Unveiling Innovation: Business Conference Awards 2026 Shines Light on Innovations in Corporate Innovation
On June 10, 2026, the second edition of the 'BizCon Awards 2026' took place, hosted by Filament Inc., a company based in Osaka, Japan, focusing on supporting new business initiatives for large organizations. This award uniquely recognizes the efforts of business contest secretariats, which facilitate corporate innovation through well-structured internal business proposal systems known as 'BizCons'. With over 160 participants from more than 70 companies, attendees engaged in lively discussions on the design and operational support for these contests, fostering a rich environment for sharing practical insights across industry borders.
This year, 24 companies submitted entries, out of which six advanced to the final judging. JTB Corporation's program 'JUMP' was awarded the top honor for its robust approach to promoting innovation across the company. The awards celebrated how corporate contest secretariats are not only driving new business proposals but also serving as catalysts for employee development and organizational transformation.
In recent years, business contests have evolved beyond merely connecting employee ideas to business viability. They are now vital tools for nurturing talent and fostering organizational change. The optimal design and management of these systems can vary significantly based on the company's objectives, size, and the length of time the contests have been operational. This variability means there is no one-size-fits-all solution, leading many secretariats to experiment continuously to find the best approach for their particular context.
As companies accumulate knowledge and expertise in-house, opportunities for inter-company sharing remain limited. The BizCon Awards aim to highlight the outstanding efforts of these secretariats, facilitating the sharing of acquired knowledge and operational know-how to transform individual insights into shared industry resources.
The finalists for this year's awards included:
'JUMP' stands out as an idea contest within JTB Group's comprehensive innovation-motivating program 'nextender'. This program encompasses diverse challenges and opportunities for all employees and is designed to enhance the quality of business ideas and facilitate their realization, fostering a culture of innovation throughout the organization. These attributes garnered 'JUMP' the highest recognition.
Judges remarked on the exceptional quality and innovative spirit of the presenters at this year's event. JTB was particularly noted for its commitment to innovative management, showcasing a robust drive towards creating a new future for corporate innovation. Their strategy of aligning employee expertise with innovation objectives set a notable precedent for other companies to follow.
As the second edition of the BizCon Awards concluded, Filament’s CEO, Masaru Sumi, expressed satisfaction with the increased participation from both entrants and observers. This growth enhances the variety and quality of shared insights, contributing to a collective elevation of Japan's innovation capabilities. Looking ahead to next year, the aim is to improve further on this platform for creativity and collaboration among companies facing similar challenges.
The BizCon Awards will continue as an annual event, fostering learning and connections among secretariats that support internal business contests. Future developments may include networking events, studies, sharing of best practices, and dissemination of valuable insights to further promote the formation of a network among secretariats driving corporate innovation. Additionally, a report analyzing the contest submissions and presentations is planned for release in the fall of 2026. This report will provide visibility into the current state and trends of internal business contests, sharing practical knowledge gleaned from industry practices. The BizCon Awards aim to continually broadcast the efforts of secretariats championing corporate innovation and to foster the accumulation and sharing of knowledge within the internal contest landscape.
The BizCon Awards is the sole program in Japan dedicated to recognizing and rewarding the initiatives taken by secretariats running internal business contests. As these contests have broadened to not only stimulate new business creation but also to enhance employee development and drive organizational transformation, the role of the secretariat has become increasingly crucial. The BizCon Awards seeks to make visible the challenges and accomplishments of these secretariats, thereby encouraging more companies to embrace various forms of internal change through their unique business contests. The initiative aims to contribute to the evolution of business proposal systems and accelerate sustainable corporate change in Japan.
This year, 24 companies submitted entries, out of which six advanced to the final judging. JTB Corporation's program 'JUMP' was awarded the top honor for its robust approach to promoting innovation across the company. The awards celebrated how corporate contest secretariats are not only driving new business proposals but also serving as catalysts for employee development and organizational transformation.
Why Focus on Business Contest Secretariats?
In recent years, business contests have evolved beyond merely connecting employee ideas to business viability. They are now vital tools for nurturing talent and fostering organizational change. The optimal design and management of these systems can vary significantly based on the company's objectives, size, and the length of time the contests have been operational. This variability means there is no one-size-fits-all solution, leading many secretariats to experiment continuously to find the best approach for their particular context.
As companies accumulate knowledge and expertise in-house, opportunities for inter-company sharing remain limited. The BizCon Awards aim to highlight the outstanding efforts of these secretariats, facilitating the sharing of acquired knowledge and operational know-how to transform individual insights into shared industry resources.
Final Nominees
The finalists for this year's awards included:
- - Casio Computer Co., Ltd. with their 'IBP (Idea Booster Program)'
- - JTB Corporation with 'JUMP',
- - Daiko Kento Corporation's 'HIRAKU',
- - Chiyoda Corporation's 'F1 PROJECT',
- - Honda Motor Co., Ltd.'s 'IGNITION',
- - Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.'s 'Asunihaha'.
Award Winning Program
'JUMP' stands out as an idea contest within JTB Group's comprehensive innovation-motivating program 'nextender'. This program encompasses diverse challenges and opportunities for all employees and is designed to enhance the quality of business ideas and facilitate their realization, fostering a culture of innovation throughout the organization. These attributes garnered 'JUMP' the highest recognition.
Judges’ Remarks
Judges remarked on the exceptional quality and innovative spirit of the presenters at this year's event. JTB was particularly noted for its commitment to innovative management, showcasing a robust drive towards creating a new future for corporate innovation. Their strategy of aligning employee expertise with innovation objectives set a notable precedent for other companies to follow.
Comments from the Organizers
As the second edition of the BizCon Awards concluded, Filament’s CEO, Masaru Sumi, expressed satisfaction with the increased participation from both entrants and observers. This growth enhances the variety and quality of shared insights, contributing to a collective elevation of Japan's innovation capabilities. Looking ahead to next year, the aim is to improve further on this platform for creativity and collaboration among companies facing similar challenges.
Future Prospects
The BizCon Awards will continue as an annual event, fostering learning and connections among secretariats that support internal business contests. Future developments may include networking events, studies, sharing of best practices, and dissemination of valuable insights to further promote the formation of a network among secretariats driving corporate innovation. Additionally, a report analyzing the contest submissions and presentations is planned for release in the fall of 2026. This report will provide visibility into the current state and trends of internal business contests, sharing practical knowledge gleaned from industry practices. The BizCon Awards aim to continually broadcast the efforts of secretariats championing corporate innovation and to foster the accumulation and sharing of knowledge within the internal contest landscape.
What are the BizCon Awards?
The BizCon Awards is the sole program in Japan dedicated to recognizing and rewarding the initiatives taken by secretariats running internal business contests. As these contests have broadened to not only stimulate new business creation but also to enhance employee development and drive organizational transformation, the role of the secretariat has become increasingly crucial. The BizCon Awards seeks to make visible the challenges and accomplishments of these secretariats, thereby encouraging more companies to embrace various forms of internal change through their unique business contests. The initiative aims to contribute to the evolution of business proposal systems and accelerate sustainable corporate change in Japan.
Event Overview
- - Event Name: BizCon Awards 2026
- - Date: June 10, 2026
- - Venue: Minato City Industrial Promotion Center Hall
- - Location: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Shiba 5-36-4
- - Organizer: Filament Inc.
- - Partners: ASCII STARTUP, CNET Japan, New Business Talks, Biz/Zine, FINDERS
- - Website: bizcon-awards.com/2026
Company Overview
- - Company Name: Filament Inc.
- - Founded: April 9, 2015
- - CEO: Masaru Sumi
- - Location: Osaka, Osaka City, Chuo Ward, Minamihonmachi 2-1-1, 2F
- - Business Focus: Support for new business creation and talent development
- - Website: thefilament.jp
Topics Business Technology）
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