[Social X] Creating Businesses with Local Governments. 'Social X Acceleration for AICHI' Launched, Utilizing the Entire Aichi Prefecture as a Demonstration Field | Call for Participating Companies

Social X Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Daiki Ito; hereinafter, 'the Company') has been commissioned to implement the 'Municipal Public-Private Co-creation Project Creation Support Project,' which is the successor to the 'Municipal Public-Private Partnership Project Creation Support Project' conducted in Aichi Prefecture in FY2025. In this project, we will continue to provide support for acquiring knowledge and know-how related to public-private co-creation to municipalities within Aichi Prefecture, as in FY2025, and also offer practical opportunities for small-scale starts. Furthermore, for companies both inside and outside Aichi Prefecture, we will provide an acceleration program (Social X Acceleration*1) that supports the design and growth of businesses that balance social and business aspects, premised on open innovation (public-private co-creation) with local governments. Through these initiatives, we aim to foster momentum for public-private co-creation across Aichi Prefecture and promote the formation of an innovation ecosystem where local governments and companies continuously create value. For details and entry, please visit: Official Website: https://sac.socialx.inc/ Application Overview: https://sac.socialx.inc/programs/ff0da303-d1b9-4e2e-8f65-2f51452469db/application Background Aichi Prefecture is advancing various initiatives to become an international innovation city, with the 'Aichi-Startup Strategy' aiming to create innovation driven by startups, centered around 'STATION Ai,' Japan's largest startup support hub, and the 'Innovation Business Creation Strategy' creating public-private partnership projects initiated by private proposals. Key measures include: October 2018: Formulation of Aichi-Startup Strategy *2 December 2022: Formulation of Innovation Business Creation Strategy *3 October 2024: Opening of STATION Ai *4 In FY2025, the focus was primarily on fostering momentum for public-private co-creation in municipalities. This year, we will continue and deepen these efforts, while widely recruiting companies from both within and outside Aichi Prefecture that can respond to this enthusiasm. Through the acceleration program, we will connect innovative businesses that balance social and business aspects to social implementation. There are no restrictions on company size. As a pioneer in open innovation (public-private co-creation) between companies and local governments, our company has developed services such as 'Reverse Proposal,' 'Social X Acceleration,' 'Social X Impact Fund,' and 'Social X Studio.' We have consistently supported business development through open innovation (public-private co-creation) between companies aiming to solve social issues and local governments working on social challenges. Our track record of specialized support for co-creation between companies and local governments tackling social issues has been recognized, and we have been entrusted with the planning and operation of this project. Business Content Various training sessions for all municipalities in the prefecture, fostering a public-private co-creation culture, etc. Support for verbalizing social issues Holding government pitches for private companies Organizing exchange events with companies Holding seminars on business development that balances social and business aspects Organizing exchange events with local governments Holding workshops to learn about creating social impact and business development through public-private co-creation Providing mentoring by public-private co-creation specialists Implementing 'Reverse Proposal' (*5) to create co-creation opportunities with local governments Implementing demonstration experiments with local governments (with support funds) and providing ongoing support for social implementation Future Development Through this project, our company will further promote open innovation (public-private co-creation) between companies and local governments, providing integrated support from talent development for co-creation to business development and social implementation. We will also accelerate the creation and implementation of innovation that balances social and business aspects, starting from the social issues faced by each municipality in Aichi Prefecture. Through these initiatives, we will contribute to the evolution of Aichi Prefecture into an area where innovative businesses are continuously born. Comment from Minoru Moriya, New Business Creator and Chairman of the Judging Committee: I am honored to serve as the Chairman of the Judging Committee. I have observed Social X's initiatives since its inception, and I feel strong potential in its consistent and careful accumulation of numerous high-quality projects that balance social and business aspects through public-private co-creation. As an ambassador for STATION Ai, I expect effective initiatives leading to implementation to emerge through this acceleration program. I look forward to the creation of businesses that expand from Aichi to the entire nation and the world. Taku Honda, Innovation Planning Division, Innovation Business Creation Department, Economic Affairs Bureau, Aichi Prefectural Government Keywords: