CIC Institute and Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership, are closely involved in promoting an industry cluster called the ‘Global CityTech Bridge’ – where Japanese startups and universities collaborate with large corporations to develop technology for urban areas.
The Global CityTech Bridge is one of six clusters in a program called “TIB Catapult”.
‘TIB Catapult’ is a grant-funded initiative to support the Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB), which aims to encourage the growth of startups on behalf of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
In this cluster, CIC Institute will work with Shimizu Corporation, Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School, and the Kenji Tanaka Laboratory at the University of Tokyo- to support startups in implementing their technologies in the CityTech area. CityTech covers: smart cities, mobility, energy, decarbonization, resource circulation, disaster prevention, and resilience.
Startups that successfully implement their technology in Tokyo will be connected with the UK innovation ecosystem with support from Connected Places Catapult.
The program encourages UK and Japanese firms to exchange ideas with one another and will initially bring Japanese startups to the UK to promote trade between the two countries for mutual benefit.
CIC Institute’s Director, Masaru Nagura, said, “We are proud to collaborate with Connected Places Catapult, whose work in innovation is second to none. Through this partnership, CIC Institute aims to help ambitious Japanese and UK startups commercialize and scale their solutions globally. This collaboration is a vital opportunity to support groundbreaking ideas and drive meaningful changes worldwide.”
Connected Places Catapult’s Head of SME Development, Alisdair Ritchie, said, “It is amazing to have won this grant alongside CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center), from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Japan is a clear focus area for Connected Places Catapult, and we are working hard to develop our Innovation Twins model there. We look forward to the mutual exchange of innovators through this Global CityTech Bridge, which provides SMEs in both countries with exciting opportunities to grow and scale in each other’s markets.”
