Call For Applications: NEC Innovation Challenge 2024 (Win up to USD 15,000 in funding)

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Have you ever thought of expanding to the Japanese Market? Do you aspire to better today’s society with your digital solutions? NEC Innovation Challenge 2024 is calling all start-ups around the world to join them in co-creating with major Japanese companies and institutions.

They are looking for International and Japanese start-ups to collaborate with them and their partners. If you have a solution that is relevant to their 4 themes (Healthcare, Sustainability, Digital Operational Excellence, and Entertainment) and are keen to expand your business in Japan, don’t miss this opportunity!

This is your golden ticket to unlock unprecedented opportunities in the Japanese market and win up to 2.2 million yen (around 15,000 USD) of funding available for PoC development!

About NEC Innovation Challenge

NEC Innovation Challenge (NIC) was launched with the concept, “to create the innovative ideas of the future, we need to bring together the wisdom of the world”. Our goal of this initiative is to create major joint ventures with promising startups from worldwide, by collaboration of the resources of NEC and sponsors.

Last year, they received 537 applications from 97 different countries. 12 startups were selected as finalists, and 10 startups won the prizes after careful deliberations by the judges of NEC, sponsors, and partners.

In addition to NEC, various other sponsors participate in the NIC every year. This year, DNP (Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.) is their platinum partner, and the themes are based on areas that both NEC and DNP are exploring and are in mind for collaborating with startups.

their first event was held in 2022 and NEC Innovation Challenge 2024 is our third. We will focus on four themes: Healthcare, Sustainability, Digital Operational Excellence, and Media/Entertainment.

They hope to create businesses together in collaboration with startups, DNP, and NEC.

Themes To Tackle

Click on each of the themes below to learn more.

NEC Innovation Challenge Awards & Incentives

3 different types of prize line up for our selected startups!

NEC Award

Choose from the following two options:

PoC funding of up to 2.2 million yen (Around 15,000 USD*)
Business creation opportunities in Japan
- Travel expenses for stay in Japan (up to amount stated in 1)
- Arrangement of PoC discussions with business units and partners
- Assistance in developing stakeholders and the Japanese market

*The USD amount is based on the August 2024 exchange rate and may vary at the time of payment.

NOFF Award