[Gifu Prefecture x Marubeni x eiicon] Launching a program to accelerate open innovation between Gifu-based companies and startups!

eiicon Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Marubeni Corporation, has been commissioned by Gifu Prefecture to implement the 'FY2026 Open Innovation Promotion Support Project.' Through this project, eiicon and Marubeni will leverage their regional co-creation hubs and platforms to facilitate collaboration between companies in Gifu and startups across Japan. As a core initiative, Gifu Prefecture and eiicon are launching the 'Gifu Open Innovation Program (Gifu-OI)' to support the growth of local companies by fostering an open innovation culture and matching them with startups. eiicon, in partnership with Marubeni, will provide end-to-end support, from planning and design to operations and PR strategy, to promote sustainable industrial development and startup support in Gifu Prefecture. The project aims to build momentum, provide necessary knowledge, and establish frameworks for open innovation between startups with excellent products or technologies and local companies seeking to utilize them. Gifu-OI will host seminars in three areas within the prefecture and provide opportunities for new encounters with startups via 'AUBA,' one of Japan's largest open innovation platforms, aiming to create new businesses for local companies.