Activity Report
MRI DEMODAY 2023 Held (March 10th)
Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (MRI) and the Initiative for Co-creating the Future (ICF) held MRI DEMODAY 2023 at Otemachi Mitsui Hall on March 10 to publicize co-creation efforts with startups.
The event showcased the co-creation efforts primarily promoted by MRI’s business units and the efforts with the finalists of the Business Acceleration Program (BAP) run by ICF. This event was held for the first time and was open to everyone.
First, Professor Shigeo Kagami of the University of Tokyo delivered a keynote speech entitled “New Trends in the Startup Ecosystem: The Roles of Companies Resolving Societal Issues.
Next, in the “MRI Activities” session, MRI presented four examples of co-creation it has conducted with startups. This was followed by the “ICF and BAP Activities” session, where the seven BAP finalists and MRI researchers worked together to report on their activities in the three months following the BAP Final Pitch Contest and their future aspirations.
The final session was a panel discussion entitled “Key Players in the Startup Ecosystem Talk about the Implementation of Businesses to Resolve Societal Issues and the Roles of Startups.” Players in the ecosystem dialogued using various perspectives.
The event had more than 400 in-person and online participants and finished with great success. The subsequent networking event brought together people from various sectors, including startups, established businesses, government offices, local governments, venture capital firms, and startup community operators.
Participants had a positive experience; comments included praise for the interesting subjects, excitement as many young speakers took to the stage, and appreciation for the new impression of MRI that the event provided.
More details will be provided on the MRI website (https://www.mri.co.jp/) and the ICF website (https://icf.mri.co.jp/?lang=en), including information on specific themes that were not covered at MRI DEMODAY 2023. Please stay tuned.
Future Co-creation Projects (FCPs) on Priority Themes to Conclude
The ICF has run Future Co-creation Projects (FCPs) since last September, focusing on its three priority themes of Wellness, Dietary Innovation, and Climate Change Measures. These FCPs will conclude this month and will proceed to the next step.
Note: An FCP is a project to clarify and establish themes for societal issues that need to be resolved and to create a societal impact through regular workshop activities. (https://icf.mri.co.jp/activities/activities-360/)
１．Wellness
The fifth and final round will be held on March 29. Participants will discuss the following two themes, continuing from the previous round, and will summarize this year’s discussions: (1) offering health programs that naturally encourage behavior change and (2) business ideas utilizing social health, which is an indicator consisting of criteria such as the status of health behaviors and contribution activities, the willingness to engage in these behaviors and activities, and the maintenance of mental health.
２．Dietary Innovation
The fifth and final round was held on February 16. The ICF Secretariat reported on the progress of the drafted policy roadmap. Every participant was asked to briefly comment on their impressions of their participation and expectations for the future. In particular, the talk about salt reduction that was given by Masayoshi Nemoto of ESCARE, Inc. at the fourth round seemed to have left a strong impression on many of the participants.
After the workshop, a social gathering was held at the venue where the participants enjoyed conversation and refreshments brought by representatives of the attending companies. They said that they had had very good discussions and that they hoped to continue exchanging information and discussing the creation of new businesses through this network. The secretariat thanks again all those who participated.
３．Climate Change Measures
The fifth and final round was held on January 25, where the agenda included the presentation of the previously discussed business hypotheses and a discussion on them among all participants. This was followed by a social gathering at the venue. The findings based on the results of all five discussions are now being compiled by the secretariat into an Insight Report, which will be posted on the ICF website at a later date.
Trial Period of Taylor Works
A communication tool called Taylor Works is available to ICF members on a trial basis for a limited time. The purpose of this trial is to enable continuous communication after the completion of the FCPs on Taylor Works. Specifically, it aims to deepen the discussions in FCPs, refine business ideas for commercialization, and form commercialization teams.
The secretariat has sent an email inviting those who have participated in the Dietary Innovation or Climate Change Measures FCP, which has at this point concluded its fifth round, to sign up for Taylor Works. All ICF members are welcome to participate, even if they have not participated in the relevant FCP. If interested, please contact the secretariat.
Release of Entrepreneurial Stories of Impactful ICF Members (#26, #27, and #28)
In order to tackle societal issues through business, entrepreneurs must have excellent interpersonal skills and strong organizational capabilities. What do they think and how are they trying to achieve the world they want? The ICF has published a series of articles that sheds light on the personalities of entrepreneurs who are striving to resolve societal issues. The goal of these articles is to share with readers the philosophies of and the issues being tackled by these business founders, which in turn should lead to accelerated social breakthroughs in the future. The list of Japanese articles is here.
28 articles have been released, including the new articles on AISing Ltd. (Edge AI technology), Will Smart co., Ltd. (digital signage), and Helte Co., Ltd. (global communication). English versions of the articles have also been released. The list of English articles is here. Please take a look!
Upcoming Activities(April – May)
ICF General Assembly 2023 scheduled for April 18th
The ICF General Assembly 2023 will be held on Tuesday, April 18. ICF will enter its third term in April 2023. The agenda at the beginning of this term includes the review of ICF activities in FY 2022, explanation of the activity policy and plans for the new fiscal year, and introduction of new members, including startups.
More details will be provided later, so please mark the date on your calendar.
・Date: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm on Tuesday, April 18, 2023
・Method: Hybrid of in-person and online sessions
(Venue: Conference room on the fourth floor of Mitsubishi Research Institute)
Note: A networking event will be held at the venue after the assembly.
Results of Societal Issues Research to Be Released
A visual abstract of the Listings of Societal Issues is being prepared to provide the content in an easier-to-understand way. Members will be informed as soon as it becomes available.
The Societal Issues Index is also being updated. In addition, an event is being planned to share the results of societal issues research with members, so please consider participating.
The results of societal issues research so far are available on the ICF website. (Some are available to members only.) (Japanese only) https://icf.mri.co.jp/research/
ICF Activity Report 2022
An ICF activity report that summarizes activities in this fiscal year is now being prepared. Members will be informed in April, when it becomes available.