Shizuoka announced the launch of their Knowledge and Regional Collaboration Contest, aimed at solving eighteen specific social issues in collaboration with startups. Five winners will each receive funding of 5 million yen for their proposed project.

The contest was first held in 2024, receiving 298 proposals. Ten pitches that passed the review process are currently undergoing pilot testing.

Themes such as “promoting exports by leveraging the strengths of Shizuoka City's tea” and “coexistence of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the Shizuoka downtown area” number among the social issues tabled for the contest. Mayor Takashi Namba said, “the characteristic of this contest is that startups do not bring in technology from outside the city, but rather use the technology they already have to work together with the community to solve problems.”

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