ESG TECH BATTLE 2023
powered by NEDO

Application Guidelines(1) Overview
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of R&D oriented startups thathave grown significantly by leveraging their unique technologies. However, R&D often
requires a large amount of funding and human resources, and these startups andresearchers require a variety of support.
Therefore, ESG TECH BATTLE, a ESG focused pitch contest, will be held for R&D startups
and researchers, and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization(NEDO) and the private sector innovation community (CIC Tokyo) will collaborate to provide
various types of support (including awards and cash prize) to promising startups andresearchers, thereby accelerating the creation of role models.
NEDO is inviting applications from R&D oriented startups and researchers who have abusiness plan to utilize regional technology seeds or solve social issues in the energy andenvironmental fields and other areas by utilizing specific technology seeds. The grand prize
winner will receive a cash prize of 1 million JPY and a one-year business growth support byCIC Tokyo and the right to use CIC Tokyo as a supplementary prize.
In addition, we have established three pitch slots; regional slots (Hokkaido & Tohoku, Kanto,Hokuriku & Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku & Shikoku, Kyushu & Okinawa, and Overseas),
UNDER 35 slots (startup executives/founders and young researchers under 35 years old),and diversity slots (emphasis on diversity in management and representatives) to accept
applications from outstanding startups, researchers, etc.

(2) Eligibility●Stage: Pre-seed / seed stage R&D oriented startup companies, and researchers andentrepreneurs who are interested in business utilizing their research outcomes.

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Target area: Business plans that utilize technology seeds from local areas or plansthat have the potential to solve social issues, including those in the energy andenvironmental fields.

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Target countries: All over the world. Not limited to startups and researchers located inJapan.

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Pitch contest: Must be able to join and speak at the pitch event to be held on
Wednesday, March 8th, 2023, afternoon JST. (In principle, participants should attend
the pitch contest on-site (Tokyo, Japan), but online participation is also acceptable ifyou are participating from overseas or have special circumstances.)●Compliance: Companies must be in compliance and not belong to or associated withany antisocial organizations.

●Others: Applicants to the “ESG TECH BATTLE 2022 powered by NEDO” held lastyear are also eligible to apply this time, but will be excluded from the selection
process if the secretariat determines that they are applying under the same theme.

(3) Prizes① Awards
The following prizes will be awarded to the applicants that achieve excellent results.
●Grand Prize (1 company/individual)Awarded to the company/individual who receives the most outstanding evaluation by
a selection committee of experts.

●Excellence Awards (2 companies/individuals)
Awarded to the second and third most outstanding entry after the Grand Prize by aselection committee of experts.

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Special Awards: METI Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment
Bureau Director-General's Award, NEDO Award, CIC Tokyo Chairman's Award(about 3 companies/individuals)
This award is given to the winner who has received the wonderful evaluation by aselection committee of experts.

② Cash prize
The winner of the Grand Prize will receive a cash prize of 1 million JPY.

③ Business Growth Support
Startups/Individuals that win the Grand Prize and Excellence Award will be able to receive
support for growth of their business from CIC Tokyo until the end of March 2024, dependingon the situation and needs of the company/individuals awarded. For example, the following
support is expected:●Pitch opportunities●

Matching with business companies and investors●

Holding seminars and study sessions on intellectual property, legal affairs,fundraising, etc.

●Mentoring by senior entrepreneurs, investors, startup supporters, and professionals●Support for developing overseas connections④ Right to use CIC Tokyo space
The winners of the Grand Prize, Excellence Award, and Special Award will be granted
access to the Energy & Environment Innovation Community Room at CIC Tokyo until theend of March 2024.

(4) Screening criteria
The selection committee, consisting of experts, will select the most highly rated
business/projects from among the applications received, taking into account the following
evaluation items in a comprehensive manner.
Evaluation items

Evaluation details① Growth potential

Can the business be expected to grow and continue? etc.

②Technologicalcapability andinnovativeness

Does the company possess unique and highly feasible technology
originating from the region? Does the business plan have a high degreeof novelty? Does it have a competitive advantage? etc.

③ TeamIs there an attractive team (ability, background, resource procurement,diversity)? etc.

④ MarketattractivenessIs there a need for the business and is there a large business
opportunity? Is it an attractive market? etc.

⑤ Challengingnature

Is there enthusiasm and determination for the new business? etc.

⑥ Social issues

Is the company addressing social issues such as energy and theenvironment? etc.

(5) Screening① Document screening
Each application will be screened by the secretariat based on the above screening criteria
based on the information they provided including a pitch deck, and about 10-15 applicants(Finalists) will be selected to proceed to the pitch contest.

② Pitch contest
On Wednesday, March 8th, 2023, afternoon JST (Time will be announced soon), the pitch
event will be held at CIC Tokyo in Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and judging will beconducted by a selection committee, consisting of experts. Those who will take the stage will
be judged on their 3-5 minute pitches (depending on the number of applicants on stage),followed by a short Q & A session.

(6) Schedule① Application period
Tuesday, December 20th, 2022 - Tuesday, January 31st, 2023, 5 pm JST② Document screening
Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 - mid February, 2023

③ Pitch Event
Afternoon, Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

(7) How to apply
Please Fill in the required information and submit the relevant documents via Google form.
Application form: https://forms.gle/NVPMFR27mi9zhz6o7○If you are unable to submit your pitch materials via Google Form, please submit them via
email (env-startups@cic.com).
○Pitch materials: 1) Outline of the business, 2) Social issues to be addressed, 3) Market, 4)Services and technologies, 5) Team, 6) Business plan, etc. should be included (PPTX format
slides or a PDF version for the other formats is acceptable. Number of slides is limited to 20

pages. If the number of pages exceeds this limit, please attach it after the main text as anappendix or reference. There is no limit on the number of pages for appendix or reference.
However, if the file size exceeds 15MB, please send it to env-startups@cic.com and confirm
receipt by replying to the secretariat.
※This document will also be used for the document screening, and the review will be
conducted based on the contents of the document, so please note that even if the secretariat
cannot read the contents of the above items from the document, it will not be subject toreview.
※Please do not include confidential information in the materials.

＜Please note the following points＞
1. No fee will be charged for application.
2. Please note that applications with incomplete information may not be reviewed.
3. The secretariat may contact applicants to confirm the contents of their application or
to request additional materials.
4. Notification of the results of the document screening will be carried out via email.
5. Please note that submitted application documents will not be returned.
6. We will not be able to respond to any inquiries regarding the status or details of thescreening process, or any objections to the screening results.
7. Award-winning companies/individuals will have their activities publicized in various
media such as newspapers, magazines, and the Internet. We may also ask for thecooperation of the press in covering the event.
8. The contents of the events in (6) ③above are subject to change without notice.
9. The application or granting of this award may be canceled in the event of any act or
false statement that may undermine the purpose of this award, failure to provide thenecessary cooperation in the screening process, or violation of laws and regulations
or other socially acceptable reasons that make it inappropriate to name this awardwinner.

(8) Contact for inquiries
For inquiries regarding application procedures, application guidelines, and other matters,
please contact below.
CIC Tokyo Contact: Masaru, Lisa
Email: env-startups@cic.com