From the moment a patient is diagnosed with cancer, they and their family are inundated with information about treatment options, potential side effects, mental health care, and more. 

While being presented with numerous options is not necessarily a bad thing, it is also no easy task to find the information you truly need when bombarded with so much all at once. Feelings of anxiety and isolation can arise despite having access to information, which is what makes providing cancer support in today's world such a challenge.

The NEC Pro Bono Initiative is a program that utilizes employees' professional expertise to collectively address societal issues. Recently, NEC offered its support to MiaLuce, a company operating a platform called CureMind that connects cancer patients and their families with vital information.

CureMind and its quest to connect patients, medical professionals, and daily life

In offering support services for patients undergoing treatment, MiaLuce considers the perspectives of patients, the family members who care for them at home, and the medical professionals involved in their care. Driven by a desire to ensure that everyone can lead a fulfilling life, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with cancer, the company has taken on the role of connecting people with the information they need.

However, this strong commitment to the value provided through their service also raised concerns about who the information should be delivered to and how. While there was a great deal of information to convey, it was clear that not all of it would necessarily reach those who needed it. MiaLuce therefore sought to streamline the process to make certain that value was delivered effectively. 

The streamlining and articulation of value made possible by pro bono members

From December 2025 to March 2026, pro bono members of NEC and Asahi Kasei Corporation teamed up to support CureMind's marketing initiative. The team focused primarily on defining the target personas and breaking down and streamlining the behavioral process. Honing in on the various perspectives of patients and their families, the team carefully articulated what types of information were needed by each party at every stage of the process. By using a unified framework, consensus was reached among everyone involved, enabling discussions to progress.

The mutual understanding that propelled discussions forward and what came next

The development of this initiative evolved beyond merely putting plans to paper, transforming into actionable concepts directly connected to an implementation strategy for the upcoming fiscal year. One of the notable achievements was that those involved engaged in discussions focused on implementation, which included planning events to facilitate interaction with users. Rather than simply thinking about future plans, everyone focused on taking the next step. This approach also enabled MiaLuce to make realistic progress. 

Feedback from MiaLuce on the importance of engaging in thoughtful discussion together

Feedback from MiaLuce included comments such as: "I gained a perspective that I never would have discovered on my own" and "I found it encouraging that everyone shared their respective opinions as we engaged in thoughtful discussion together."

Pro bono activities are not just about giving advice or offering unilateral support. New insights emerge, and the scope of possibilities expands when you bring together people with different experiences and fields of expertise.

Lessons learned by employees and reflections on the meaning of their work

The employees who took part also learned a variety of lessons. Comments such as "I was able to see for myself that the marketing expertise I have developed and the thought frameworks I have learned through my work can also be useful in tackling social issues" and "This gave me a chance to reconsider the theme of cancer in a more positive light" show that this support activity provided participants with a chance to reflect on the meaning of their work and the value of their expertise in a context outside their day-to-day work.

The perfect alignment of NEC's Purpose and this pro bono support activity

NEC is a company whose Purpose is to "create the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential."

This recent pro bono support activity illustrates NEC's dedication to its Purpose through the decisions made and actions taken. When these experts came together to engage in ongoing discussions, they transformed how value is delivered. Then, through their collective efforts, they ensured that support effectively reached those in need.

NEC remains committed to building a safe and secure society through its pro bono activities, allowing employees to connect with society, engage in shared reflections, and move forward together.

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In 2010, NEC became the first company in Japan to launch a pro bono program. 
A decade later, in 2020, employee volunteers from the NEC Group established the NEC Pro Bono Club, a pro bono community helping to address challenges faced by local communities, NGOs, NPOs, educational institutions, and others. Today, the NEC Pro Bono Club comprises approximately 900 employees.