STATION Ai, Japan's Largest Open Innovation Hub, Celebrates Grand Opening and Holds"IGNITION"Themed Events

STATION Ai,Japan'slargest open innovation hub, officially launched with a grand opening onOctober 31and two-day"IGNITION"eventfrom November 1-2

Now supporting 500 startups and 200 partner companies inNagoyainCentral Japan, thehub aims to drive innovation and revitalizeJapan'seconomy

NAGOYA, Japan,Nov. 22, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- JETRO and Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium are pleased to announce the opening of STATION Ai,Japan'slargest open innovation hub, which celebrated its grand opening onOctober 31, followed by a successful two-day inaugural event,"IGNITION,"onNovember 1-2. Located inCentral JapaninNagoyaCity, STATION Ai is now officially open and operating as the epicenter ofJapan'sstartup ecosystem. 

Central Japan'sStartup Ecosystem and its strengths in manufacturing and technology with startups to create open innovation with be further enhanced with the opening of STATION Ai. The hub's launch inCentral Japanis expected to be a significant boost for Japanese startups looking to expand their business inJapanand overseas markets, as well as for global startups looking to expand their business inJapan.

This unique ecosystem provides everything a startup needs – from highly trained workers in many specialized fields to opportunities to conduct feasibility studies with leading companies in various industries including the mobility sector. There are also accelerator programs, financial support systems, innovative university seeds, and collaborative partnerships with ecosystems outside ofJapanand also attract a wide range of entrepreneurs to this region.  

Against this backdrop, asJapan'slargest incubation facility, STATION Ai will provide a wide range of support services and resources for startups and facilitates collaborations both globally and inJapan. STATION Ai aims to house 1,000 startups by the end of fiscal year 2029. 

STATION Ai is a central project within Aichi Prefecture's"Aichi-Startup Strategy,"managed by STATION Ai Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of SoftBank, which was selected as the development and operations partner for the facility. In addition to offices for startups and partner companies, the facility will feature a tech lab, event areas, accommodation facilities, childcare services.

Aichi GovernorHideaki Ohmuraopened the ceremony with inspirational remarks,"STATION Ai is a remarkable facility that will pave the way for Aichi Prefecture's future asJapanandAsia'slargest startup incubation hub. I look forward to the day when the innovations born here will stand shoulder to shoulder with those from Silicon Valley."

Junichi Miyakawa, SoftBank Corp. President& CEO, commented,"As someone originally from Aichi Prefecture, I find great significance in supporting startups in this region. I sincerely hope that startups emerging from here will leadJapanin the next 10 or 20 years."

Hirotaka Sahashi, President and CEO of STATION Ai Co., Ltd., outlined STATION Ai's vision and mission to drive innovation and support startups stating,"We are pleased to open with a significant ecosystem of 500 startups and 200 partner companies. STATION Ai aims to create a hybrid ecosystem that merges existing industries with startups, aspiring to become a hub for open innovation inAsia. We hope to build this valuable place together, where collaborations from around the world will gather."

The ceremony included a performance reflecting on the"IGNITION"theme, which symbolizes the spark of innovation that STATION Ai aims to ignite.

The two-day"IGNITION"event successfully showcased the dynamic future STATION Ai envisions, attracting a diverse audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators. Attendees experienced a rich program of content, connecting with key players in the innovation landscape.

Key highlights of the"IGNITION"opening event included:

• Keynotes and Sessions: Over 20 sessions and startup pitches provided valuable insights.
• Special Lectures: Nobel Laureate ProfessorAkira YoshinoandOsamu Suzuki, CEO of Startup Factory, delivered inspiring lectures.
• Public Broadcasting and Interactive Experiences:The live recording of Tokai TV's"START UP!!"and hands-on activities engaged attendees of all ages.
• Facility Tours: Guided tours showcased STATION Ai's state-of-the-art resources.

Background onCentral Japan

Located in the Chubu region, also known asCentral Japan– right in the middle ofJapan'smain island, Honshu, this region is proud of playing a vital role in the history ofJapan'smanufacturing craftsmanship. It was where Toyota first began, and as a tech pioneer, it is now the home to a wide range of sectors such as automobiles, photonics, and aerospace, using advanced, cutting-edge technologies.

Central Japancontinues to invite entrepreneurs and capitalists from all corners of the world to facilitate state-of-the-art open innovation by infusing new ideas with local craftsmanship. And as a result, take part in playing a crucial role in paving the path towards the Homeland of Mobility 5.0 –the future of mobility.

About STATION Ai

STATION Ai opened its doors onOctober 1, 2024, on the south side of Tsuruma Park inNagoyaCity. Operated by STATION Ai Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp., as a key component of the Aichi-Startup Strategy, it isJapan'slargest incubation facility. It provides a wide range of support services and resources for startups and facilitates collaborations both globally and inJapan. Its site area spans approximately 7,300 square meters and its floor space is 23,600 square meters, with seven above-ground floors. In addition to offices for startups and partner companies, the facility will feature a tech lab, event areas, accommodation facilities, childcare services, seven dining options, and the"Aichi Founders'Museum,"which will showcase the achievements of entrepreneurs and business leaders with links to Aichi Prefecture. As ofOctober 31, 2024, there are approximately 500 startups and 200 partner companies already affiliated with STATION Ai.

About the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem

InJuly 2020, Aichi prefecture,NagoyaCity and Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka-prefecture became one of the four regional Startup Ecosystem Global Base Cities groups designated nationwide by the Japanese Cabinet Office. 

There are 848 startups inCentral Japan, of which 209 are university-launched. An estimated100.8 billion yen(from 2020 to 2024) of funds have been raised, in addition to accelerator programs, financial support systems, and innovative university seeds. 

Collaborative partnerships with Station F, INSEAD, BLOCK71,Paris&Co, Bpifrance, Venture Café, Plug and Play, Israel Innovation Authority, Tsinghua University, China Medical University,National University of Singapore, theUniversity of Texas at Austin,Stanford University,North Carolina State University,University of Nebraskaand the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad attract a diverse range of entrepreneurs to the region. 

For more information, please visit https://central-startup.jp/en/ 

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SOURCE JETRO and Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium