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Event Report: JICA Co-creation × Innovation Program “QUEST2026” Co-creation Theme Pitch (Fukuoka) Draws 110 Participants from Japan and Abroad

Posted on by staff-en

On March 16, 2026, the JICA Co-creation × Innovation Program “QUEST2026” Co-creation Theme Pitch was held at the ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. in Fukuoka. Conducted in a hybrid format connecting onsite and online venues, the event brought together approximately 110 participants from Japan and overseas and maintained a high level of energy throughout.

The event opened with welcome remarks by Mr. Ko Goto, Director General This was followed by Ms. Akane Miyajima, Operations Strategy Department, JICA, who presented an overview of “QUEST2026,” and Ms. Nonoka Kawamura, also from Operations Strategy Department, who introduced the JICA QUEST Community.

In the main session, leads for JICA’s 14 co-creation themes took the stage to share, from multiple angles, the social challenges addressed by each theme, what they aim to achieve through PoC (proof-of-concept) pilots, and the requirements they seek in co-creation partners. In addition, five co-creation themes were presented via pre-recorded sessions, further broadening the information shared.

In the latter half, roundtable discussions were organized by area of interest, sparking lively exchanges with a constant flow of questions and ideas. Onsite and online participants came together in spirited dialogue to concretely explore opportunities for co-creation.

JICA Co-creation Theme Pitch Scenes (1)

JICA Co-creation Theme Pitch Scenes (2)

Lively Roundtable Scenes (1)

Lively Roundtable Scenes (2)

 

■JICA Co-creation Themes Pitched at the Event

    • Establishing a local production and supply system for medical and assistive devices using 3D printing
    • Co-Creation Theme “Patient- and family-friendly hospital space”
    • Open call for Ideas on Low-Cost resource recovery from waste and simple fecal sludge treatment and reuse technologies
    • Strengthening Value Chain between Central Asia and Japan Aiming to Promote the Distribution of Developed and improved Products
    • Development of a model for new industry creation in Bhutan leveraging digital health platform
    • Sustainable Use of Fishery Resources towards the promotion of Blue-Economy
    • Mongolian Dinosaur Revival —Transforming the Dormant Resources of the South Gobi into Drivers of Tourism and Regional Economic Growth
    • Building a fun waste sorting system through game-like approach
    • Sanitary Toilets for Healthier People and Vibrant Cities
    • Digital Solutions for Asia’s Forgotten Refugee Crisis
    • MJIIT Research Seeds × Japanese Companies: Waste to Fine Chemicals: The Black Soldier Fly Bio-Engine
    • Linking frontier technologies from academia with the business challenges that matter
    • Toward solving common issues in domestic and international water supply
    • Advancing Sustainable Smart Cities in Developing Countries Through Satellite Data Utilization

 

■JICA Co-creation Themes Shown as Pre-recorded Videos at the Venue

    • Utilizing Cultural Heritage /Cultural Resources in Peacebuilding Cooperation
    • Leveraging technologies and know-how to reduce environmental impacts associated with mine development
    • Open Data and AI‑Driven Labor Market Intelligence Platform for Gabon
    • No littering campaign
    • Measuring the Social Impact of Sport and Development

 

■List of co-creation themes Co-Creation Theme – QUEST

 

This Co-creation Theme Pitch will also be held in Fukuoka on Monday, March 16, and in Tokyo on Monday, March 30. Presentation themes vary by venue, so please check which venue features your themes of interest and we look forward to your participation.

 

■Co-Creation Theme Pitch (including roundtables and networking/in-person only)

  • Tokyo
    • Date/Time: Mon, Mar 30, 14:00–18:30 (JST)
    • Format: Hybrid (on-site + online)
    • Venue (in-person): Tokyo Innovation Base 2F STAGE/ROOM (3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
  • Schedule for each event
    • Co-creation Theme Pitch: 120 minutes
    • Roundtable with JICA (in-person only): 60 minutes
    • Networking (in-person only): 60 minutes

■Registration Forms (deadline: by 12:00 noon JST on the business day before each event)

 

 

 

■QUEST 2026 Overview

    • Eligible participants: Domestic and international private-sector companies, academia, public institutions, and civil society.
    • Value Provided:
      1. Facilitation of business matching between each participant for the development of co-creation ideas/projects.
      2. Hands on support from JICA and Deloitte
    • Business ideation, PoC planning and execution, and exit strategy development (including fundraising).
      1. Financial support for PoC expenses up to JPY3M(about $20K) per project.
      2. Provision of opportunities for networking and information.
    • Target areas and regions
    • As long as the ideas can contribute to solving social issues, any proposal will be welcomed.
    • Please select a co-creation thematic area that you agree with set by JICA as described later. If there is no thematic areas that you agree with, you are welcome to propose other ones as well.

 

  • Contact

QUEST 2026 Secretariat

quest-info@tohmatsu.co.jp