eiicon Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Ayuko Nakamura; hereinafter 'eiicon'), which operates Japan's largest open innovation platform 'AUBA (Auba)', has been entrusted for the first time with the 'Support for Co-Creation and Development of Municipal Healthy Life Expectancy Initiatives' project implemented by Osaka Prefecture (hereinafter 'this project').

This project marks eiicon's first business contract with Osaka Prefecture.

Through this project, eiicon aims to foster an ecosystem within Osaka Prefecture where diverse players—including municipalities, companies and startups, universities and research institutions, and support organizations—collaborate. The company will work to create an advanced public-private co-creation model that extends healthy life expectancy by addressing health challenges unique to each region.

At the core of this project, eiicon will implement a program (hereinafter 'this program') that promotes co-creation between cutting-edge technologies and services offered by companies and startups and the health challenges faced by municipalities within Osaka Prefecture. The program will provide comprehensive support—from identifying challenges and matching with partner companies to pilot projects and eventual implementation and scaling within local governments.

Notably, this program will be operated in collaboration with 'i2.JP (i2-dot-JP)', a healthcare open innovation ecosystem operated by AstraZeneca K.K. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka; President and CEO: Andrew Barnett; hereinafter 'AstraZeneca').

i2.JP is one of Japan's largest healthcare ecosystems, with approximately 580 participating partners. Since its launch in November 2020, it has connected industry, government, academia, and citizens to collaboratively solve healthcare challenges and generate practical, optimal solutions through collective intelligence. By leveraging AstraZeneca's network and expertise, the program will accelerate co-creation between Osaka's municipalities and companies/startups, advancing efforts to solve health challenges and extend healthy life expectancy.

Osaka Prefecture × eiicon

Background of Osaka Prefecture's 'Support for Co-Creation and Development of Municipal Healthy Life Expectancy Initiatives'

Osaka Prefecture has established 'extending healthy life expectancy' and 'reducing health disparities' as core goals under its 'Fourth Osaka Prefectural Health Promotion Plan'. However, the healthy life expectancy of Osaka residents remains below the national average, and health disparities among municipalities persist.

Additionally, with the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo, expectations are rising for the social implementation of advanced healthcare technologies and services.

Against this backdrop, this project will leverage healthcare technologies and expertise from companies exhibiting at the Osaka-Kansai Expo to promote public-private co-creation aimed at solving health challenges in each municipality and extending healthy life expectancy.

Public-Private Co-Creation Program for Extending Healthy Life Expectancy by Osaka Prefecture × eiicon

This program is designed to foster co-creation between Osaka's municipalities and companies/startups, starting from the unique health challenges of each municipality. eiicon will utilize its expertise and nationwide network developed through operating Japan's largest open innovation platform 'AUBA' and years of supporting open innovation across Japan to implement the following initiatives:

① Health Challenge Analysis and Theme Design for Municipalities

Based on health-related data and regional characteristics held by Osaka Prefecture, the program will identify health challenges specific to each municipality. Through interviews and consultations with municipalities, themes with high potential for co-creation-based solutions will be extracted.

② Matching with Companies and Startups

The program will conduct matching primarily with companies and startups in the healthcare sector across Japan. It will aim to create optimal combinations between municipal challenges and innovative technologies and services emerging from the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

③ Networking Events

Networking events will be held to enable direct dialogue between municipal officials and representatives from companies and startups. By sharing health challenges and technological opportunities, the events aim to generate new co-creation opportunities.

④ Pilot and Social Implementation Support

After matching, the program will provide support in designing pilot projects, evaluating their effectiveness, and offering hands-on assistance toward commercialization. Support will go beyond mere pilot testing, aiming for sustainable implementation and public adoption within local governments.

□ Program Schedule (Tentative)

* Detailed schedule will be announced via press release upon finalization.

2026

July 14: Program Launch (This press release)

July 14: Seminar and workshop for municipalities on challenge design

Late August to Late September: Public announcement of themes and call for partner companies

Early September: Networking event

Late October: Finalization of matched partners

November onwards: Development of co-creation plans and pilot project implementation

□ Inquiries about the Program

Osaka Prefecture × eiicon Public-Private Co-Creation Program for Extending Healthy Life Expectancy Operational Secretariat (Operated by eiicon Inc.)

TEL: 03-6670-3273

Email: yarude-kenkatsu (@) eiicon.net

* Please replace (@) with @

□ eiicon Company Overview https://corp.eiicon.net/

Company Name: eiicon Inc.

Representative: President and CEO Ayuko Nakamura

Established: April 3, 2023

Headquarters: 2F, Tobu 36 Mori Building, 3-4-7 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Relocating to this address from April 1, 2026)

Kansai Hub (within KiP, Hyogo Startup Plaza): 56 Naniwacho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

Tokai Branch: STATION Ai, 1-2-32 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi

Shizuoka Hub: B1F FUSE, Zaza City Hamamatsu Chuo Building, 100-1 Kajicho, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka

Kanagawa Hub (within WeWork Ocean Gate Minatomirai): 8F, Ocean Gate Minatomirai, 3-7-1 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa

Okinawa Hub ① (within Lagoon KOZA / KSA Works): 1-7-8 Chuo, Okinawa City, Okinawa

Okinawa Hub ② (within Have a good day): 18-4 Higashi-machi, Naha City, Okinawa

Singapore (eiicon Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.): 20 Anson Road, #11-01 Twenty Anson, Singapore 079912

Business Activities:

Operation of the open innovation platform 'AUBA', event planning and support services, sourcing services, etc.

eiicon Inc. supports commercialization through its Japan's largest open innovation platform and hands-on consulting specialized in open innovation (OI), providing OI support tailored to each company's business phase.

What is Open Innovation?

A methodology proposed in 2003 by Henry W. Chesbrough (USA) that 'creates innovative new value by combining internal and external media and technologies'. It advocates actively collaborating with external partners rather than relying solely on internal resources.

eiicon's Services

Japan's largest open innovation platform 'AUBA'

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Partnership
  • Organizations: eiicon / i2.JP
  • Products / services: AUBA / i2.JP