Nagoya City Launches 'Hatch Technology NAGOYA 2026' Call for Proposals to Solve Administrative and Social Challenges with Advanced Technologies

Community Link (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative: Masayuki Nakanishi), the NPO operating 'Hatch Technology NAGOYA,' Nagoya City’s advanced technology social demonstration support program, has announced 16 challenge themes for this year’s issue-driven support initiative and opened a call for proposals.

Applications will close on Sunday, July 12, with demonstrator projects to be selected by late August. The collaboration period will extend until the end of February next year. For demonstration projects, Nagoya City will cover part of the associated costs—up to 1.5 million yen for administrative challenges or up to 3 million yen for social challenges.

## What is 'Hatch Technology NAGOYA'?

Nagoya City launched 'Hatch Technology NAGOYA' to promote research, development, and social implementation of technologies and to attract businesses possessing advanced technologies. Starting in 2019, this marks the program’s eighth year.

One of the program’s key initiatives, the 'Issue-Driven Support Project,' aims to solve challenges faced by various city departments through collaborative demonstrations with private companies. The program invites technology-driven enterprises to Nagoya to conduct social demonstrations across diverse urban fields, fostering innovation and a culture of challenge. We welcome applications from companies eager to co-create this vision of Nagoya.

Selected projects will receive funding of up to 1.5 million yen for administrative issues or up to 3 million yen for social issues (both per challenge, tax included) to cover demonstration project expenses. The effectiveness of these projects will be evaluated through this year’s development and demonstration experiments, with plans for future deployment to be considered thereafter.

## Call for Proposals and Online Challenge Briefing Session

Proposals are being solicited for eight administrative challenges and eight social challenges. Submitted proposals will undergo a three-stage review process: first screening (document review), second screening (online interviews), and a final selection meeting. Ultimately, eight demonstration projects—combining both administrative and social challenges—will be selected, with projects commencing from late August.

※ At least one project each will be selected from the 'Green Transformation' and 'Digital Transformation (DX)' categories within the social challenges.

※ Bonus points will be awarded to companies with headquarters or branches located within Nagoya City. For details, please refer to the official website’s application guidelines.

## Online Challenge Briefing Session (June 30, 2026, 13:00–15:30)

A challenge briefing session will be held to deepen understanding through dialogue with city officials regarding this year’s 16 challenge themes. Participation is highly encouraged. Details and registration can be found here.

### Event Overview

- Date and Time: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 13:00–15:30 (2.5 hours)
- Format: Zoom Meeting

### Program Schedule

The session will be divided into two parts based on challenge categories.

#### Part 1: Administrative Challenges (8 themes)
- 13:00–13:05 (5 min): Opening Remarks (Next-Generation Industry Promotion Division, Nagoya City)
- 13:05–13:15 (10 min): Overview of Hatch Technology NAGOYA
- 13:15–14:00 (45 min): Breakout Rooms (Sub-sessions) – Q&A between city departments and companies
- 14:00–14:05 (5 min): Common Q&A, General Q&A, Application Notes
- 14:05–14:30 (25 min): Break

#### Part 2: Social Challenges (8 themes)
- 14:30–14:40 (10 min): Overview of Hatch Technology NAGOYA
- 14:40–15:25 (45 min): Breakout Rooms (Sub-sessions) – Q&A between city departments and companies
- 15:25–15:30 (5 min): Common Q&A, General Q&A, Application Notes, Closing Remarks (Secretariat)
- 15:30: End

## 16 Challenges Announced – Apply by July 12 (Sunday)

## Administrative Challenges (8 themes)

### Farewell to On-Site Inspections Under the Scorching Sun – DX for Fixed Asset Tax Farmland Surveys

Tax inspections requiring staff to visit every farmland under intense heat impose a significant burden. We aim to leverage satellites, drones, and AI to narrow down inspection targets and transition to more efficient surveys. (Details here)

Responsible Division: Fixed Asset Tax Division, Finance Bureau

### AI to the Rescue of 'Departing Experts' – Addressing the Crisis Facing Consumer Consultation Services

Consumer consultation services are under strain due to heavy data entry workloads and the aging of consultants. We aim to use AI to streamline operations, enabling high-quality responses and rapid documentation regardless of staff experience. (Details here)

Responsible Division: Consumer Affairs Division, Sports and Citizens Bureau

### AI Cameras for Food Safety and Animal Welfare

We aim to reduce the workload on meat inspection officers and address animal welfare concerns during live pig inspections by introducing AI camera-based screening, transforming the system into a more efficient and intelligent one. (Details here)

Responsible Division: Meat Hygiene Inspection Office, Health and Welfare Bureau

### From Search to Consultation: Delivering 'Unreached Support' to Single-Parent Households via AI

Many busy single parents cannot visit service counters and thus miss out on necessary support. We aim to ensure everyone can easily access accurate information and support through 24/7 rapid guidance systems. (Details here)

Responsible Division: Children’s Future Planning Division, Children and Youth Bureau

### Solving 'Vibrancy Creation' with Data – Demonstrating the Impact of SRT

We aim to establish objective measurement methods and indicators to evaluate the impact of the new surface public transportation system SRT on 'downtown circulation and vibrancy.' (Details here)

Responsible Division: Transportation Project Promotion Division, Housing and Urban Bureau

### AI Intervention in School Facility Repair Budget Allocation: From 'Request → Assessment → Budget Allocation'

For repair requests from Nagoya’s 414 schools and kindergartens, we aim to use AI to objectively and visually assess priority levels and allocation justifications, improving efficiency while establishing a fair and transparent budget allocation process. (Details here)

Responsible Division: School Facilities Division, Board of Education

### Fostering Enjoyment in Physical Education: Creating New School PE with Advanced Technology

In response to declining children’s physical activity due to environmental changes, we aim to use advanced technology to create innovative PE classes that enhance students’ sense of achievement and motivation to exercise. (Details here)

Responsible Division: School Health Division, Board of Education

### Transforming the 'Hard-to-Park Ward Office' – Tackling Congestion with Smart Technology

We aim to alleviate chronic congestion around the Meito Ward Office parking area through AI-based congestion visualization and dispersal guidance, reducing traffic jams and improving visitor satisfaction. (Details here)

Responsible Division: General Affairs Division, Meito Ward Office

## Social Challenges (8 themes)

### [Green Transformation] Creating New Use Cases for Hydrogen Technology

We aim to develop new use cases for hydrogen technology that stimulate urban hydrogen demand and promote the establishment of a local hydrogen supply chain. (Details here)

Responsible Division: Next-Generation Industry Promotion Division, Economy Bureau

### [Green Transformation] A City Where Recycling Feels Natural – Technologically Driving Citizen Behavior Change

For household plastic recycling, we aim to use AI and other technologies to reduce sorting burdens and create systems that encourage participation among demographics unresponsive to current city outreach, thereby driving behavioral change. (Details here)

Responsible Division: Resource Circulation Planning Division, Environment Bureau

### [DX] Beyond Check-In: DX for Evacuation Center Management – AI Support for Operators and Evacuees

Reception, supply distribution, health monitoring, etc.