Creating the Future of Food and Agriculture from Higashi-Mikawa: "Food-Agri Hackathon" to be Held!

emCAMPUS STUDIO (operated by Sala Group / M-Campus Inc., Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture), an incubation facility promoting food and agriculture innovation in Higashi-Mikawa, will hold the "Food and Agriculture Hackathon 2026" on July 18 (Sat) and August 1 (Sat), 2026. The event is organized and operated by emCAMPUS STUDIO and Lirem Inc.

This year's program has been significantly updated from the traditional short-term intensive format. It will be implemented as an unprecedented "practice-based business validation program" that integrates not only idea generation but also a two-week challenge validation period and market validation (MVP validation) at the large-scale event "Higashi-Mikawa FOOD DAYS" to be held in September.

▼Details and Entry Here

https://hackathon2026.peatix.com/

Background: Why Hold a "Food and Agriculture Hackathon" in Higashi-Mikawa?

The Higashi-Mikawa area of Aichi Prefecture supports Japan's food supply as one of the nation's leading agricultural production regions. However, the environment surrounding food and agriculture is currently at a major turning point, facing challenges such as population decline, labor shortages, and climate change. In response to these regional issues, there is an urgent need to foster human resources who can independently create sustainable businesses by combining new perspectives with the latest technologies.

To this end, "emCAMPUS STUDIO" has held short-term intensive "Food and Agriculture Hackathons" three times in the past, aiming to foster innovation and develop talent in the food and agriculture sector, generating many new ideas.

【This Year's Evolution】Renewed as a "Business Validation Type" to Prevent Ideas from Being Transient

In its fourth year, this year's program has been significantly revamped. Addressing the challenge observed in past events that "ideas from short-term events tend to be transient," we have completely renewed it into a "practice-based business validation program" that goes beyond a mere idea contest.

To nurture the generated ideas into real businesses originating from the region by aligning them with actual market needs, this year's event packages a two-week challenge validation period and market validation (MVP validation) at the large-scale event "Higashi-Mikawa FOOD DAYS" in September.

Three Features of "Food and Agriculture Hackathon 2026"

1. Newly Established Two-Week "Challenge Validation Support Period" to Thoroughly Enhance Resolution

A two-week challenge validation period will be established between Day 1 (July 18) and Day 2 (August 1). During this period, the operating team and mentors will provide support, validating the feasibility of ideas through customer interviews and questionnaire design. The resolution of the business will be enhanced through repeated hypothesis testing and verification.

2. Opportunity for Market Validation (MVP Validation) at the Large-Scale Event "Higashi-Mikawa FOOD DAYS"

The grand prize-winning team will be granted a special booth exhibition at the large-scale event "Higashi-Mikawa FOOD DAYS," held on September 11 (Fri) and 12 (Sat). This provides an opportunity to conduct test marketing of actual products and services in a venue where over 200 key figures and buyers from the food and agriculture sectors gather from across the country. Additional support will be provided for prototype production for the exhibition.

3. Diverse Top Runners from Tradition and Innovation Participate as Mentors

Participants' ideas will be refined into practical business plans by combining the speed of startups, the on-site knowledge of long-established companies, and the business-building capabilities to deliver products to the market.

【"Food and Agriculture Hackathon 2026" Event Overview】

▼Date and Time

Day 1: July 18, 2026 (Sat)

Challenge Validation Period: July 19, 2026 (Sun) - July 31, 2026 (Fri)

Day 2: August 1, 2026 (Sat)

▼Venue

emCAMPUS STUDIO (5F, emCAMPUS EAST, 2-81 Ekimae Odori, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture)

▼Target Audience

Individuals interested in business development in the food and agriculture sector, entrepreneurs, engineers, creators, students, etc., who wish to combine their technology or ideas with the food and agriculture domain.

*No prior specialized knowledge of the food and agriculture sector is required.

▼Capacity

20 people (first-come, first-served basis)

▼Participation Fee

5,000 yen (tax included)

▼Application Deadline

July 11, 2026 (Sat) 23:59

▼Details and Entry Here

https://hackathon2026.peatix.com/

Organizer/Operator

About emCAMPUS STUDIO

emCAMPUS STUDIO is an incubation facility operated by Sala Group. With the concept of "co-creation," meaning to create new value together, it offers four main services: "Learning Programs," "Challenge Support," "Meeting Room Rentals," and "Coworking Spaces." It supports business creation that leads to vibrant living in the region, aiming to realize a prosperous future for Higashi-Mikawa.

[Website] https://www.em-campus.jp/studio/

About Lirem Inc.

Lirem Inc. envisions "a society where everyone can live embodying their own thoughts and philosophies." The company forms "OKIBI," a team of selected students and entrepreneurs who work together to develop new businesses from scratch (0 to 1) for companies, and implements organizational transformation programs such as "NOROSHI." To create the next future of Japan from the regions, Lirem Inc. strongly promotes the development of next-generation human resources and the launch of new businesses for regional companies at the field level, leveraging its network of young entrepreneur candidates spread across the country.

[Website] https://lirem.co.jp/

【Contact Information for Inquiries】

emCAMPUS STUDIO

* Address: 5F, emCAMPUS EAST, 2-81 Ekimae Odori, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture * Contact Persons: Harada, Nagami * TEL: 0532-57-5016 * Mail: studio@em-campus.jp