【AlphaDrive】Toyota City's Co-creation Community "SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge-", with 264 cumulative participants, Kicks Off its Second Year. A Place Where Toyota's Challengers and External Expertise Intersect
Toyota City's co-creation community "SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge-", co-hosted with AlphaDrive, has started its second year. With a cumulative total of 264 participants, it aims to connect Toyota's challengers with external expertise and create concrete co-creation projects.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 03:19 (15h 47m after Collected)
## What is SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge-?
Toyota City is a central hub for manufacturing in Japan, attracting diverse companies and talent, including the automotive industry. However, due to technological innovations like AI and IoT, and energy transitions, the industrial structure itself is undergoing a major transformation. In the midst of these changes, there is a greater need than ever for mechanisms that foster learning across industries and positions, and generate new challenges.
SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge- is an initiative that aims to create new challenges and co-creation from "Toyota City," the center of manufacturing in Japan.
Following the activities of its first year, the initiative for fiscal year 2026 has now begun. This second year is positioned as a phase to connect the enthusiasm of the community that emerged in the first year to more concrete co-creation, and we will proceed with three key enhancement points.
### Three Enhancement Points for Fiscal Year 2026
To develop the co-creation foundation formed in the first year into more concrete actions and sustainable results, we will focus on the following three enhancement points in fiscal year 2026:
**① Focus more on Toyota City's challengers (Top Priority)**
We will invite guests primarily from those who live or work in Toyota City to our regular events. By featuring local players who continue to take on challenges in various fields, and inviting external practitioners related to their challenge themes, we aim to create a space where "local challenges" and "external expertise" can intersect and create chemical reactions.
Toyota City has diverse challengers across various industries. By carefully visualizing each individual's efforts and connecting them with external challengers, we will provide monthly opportunities that inspire people to think, "I want to take action too."
**② Strengthen the online community**
To connect real-life encounters with daily interactions, we will fully strengthen our online community. Specifically, we will introduce "TUNAG," an internal communication platform provided by Stamen Inc. This will create a space where participants can continue to exchange information, consult, and plan their own projects even after events, updating the co-creation movement originating from monthly events on a daily basis.
**③ Prepare new mechanisms to support challenges**
Beyond just "learning" and "exchange," we are planning new mechanisms to visualize and celebrate challenges, providing participants with opportunities to actually take action after events. Details will be announced once finalized.
### The first event for fiscal year 2026 (vol.9) was held
The first regular event for fiscal year 2026, "SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge- vol.9," was held on April 23rd at "Monozukuri Sozo Kyoten SENTAN" (Manufacturing Creation Base SENTAN). Under the theme "Creating the Next Generation: Toyota City's Challenges," four participants challenging themselves through Toyota City's programs were invited as guests. A talk session, workshop, and networking event were conducted with approximately 50 participants. The venue was filled with enthusiasm from the guests' passionate stories.
### Comments from Stakeholders
**Host: Toyota City**
**Hisanori Hatanaka**
Manager, Next Generation Industry Division, Toyota City
In charge of the administrative side of this project, involved in the establishment and operation of SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge-.
"First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the participants who ran through the exploratory first year with us. Thanks to your enthusiasm, Edge was able to be born not just as a 'gathering' but as a 'lab' that produces co-creation. In the second year, our goal is to 'involve more colleagues than in the first year and give birth to as many concrete co-creation projects as possible from here!'
Edge is not just a place to learn knowledge. It is a platform for people with different backgrounds to mix, create chemical reactions, and shape businesses and values that will lead the next generation of Toyota City and Japan. It might be difficult alone, but with that person, it might be possible.
'You' are the one who will 'Edge' it!"
**Community Manager**
**Masayuki Ishikawa**
Project General Manager, Regional Co-creation Business Division, AlphaDrive Inc.
Born and raised in Toyota City. Involved in business development support for regional companies and entrepreneurs nationwide, including Toyota City's new business creation program "SPARK." Also participates in launching multiple businesses as an entrepreneur himself.
"SENTAN Co-creation Lab Edge, the second year of initiatives has started! The number of participants is gradually increasing, and it is evolving into a community where new exchanges and initiatives are born. Please come to Monozukuri Sozo Kyoten SENTAN to feel the enthusiasm of Toyota City!"
**Azusa Muramoto**
Representative Director, General Incorporated Association Monozukuri Avengers
Born and raised in Toyota City. A community for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
Toyota City is a central hub for manufacturing in Japan, attracting diverse companies and talent, including the automotive industry. However, due to technological innovations like AI and IoT, and energy transitions, the industrial structure itself is undergoing a major transformation. In the midst of these changes, there is a greater need than ever for mechanisms that foster learning across industries and positions, and generate new challenges.
SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge- is an initiative that aims to create new challenges and co-creation from "Toyota City," the center of manufacturing in Japan.
Following the activities of its first year, the initiative for fiscal year 2026 has now begun. This second year is positioned as a phase to connect the enthusiasm of the community that emerged in the first year to more concrete co-creation, and we will proceed with three key enhancement points.
### Three Enhancement Points for Fiscal Year 2026
To develop the co-creation foundation formed in the first year into more concrete actions and sustainable results, we will focus on the following three enhancement points in fiscal year 2026:
**① Focus more on Toyota City's challengers (Top Priority)**
We will invite guests primarily from those who live or work in Toyota City to our regular events. By featuring local players who continue to take on challenges in various fields, and inviting external practitioners related to their challenge themes, we aim to create a space where "local challenges" and "external expertise" can intersect and create chemical reactions.
Toyota City has diverse challengers across various industries. By carefully visualizing each individual's efforts and connecting them with external challengers, we will provide monthly opportunities that inspire people to think, "I want to take action too."
**② Strengthen the online community**
To connect real-life encounters with daily interactions, we will fully strengthen our online community. Specifically, we will introduce "TUNAG," an internal communication platform provided by Stamen Inc. This will create a space where participants can continue to exchange information, consult, and plan their own projects even after events, updating the co-creation movement originating from monthly events on a daily basis.
**③ Prepare new mechanisms to support challenges**
Beyond just "learning" and "exchange," we are planning new mechanisms to visualize and celebrate challenges, providing participants with opportunities to actually take action after events. Details will be announced once finalized.
### The first event for fiscal year 2026 (vol.9) was held
The first regular event for fiscal year 2026, "SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge- vol.9," was held on April 23rd at "Monozukuri Sozo Kyoten SENTAN" (Manufacturing Creation Base SENTAN). Under the theme "Creating the Next Generation: Toyota City's Challenges," four participants challenging themselves through Toyota City's programs were invited as guests. A talk session, workshop, and networking event were conducted with approximately 50 participants. The venue was filled with enthusiasm from the guests' passionate stories.
### Comments from Stakeholders
**Host: Toyota City**
**Hisanori Hatanaka**
Manager, Next Generation Industry Division, Toyota City
In charge of the administrative side of this project, involved in the establishment and operation of SENTAN Co-creation Lab -Edge-.
"First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the participants who ran through the exploratory first year with us. Thanks to your enthusiasm, Edge was able to be born not just as a 'gathering' but as a 'lab' that produces co-creation. In the second year, our goal is to 'involve more colleagues than in the first year and give birth to as many concrete co-creation projects as possible from here!'
Edge is not just a place to learn knowledge. It is a platform for people with different backgrounds to mix, create chemical reactions, and shape businesses and values that will lead the next generation of Toyota City and Japan. It might be difficult alone, but with that person, it might be possible.
'You' are the one who will 'Edge' it!"
**Community Manager**
**Masayuki Ishikawa**
Project General Manager, Regional Co-creation Business Division, AlphaDrive Inc.
Born and raised in Toyota City. Involved in business development support for regional companies and entrepreneurs nationwide, including Toyota City's new business creation program "SPARK." Also participates in launching multiple businesses as an entrepreneur himself.
"SENTAN Co-creation Lab Edge, the second year of initiatives has started! The number of participants is gradually increasing, and it is evolving into a community where new exchanges and initiatives are born. Please come to Monozukuri Sozo Kyoten SENTAN to feel the enthusiasm of Toyota City!"
**Azusa Muramoto**
Representative Director, General Incorporated Association Monozukuri Avengers
Born and raised in Toyota City. A community for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies.