STATION Ai Launches Recruitment for July Cohort of 'SKIP Focus', an Open Innovation Support Program
STATION Ai Inc. will begin accepting applications on June 2, 2026, for the July cohort of 'SKIP Focus,' a six-month hands-on program designed to support partner companies in creating new businesses and developing open innovation talent.
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- 📰 Published: June 1, 2026 at 10:00
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STATION Ai Inc. (Headquarters: Showa-ku, Nagoya; President and CEO: Hirotaka Sahashi) announced that it will begin accepting applications on June 2, 2026 (Tuesday), for the July 2026 cohort of 'SKIP Focus,' a six-month hands-on program designed to support partner companies at 'STATION Ai,' one of Japan's largest open innovation hubs, in creating new businesses and developing talent to drive open innovation.
In this program, a dedicated open innovation coordinator is assigned to each company to provide end-to-end support, from designing collaboration themes to searching for and matching with startup partners. The program aims to create collaborative projects while fostering internal talent capable of driving future initiatives.
About 'SKIP Focus'
STATION Ai offers the 'SKIP' program, which combines lectures and practical application to foster both 'business' and 'people' in open innovation. 'SKIP Focus' is a specialized program within this framework that balances the creation of new businesses that contribute to top-line growth with the development of internal talent. Over approximately six months, participants engage in workshops and receive hands-on support to clarify corporate challenges, design collaboration themes, and identify potential partners. By having a dedicated coordinator, the program ensures that projects move beyond the consideration phase into actionable results.
Background
While interest in open innovation among Japanese companies has grown in recent years, successful commercialization remains rare. This is often due to structural issues such as a lack of clarity in business themes and the isolation of personnel tasked with driving new business. Through its interactions with approximately 600 startup members and 400 partner companies, STATION Ai has identified these challenges and developed 'SKIP Focus' to address them.
Program Offerings
- Six open innovation workshops
- Strategy formulation and theme design
- Support for internal stakeholder engagement and approval processes
- Search for startup partners (approx. 3-5 companies per participant)
- Support for creating search materials
- Hosting 'Reverse & Answer Pitches' to gather proposals from startups
- Support for partner selection and initial meetings
*All activities are supported by a dedicated coordinator.
Collaboration Examples
- Case 1: Nets Toyota Toyama and startup gin began collaborating on voice-interactive AI solutions.
- Case 2: Insight Lead and Velt began collaborating on AI-driven management DX tools for restaurants.
Program Overview (July 2026 Cohort)
- Application Period: June 2, 2026 – June 30, 2026
- Location: STATION Ai (1-2-32 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi)
In this program, a dedicated open innovation coordinator is assigned to each company to provide end-to-end support, from designing collaboration themes to searching for and matching with startup partners. The program aims to create collaborative projects while fostering internal talent capable of driving future initiatives.
About 'SKIP Focus'
STATION Ai offers the 'SKIP' program, which combines lectures and practical application to foster both 'business' and 'people' in open innovation. 'SKIP Focus' is a specialized program within this framework that balances the creation of new businesses that contribute to top-line growth with the development of internal talent. Over approximately six months, participants engage in workshops and receive hands-on support to clarify corporate challenges, design collaboration themes, and identify potential partners. By having a dedicated coordinator, the program ensures that projects move beyond the consideration phase into actionable results.
Background
While interest in open innovation among Japanese companies has grown in recent years, successful commercialization remains rare. This is often due to structural issues such as a lack of clarity in business themes and the isolation of personnel tasked with driving new business. Through its interactions with approximately 600 startup members and 400 partner companies, STATION Ai has identified these challenges and developed 'SKIP Focus' to address them.
Program Offerings
- Six open innovation workshops
- Strategy formulation and theme design
- Support for internal stakeholder engagement and approval processes
- Search for startup partners (approx. 3-5 companies per participant)
- Support for creating search materials
- Hosting 'Reverse & Answer Pitches' to gather proposals from startups
- Support for partner selection and initial meetings
*All activities are supported by a dedicated coordinator.
Collaboration Examples
- Case 1: Nets Toyota Toyama and startup gin began collaborating on voice-interactive AI solutions.
- Case 2: Insight Lead and Velt began collaborating on AI-driven management DX tools for restaurants.
Program Overview (July 2026 Cohort)
- Application Period: June 2, 2026 – June 30, 2026
- Location: STATION Ai (1-2-32 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi)
FAQ
Where is STATION Ai located?
It is located at 1-2-32 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.