#Open Innovation #Japan #Tokyo #ILS2026

Unveiling the Innovations: ILS2026 Kickoff Conference

On June 29, 2026, the ILS2026 kickoff conference will take place, marking a significant event in the calendar of open innovation. Organized by Project Nippon from Shinjuku, Tokyo, this event will be held at the Toranomon Hills Forum as well as online. It will proudly announce the latest Innovative Large Enterprises Rankings for 2026, a collaboration that showcases how startups perceive large corporations regarding their openness to innovation.

The Importance of the Event

The Innovative Large Enterprises Rankings serve as a pivotal indicator of Japan's commitment to fostering open innovation. Each year, promising startups are invited to vote for companies that actively engage in open innovation and collaboration, making this ranking a vital measure of industry trends. In 2026, not only will the top 30 companies in the overall ranking be revealed, but there will also be special mentions for the top five companies across 17 different industries.

Event Details

• - Date: June 29, 2026, from 14:30 to 19:20 (Networking session from 18:20 to 19:20)
• - Location: Toranomon Hills Forum, 5th Floor Hall A, 1-23-1 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo / Online via YouTube
• - Participation Fee: Free of charge
• - Capacity: First 200 participants at Toranomon Hills
• - Organizer: ILS Operations Office (Project Nippon)
• - Target Audience: Departments within large corporations focused on collaboration, VC representatives, supporting institutions, government officials.

Detailed Agenda

• - Opening Speech (14:30)

Kick-starting with an opening speech, attendees will delve into the innovative mindsets propelling the industry forward.

• - Session 1 (14:35): Announcement of the 2026 Innovative Large Enterprises Rankings

This session will highlight the latest rankings based on active involvement in open innovation, presenting insights into each of the top companies identified by startups as being collaborative.

• - Session 2 (15:00): Introduction to ILS Power Matching 2026

The ILS Power Matching initiative invites over 700 startups and research labs to connect with more than 100 large corporations, targeting 3,000 business conversations. Attendees will explore the innovative matching system's trends and discover a new AI recommendation feature aimed at visualizing collaboration opportunities, detailed ideas, anticipated outcomes, and planning roadmaps.

• - Session 3 (15:20): Panel Discussion on Accelerating Corporate Transformation

Industry leaders from Sony Ventures, Hitachi, and Panasonic will share their experiences in external collaborations, deep tech investments, and extracting knowledge from startups to drive corporate transformations.

• - Session 4 (16:10): Learning from Collaboration Successful Companies

With insights from ShinMaywa Industries, participants will discover the backstories behind successful collaborations, discussing methods and internal decision-making processes that contributed to innovations driven by partnerships.

• - Session 5 (16:30): Panel Discussion on New Business Creation from Large Corporations

This session will detail how organizations like Honda, Skyperfect JSAT, and Mitsubishi HC Capital maneuver through open innovation to create and sustain new business ventures.

• - Session 6 (17:20): Future of Material Industries through Open Innovation

Leaders from the material and chemical sectors will engage in discussions regarding their evolution in response to geopolitical and economic security challenges, sharing practical strategies for enhancing competitiveness.

• - Networking Session (18:20 - 19:20)

A unique opportunity for attendees to mingle with top startups and industry leaders influenced over the years through the ILS Power Matching initiative.

About ILS (Innovation Leaders Summit)

Founded in 2014 with the economic support of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, ILS has become Asia’s leading open innovation matching event. In previous editions, over 20,000 attendees have taken part, discussing and fostering groundbreaking collaborations between startups and large enterprises. With a focus on exclusive promising startups nominated by venture capitalists, the event ensures high-quality matching, where about 30% of business meetings lead to collaborative projects.

For further details and registration, please visit: ILS2026 Kickoff Conference.