizations
- Scope (Collaboration partners):
- ?For Japanese companies, government and other related organizations.
Challenge 2: Labor Shortage & Improving Productivity- Calling for big solutions to a shrinking workforce; Fewer workers doesn’t have to mean fewer results.
- Social issues and needs in Japan:
- They 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. They 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- Help build a safer and smarter Japan through data utilization and innovation; Be the smartest city in the world.
- 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.
- They 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.
- They 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
- For Japanese companies, government and other related organizations.
- Scope (Collaboration partners):
- For Japanese companies, government and other related organizations.
Winners’ Prizes
- Exhibited at CEATEC2021 (virtual)- Get invited for CEATEC 2021 @ JETRO Global Connection Zone & get Business Matching opportunities (virtual participation)
- Mentored by top Japan experts- Sponsored mentoring sessions by selected top Japan experts in both intercultural business and domain specific mentoring
- WIN a Learning expedition to Japan- JETRO will select 3-5 high potential startups from each themes. The selected Startups will be sponsored for a learning expedition in Japan before March of 2022 (Conditioned by COVID– 19 situation).
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 Scale-up: 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.
For more information, visit https://challenges.vivatechnology.com/en/challenges/japan
