Recruitment Begins for the 2026 (25th Term) 'NEC Social Entrepreneurship Program'

NEC has begun accepting applications for the 2026 (25th term) 'NEC Social Entrepreneurship Program,' a training initiative for young social entrepreneurs. The program aims to foster entrepreneurs working to solve social issues, aligned with NEC's purpose of 'creating social value through safety, security, fairness, and efficiency.' The 'NEC Social Entrepreneurship Program' was launched in 2002 in collaboration with the NPO ETIC. as Japan's first program to support young social entrepreneurs. It has produced many entrepreneurs who have pioneered efforts to address social issues, including those represented by the SDGs. In recent years, the program has been highly acclaimed, being introduced as an advanced case study of corporate-social sector collaboration in recommendations by the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, and featured at the global innovation conference 'SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026.' Furthermore, starting this year, a support team for the program has been established within the 'NEC Pro Bono Club,' a community of employee volunteers. This aims to expand opportunities for dialogue and co-creation between employees and social entrepreneurs, promoting mutual learning and transformation while fostering deeper understanding and empathy for social issues. [2026 Program Overview] 1. Period: September 2026 – March 2027. 2. Capacity: Up to 4 organizations. 3. Target Projects: Businesses that can create social value through collaboration with NEC using AI and digital technology. 4. Requirements: Social entrepreneurs with 2-3 years of business experience, a strong will to solve social issues, and a willingness to accept mentoring. 5. Schedule: Application deadline is July 6 (Mon) at 9:00 AM. Please refer to the official website for details.