Winner to receive 3-month intensive business development sponsored by NTT DATA
NTT DATA Corporation (NTT DATA) will host its 9th Open Innovation Contest and is currently accepting applications through the official website. The UK’s regional heat will be held in London in February, with the winner progressing to the Grand Finale in Tokyo in March, 2019. Applications for the contest close on 31st October, 2018.
In February, UK-based contestants will compete for the chance to progress to the Grand Finale in Japan. The overall champions will win a three-month in-kind contribution to support the development of their proposed new business, and an opportunity to break into the highly innovative Japanese market. “The Open Innovation Contest is all about giving start-ups a platform to grow awareness of their companies’ ideas and allow them to utilise the support of NTT DATA and our global experience and expertise in technology innovation. Not only do they receive guidance via direct access to senior business leaders, but also the chance to create a ‘triple-win’ partnership with NTT DATA and its clients to develop their business ideas,” said Kotaro Zamma, Head of Open Innovation and Business Incubation, NTT DATA.
Any UK start-up is able to submit a proposal for a collaborative business with NTT DATA, in fields such as Healthcare & Life Sciences / Finance, Insurance & Payments / Automotive & IoT / RPA & Back Office / Storefront & Digital Marketing / Data Distribution / Disruptive Social Innovation. Tom Winstanley, NTT DATA UK’s Head of Innovation explains that, “The Open Innovation Contest is designed to unearth companies at the forefront of technological innovation addressing a range of specific challenges across industries, and it is an exciting opportunity to bring innovative knowledge and capability to our clients.”
NTT DATA launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Award in last year’s Open Innovation 8.0 contest. The award is set to return this year, with the aim of fostering solutions which also achieve the objectives of the SDGs - a set of 17 global goals set by the UN General Assembly in an effort to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Therefore, NTT DATA is actively seeking business proposals to address global challenges.
Kotaro Zamma, at NTT DATA, added, “In this contest, NTT DATA can provide three kinds of value to start-ups: our client networks, solutions for ICT social infrastructure, and possibilities to receive financial support. We are serious about business development and hope to surpass 10 billion Japanese Yen (about 100 million USD) in annual business by establishing links with various cutting-edge technologies and businesses through this project. Let’s change the world together”.
For more information and how to apply, please visit: NTT DATA Open Innovation Contest 9.0
- Application Period: September 18th, 2018 ~ October 31st, 2018
- UK Regional Contest info: See the latest info
- Qualified Entrants: Legally incorporated UK start-up companies
- The 7 Challenge Areas:
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Finance, Insurance & Payments
- Automotive & IoT
- RPA & Back Office
- Storefront & Digital Marketing
- Data Distribution
- Disruptive Social Innovation
- UK Regional Contest: February 2019
- Grand Finale in Tokyo: March 13th-14th, 2019
- Application documents: Must be written in English or Japanese and submitted online