Introduction: Vision of the Kitakyushu SDGs Startup Ecosystem Consortium
Features of Kitakyushu:(5) Implemented the “Project to Achieve aProductivity Revolution among Manufacturers(1) Kitakyushu Science and Research Park conducts a range R&D projects: (see pp. 21-22)
with Innovative Technology” (see p. 10)
・Regional Innovation Cluster Program—Total operating costs of ¥8 billion
・Intellectual Cluster Creation Project—Total operating costs of ¥2.5 billion⇒ Sales of products developed via partnerships between companies and universities:¥35.6 billion(2) Supports startups with the Kitakyushu Foundation for the Advancement of Industry, Issues:
Science and Technology (FAIS) and Compass Kokura (see p. 28)(1) Lack of user-centric technology and product(3) Has an abundance of companies of all sizes—from large to SMEs—representing
development
industries such as steel and robotics(2) Few companies have scaled out
・Value of shipments of manufactured steel goods:(3) Tech startups need long-term support up
No. 1 among ordinance-designated cities in Japanthrough product launch・Value of shipments of manufactured robotics goods:(4)
Valueof shipments of manufactured goods ofNo. 2 among ordinance-designated cities in Japan
Kitakyushu-based
companies have remained(4) Offers an area for pilot testing and research centered on Eco-Town projects, featuresat¥2
trillioninrecentyears
an industrial center for environmental-related businesses, and has an extensive track(5)
Needtoexpandpartnerships
between startups
record of rolling out businesses in Asia in fields such as the environment andandenvironmental
andwaterworks
businesses
waterworks
launched through public-private partnerships
・Value of orders outside Japan in the environmental and waterworks business: ¥31
billion (see p. 9 & 15)

Features of the Consortium:(1) Built system to support market-focused product development(2) Accumulates know-how, and trains and invites people neededfor scaling out(3) Built system that enables long-term support for startups(4) Built a partnership system that ensures startups andKitakyushu-based companies grow together(5) Combines the city government’s international network offriendship cities and companies’ global business networks

The Consortium’s Vision

・Create a tech ecosystem centered on DX, and our strengths of the environment and robotics
・Produce startups with technical and business knowledge from universities andtechnical schools (see p. 25)
・Update existing industries and bring about innovation by forming partnerships
between startups and Kitakyushu-based companies (see p. 11)

・Create new industries and lifestyles by merging nursing carewith robotics and other innovations (see p. 10)
・Leverage technology to tackle solutions to social problems inJapan and around the world (see p. 15)

Scale-out Engine(see p. 17)
・
Private-sector-led Committee Provides Scale-out Support (Committee of Global Acceleration Program in Kitakyushu)
・Comprised of major Kitakyushu-based manufacturers, major national financial institutions, and VC firms (14 companies), the Committee offers
comprehensive support by providing accompaniment of mentors with extensive knowledge in assisting startups
・Provides support for global expansion leveraging the network of global companies in Kitakyushu and the network of companies that have rolled out
environmental and waterworks businesses in Asia

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I. Driving Force to Build the Ecosystem
The Consortium’s Create a tech ecosystem centered on DX, and our strengths of the environment and robotics
Provide support to startups with the city’s industrial center for robotics and other businesses, and via partnerships withVisionresearch institutes in Kitakyushu Science and Research Park, with the goal of becoming an SDGs Future City・The chairman of the consortium is Kitakyushu mayor Kenji Kitahashi, who also serves as chairman of the Cabinet Office’s RuralRevitalization SDGs Public-Private Partnership Platform. The consortium helps startups participate in city projects such asindustrial and nursing care robot projects, and leverages the city’s network in Asia and other regions built in the fields of theenvironment and waterworks to promote global business expansion. It contributes to achieving SDGs with the power ofstartups.
・Furthermore, the consortium has established the private-sector-led Committee of Global Acceleration Program in Kitakyushu,
which provides robust assistance such as mentor accompaniment to help startups scale out, collaborations with major
Kitakyushu-based companies, and global expansion support. The Committee chairman is engineer and executive Junji Tsuda,
Yaskawa Electric’s Chairman of the Board and former president of the International Federation of Robotics (see p. 17).

The Consortium’s KPIs (total by FY 2024)(1) Create 1 unicorn company, (2) establish 100 startups in Kitakyushu, (3) utilize 20 startup visas
JEPLAN

Leadinginnovators

Manufactures
polyester products thatare equal in quality topetroleum-basedmaterials from textile
waste(examples ofKitakyushu-basedstartups)
Recycled polyester manufacturing plant

Speaking at the UN General AssemblyStartup from KIT

ReifKiQ Robotics

Developed a robot
assistant forwalking rehab

Developed multipurpose robotic
handOn-Grit
Engineering
Developed aninfrastructure
inspection robot

Robust startup support
system based on publicprivate partnerships(High-level government platform)

Chairman of the Kitakyushu SDGs Startup Ecosystem Consortium Chairman of the Committee of Global Acceleration Program in Kitakyushu
Junji Tsuda (Yaskawa Electric Chairman of the Board)
Kenji Kitahashi (Mayor of Kitakyushu)

The Committee makes full use of private-sector

The Consortium makes full use of Kitakyushu's potential to resources, and provides comprehensive support tosupport startups.

entrepreneurs aiming to create unicorn companies

Kitakyushu Science andResearch Park aims tobecome a scientific research
hub for Asia

Track-record ininfrastructure inspectionpilot tests

Global network in environmental
and waterworks businesses(support for waterworks businessin Vietnam)

Committee of Global Acceleration Program in Kitakyushu Members:★ 7 financial institutions (make financing proposals), Nomura Securities andDaiwa Securities (introduces companies to potential partners)★ Nippon Venture Capital, GxPartners LLP (investment)★ Yaskawa Electric (collaborations, chairpersonship, and provides financial
support to the Committee)★ TOTO, Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo (collaborations, provides financial supportto the Committee)2

I. Driving Force to Build the Ecosystem
Organizational Structure and Roles:
We aim to create unicorn companies in Kitakyushu that contribute to achieving SDGs throughpartnerships between private-sector companies, universities and technical schools, and government.
・Private-sector companies have formed the Committee of Global Acceleration Program in Kitakyushu, which offers robust support such asproviding mentor accompaniment to help startups scale out and collaborations with major Kitakyushu-based companies, and promotes
open innovation.
・Universities and technical schools develop core technology for robotics and other tech, cultivate human resources (by fostering entrepreneurs
and offering recurrent education), and provide support to international students to start businesses in partnership with the city government.
・The city government provides support for expanding outside Japan through its partnership with JETRO and JICA and network ofinternational cooperation with Asian cities, in addition to providing full pilot test support with the Pilot Test One-Stop Center, enhancing
public procurement (by expanding trial orders), and collaborating with startups in large-scale projects in Kitakyushu.

UtilizeStartups

Utilize(Chairperson: Kitakyushu mayor Kenji Kitahashi)

Attract

Various programs:
・Technicalconsultation andaccompanied
support byspecialists
・Online help desk
for starting abusiness・Partnerships withexisting coworking facilities
・Subsidies

Examples of partner
programs

・Regional Innovation Ecosystem(MEXT)・Innovative Robotics Project(Cabinet Office)・Advanced Nursing Care Robot(National Strategic SpecialZone)

Examples of resultsof collaborations
with private sector
and pilot test support

Kitakyushu SDGs Startup Ecosystem Consortium

Discover entrepreneurs

・Business pitch events・Acceleration programs (IoT
Maker's Acceleration Program inKitakyushu, etc.)

Private sector (see p.17)
Exit support provided by the Committee ofGlobal Acceleration Program in Kitakyushu(Chairperson: Junji Tsuda, Yaskawa Electric
Chairman of the Board)(1) Supports business expansion with private-sector funds(2) Provides exit support by utilizing the network of major
Kitakyushu-based companies, financial institutions, VC
firms, etc.
・Facilitates open innovation and collaborates with startups

Universities and technical schools

・Development of core technology for robotics, AI, IoT, etc. (KIT,NITKIT, UK)・Human resource development (entrepreneurs, recurrent education)
・Entrepreneurship education for international students and support
for international students to start businesses in partnership with thecity government (APU, UK, Waseda, KIT)

Government

Collaborate

・Comprehensive pilot test support provided by the One-Stop Pilot
Test Center・Support for expanding outside Japan via partnerships with JETRO,JICA and the network of international cooperation with Asian cities
・Enhancement of public procurement (by expanding trial orders)・Local government problem-solving projects in collaboration withstartups
・Collaborations with startups in large-scale projects in Kitakyushu
such as the Innovative Robotics Project・Next-gen nursing care robots
・SME robots
・Drone infrastructure inspection
・MaaS
・Next-gen energy systems

Private Sector
Exit support and facilitation of open
innovation:
Kitakyushu Chamber of Commerce andIndustry, TOTO, Yaskawa Electric, Zenrin,
Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo, YE Digital, Takagi,
NTT DOCOMO, etc.
Investment and financing:
Nippon Venture Capital, GxPartners LLP,
financial institutions, etc.
Startup support:
Fabbit joint venture, Machi Wa Team Da, etc.

Universities and Technical Schools
Kyushu Institute of Technology; Universityof Kitakyushu; Waseda University Graduate
School; Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University;
National Institute of Technology, Kitakyushu
CollegeGovernment and Foundations
JICA Kyushu; JETRO Kitakyushu; Kyushu
Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry;
Kitakyushu Foundation for the Advancementof Industry, Science and Technology; City ofKitakyushu
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