#Open Innovation #Japan #Tokyo #Creww #Tokyo Innovation Base

Creww Selected for TIB Open Innovation Program

Creww Inc. has recently been chosen as a facilitator for the Tokyo Innovation Base's (TIB) Open Innovation Program for the fiscal year 2025. This partnership aims to enhance collaboration between large enterprises and startups, addressing challenges related to their core business activities in Japan's capital city.

The TIB, operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aspires to ignite innovation from within the city. Since launching this program in 2024, TIB has been dedicated to promoting effective open innovation through collaborations between startups and major corporations. The program has selected three accelerators, each providing unique support to boost large enterprises' involvement in open innovation.

Creww Inc., under the leadership of CEO Sorato Iijichi, is well-prepared to contribute. With over 13 years of experience and more than 550 instances of supporting open innovation initiatives involving corporations and local governments, Creww has developed a robust network of nearly 9,000 startups. This extensive experience positions them to facilitate workshops, collaboration initiatives, and business matching, all aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of open innovation projects.

Overview of the Program

The TIB Open Innovation Program is specifically focused on helping enterprises engage with startups to address existing business challenges. Creww has been selected to lead the 'Business Synergy Course,' which aims to enhance the innovation process among participating companies.

Through this course, Creww offers a series of training sessions, including five lectures and two workshops. It also provides individualized consultation and matching support—such as introductions to startups, pitch preparation, collaboration plan development, and Proof of Concept (PoC) assistance. The ultimate goal is to foster collaborations that lead to the creation of first customers for startups.

Graduates of this course will emerge as capable leaders in open innovation, gaining both practical and theoretical insights. At the end of the program, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their成果 at two key venues: TIB and SusHi Tech Tokyo.

For more information about the program, you can visit their official page

Call for Participation

The program is set to commence from the end of November 2025 to March 2026. The application period will be open from October 24, 2025, to November 14, 2025, at 5 PM. It targets large enterprises looking to embark on open innovation.

Key Requirements for Participation:

1. Willingness to begin real collaboration with startups and recognition of the need for program support.
2. Commitment to actively participate in open innovation-related events hosted by the Tokyo Government, including outcome presentations.

Additional details regarding eligibility and selection criteria can be found here. Participants are required to pay a fee of 5,000 yen (including tax) per person, with applications open to approximately five companies.

About Creww Inc.

Founded on August 13, 2012, Creww Inc. is located in Shibuya, Tokyo, and operates Japan's largest open innovation platform. The firm boasts a capital of 1.08455 billion yen (including capital surplus). Creww operates an open innovation community designed to support startups, entrepreneurs, and corporations alike—following their vision of creating an age of great challenges.

Since its inception, Creww has hosted over 550 open innovation programs, successfully fostering around 1,500 collaborations, making it one of the most accomplished companies in this field in Japan. Their platform now enables startups to connect with corporations not only in Japan but also in broader Asian markets, including contributions to innovation ecosystems in South Korea and Taiwan.

In summary, Creww's selection for the TIB program emphasizes their role in advancing open innovation, nurturing collaboration between startups and established enterprises to create a thriving innovation landscape in Tokyo and beyond.