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Tokyo's New Startup Collaboration Initiative

Tokyo is making strides to become a top global destination for startups under its strategic initiative, "Global Innovation with STARTUPS." With the aim of being the most startup-friendly city in the world, Tokyo is enhancing its role as a "first customer" for various startup products and services. This year, Tokyo will continue its innovative approach through the launch of the "Interactive Startup Collaboration Project."

Project Overview

This initiative allows city employees and startups to engage in meaningful dialogues about urban challenges. Through these conversations, both parties will deepen their understanding of the issues at hand, identifying core problems and visualizing their underlying causes.

Selected startups will participate in pilot projects, collaborating with city officials to implement solutions in real-world settings. At the conclusion of these projects, a results presentation event will serve to effectively communicate the collaboration outcomes widely, paving the way for broader application of the successful solutions.

Process and Themes

The recruitment for startups will follow a structured process:

1. Startups will engage in dialogue with city officials.
2. Flagship projects will be developed based on priority challenges.
3. A public presentation of results will disseminate the findings.

Throughout the project, the city’s department will provide ongoing support to ensure successful collaboration.

Themes for Collaboration

For this year, the initiative is divided into two application phases, each focusing on different thematic challenges faced by various government departments. The first phase features:

1. Children's Policy Office: Utilizing a database to create safer products and services for children.
2. Taxation Bureau: Developing educational content for middle and high school students to communicate the importance of taxes.
3. Cultural Affairs Bureau: Promoting Edo culture domestically and internationally through digital technology.
4. Sports Promotion Headquarters: Enhancing visibility of para-sports activities to encourage volunteer participation.
5. Housing Policy Bureau: Leveraging AI and drones to improve the efficiency and accuracy of vacancy identifications.
6. Environment Bureau: Making greenhouse gas emissions from city facilities transparent to promote climate action.
7. Welfare Bureau: Creating digital content to simulate the needs of disabled persons to raise awareness.
8. Construction Bureau: Improving verification processes for construction contracts through digital tools.
9. Waterworks Bureau: Using digital tools to enhance public awareness of emergency water supply stations.
10. Sewerage Bureau: Streamlining road occupation documentation processes using AI and other digital technologies.

The second phase will introduce additional themes focusing on further integration of technology to support various municipal needs, including:

• - General Affairs Bureau: Proposing educational content using AI tailored to individual learning styles.
• - Safety Bureau: Developing engaging tools for public understanding of electric scooter safety.
• - Urban Development Bureau: Creating 3D representations of city characters for effective communication of information to residents.
• - Health and Welfare: Streamlining legislative processes using AI to enhance efficiency.
• - Markets Bureau: Centralizing management of electronic blueprints for operational efficiency.

Timeline

The project’s timeline is as follows:

• - Application Period:

- Phase 1: June 13-26.
- Phase 2: July 4-17.

• - Dialogue: Late July.
• - Pitch Event: Early August.
• - Solution Selection and Review: Mid-August.
• - Project Launch: Late August.

Legislation and administrative operations will prioritize efficiency and innovation, aligning with the broader goal of promoting Tokyo's "2050 Tokyo Strategy," particularly focusing on fostering a nurturing environment for startups.

For additional details and application procedures, please visit the dedicated project website: Startup Dialogue Project.