#Japan #Fukuoka #startups #Innovation Center #CIC Fukuoka

CIC Fukuoka: A New Beacon for Innovation in Fukuoka

On April 21, 2025, the CIC Fukuoka partnership agreement signing ceremony took place in Fukuoka City, Japan, ahead of the official opening of Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) Fukuoka on April 24. This marks the tenth global location of CIC, which is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and operates innovation centers in nine countries worldwide. The event was attended by key figures including Seitaro Hattori, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture; Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City; Tim Rowe, Founder and CEO of CIC; and Takaaki Umezawa, Chairman of CIC Japan.

The primary aim of this agreement is to enhance the startup ecosystem in the Fukuoka region by establishing a collaborative framework between CIC Fukuoka and local governments. All attending parties expressed a commitment to working together to foster innovation and engage with various stakeholders, including startups, research institutions, universities, and businesses.

Governor Hattori expressed his heartfelt welcome to CIC, emphasizing the joy of establishing a partnership with them in ONE FUKUOKA BLDG., which is set to become a major landmark in the city. He shared his hopes for fostering remarkable startups in Fukuoka, backed by the resources and expertise of CIC Japan. The launch of Global Connect Fukuoka, a new startup nurturing hub, has been announced to further facilitate collaboration and create new opportunities.

In a statement by Takaaki Umezawa, he highlighted the attractiveness of Fukuoka as a destination for innovation due to its diverse industrial base ranging from manufacturing to advanced technologies. He pointed out the presence of leading research institutions and successful deep-tech startups in the region as key factors that make Fukuoka essential for CIC’s expansion. Umezawa’s remarks conveyed a sense of excitement for the growth potential of Fukuoka in the global market.

Tim Rowe also shared his excitement about the opening of CIC Fukuoka, praising Fukuoka's engineering capabilities in automotives, robotics, and clean energy. He expressed his intention for CIC to leverage these strengths to promote further innovation. Rowe emphasized the creation of CIC Fukuoka mugs, designed with traditional techniques, symbolizing the blend of heritage and modern innovation that CIC aims to promote.

Through this partnership, CIC Fukuoka aspires to become a hub for connecting Fukuoka to the global landscape, inviting collaboration and creativity. The merger of various stakeholders underlines a shared vision for generating innovative solutions not just locally but on a worldwide scale.

Furthermore, Nanako Hori, CEO of Tensor Energy, shared her enthusiasm about being able to join CIC at this juncture, highlighting the potential for partnerships extending beyond borders, thanks to the cloud solutions they provide for solar power and battery projects. Hori remarked that this new chapter would facilitate broader collaboration in multiple areas, both domestically and internationally.

The establishment of CIC Fukuoka stands out as an ambitious step toward transforming Fukuoka’s ecosystem into one that supports both local and global innovation endeavors. With backing from local authorities and influential figures in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the startup community in Fukuoka is set to flourish, generating numerous successful ventures that can serve as examples worldwide.

In conclusion, the opening of CIC Fukuoka marks a significant milestone in Fukuoka's dedication to fostering an innovative and thriving startup environment, addressing both local challenges and global opportunities through collaboration and creativity. With support from CIC and local government, the Fukuoka region is poised for an impactful evolution in its startup landscape.