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Creating Peace through Technology: The PeaceTech Awards

In a world increasingly affected by social challenges and conflicts, the PeaceTech Award Executives Committee, supported by the International Peace Center Hiroshima and Tokyo Community, has announced the second iteration of the PeaceTech Award, aimed at uncovering innovative startups that leverage digital technologies to address fundamental societal issues obstructing peace. Open for entries starting today, the initiative is a call to celebrate and support the growth of PeaceTech businesses.

Purpose of the Award

The PeaceTech Award acknowledges not only passive peace, which is the absence of war and conflict but also promotes active peace, resulting in sustainable solutions that eradicate poverty, oppression, and discrimination. By utilizing technologies like deep tech, the aim is to birth a PeaceTech industry that emerges from Japan and spreads worldwide.

To achieve this, the award focuses on identifying role models among PeaceTech entrepreneurs in Japan, helping them gain social support as their significance and growth become recognized as corporate values. This year, the award introduces an Audience Award powered by general voting on the READYFOR crowdfunding platform, which is set to launch in September. This encourages everyone who resonates with the vision of PeaceTech to participate by becoming active agents of peace.

Award Details

Categories of Recognition

The awards will honor achievements in two critical areas related to reducing divisions and enhancing safety:

1. Crisis Management Category: Addressing divisions, conflicts, disasters or threats, aimed at achieving resilience ensuring business operations and society continue. (Examples include disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and economic security.)

2. Active Peace Category: Fostering an inclusive society that eliminates structural violence caused by poverty, disparities, oppression, and discrimination, enabling everyone to participate with dignity. (Examples include human rights, diversity, and well-being.)

In addition to a grand prize winner, two companies will also be recognized with jury and audience awards from each category.

Special Features of the Award

Finalists will receive support mainly focused on enhancing their visibility as PeaceTech enterprises. Award-winning businesses will receive dedicated assistance that influences their growth trajectory as PeaceTech entities.

Award Schedule

• - August to early November 2026: Selection process for finalists (first and second rounds of evaluations).
• - Late November 2026: Announcement of finalists and launch of general voting.
• - Early December 2026: Award ceremony featuring pitch evaluations, on-the-day voting, and award determination.

Judging Panel

The judging committee for the second round includes experts from diverse sectors, including investors and entrepreneurs who will assess the finalists based on their keen insights into the evaluation criteria. Additional judges with experience in PeaceTech will be invited for the final round.

Participation Details

Entry Requirements

We welcome entries from unlisted startup companies that tackle fundamental and structural social issues that disrupt peace using digital technologies. Detailed requirements can be found in the entry guidelines.

Entry Period

Entries will be accepted from July 25, 2026, to August 14, 2026. Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by others, and additional pitch materials may enhance their evaluation.

Outcomes from Previous Years

Last year, the event attracted 150 applicants, leading to selection of 10 finalists and awarding 4 companies, as covered by platforms like Forbes Japan and Asahi Shimbun. The award ceremony also included opportunities for networking through the Venture Café program at TECH HUB YOKOHAMA, where investors and businesses could forge new partnerships.

Future Developments

In alignment with Japan’s Growth Strategy, which emphasizes collaboration in disaster management investment and growth investment across 17 strategic sectors, the PeaceTech Award committee is initiating endeavors to create a PeaceTech Consortium and fund. These efforts will facilitate partnerships and investment opportunities for PeaceTech enterprises.

Contact Information

For those seeking to engage as partners or interested in contributing to this initiative, please reach out to the PeaceTech Award Executives Committee via the provided contact form.