Bridging Possibilities Between Global Startups and
Japanese Enterprises.
Global Site
About NEC Innovation Challenge (NIC)
A global business contest designed for startups worldwide. NEC Innovation Challenge brings together global startups and Japanese enterprises seeking collaboration, enabling innovation that would be difficult to achieve independently. Through this co-creation, the program accelerates business commercialization and generates new social value.
(*) NIC is one of the key initiatives under NEC Open Innovation program.
Benefits for Startups
- ・Product development utilizing NEC and sponsoring companies' assets
- ・Opportunities to enter the Japanese market
- ・Potential funding and hands-on support
Benefits for Sponsors
- ・Formation of collaborative projects with promising global startups
- ・Accelerated business validation leveraging NEC and sponsoring companies' assets
What's New
Our Achievements
- Total NIC Applications
- (2022-2024)
1,569
Since its launch in 2022, NIC has received applications from 1,569 cutting-edge startups.
- Participating Countries
- (2024)
104
As a unique contest with participation from 104 countries, NIC fosters global collaboration.
Through NIC, we gained a valuable opportunity to collaborate with NEC and its partners in developing new markets. By leveraging NEC's extensive network alongside our video generator technology, we successfully launched an AI announcer business for broadcasters and established a proven track record in the Japanese market. This collaboration with NEC has truly enabled us to explore new business opportunities.
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- 2022 NIC Participant & NEC Award-Winning Company
Global Business Head and CFO, DeepBrain AI
Michael Jung
NIC is a platform that fosters co-creation with startups to generate new market value.
As a Platinum Partner, DNP is committed to driving open innovation through this initiative. By engaging with forward-thinking startups, we aim to create businesses that help address social challenges. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with NEC to deliver ever more value to society.
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- 2024 NIC Partner
Senior Corporate Officer, DNP
Ryota Chiba
The partnership through NEC's initiatives strengthens our mission to empower visually impaired people with safety and independence. Together, we aim to drive innovation that transforms accessibility and mobility worldwide.
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- 2022 NIC Participant & NEC X Investment Project
Co-Founder & CEO, WeWALK
Gökhan Meriçliler
Event Overview
For past event overviews and themes, please refer to each year's event page.
Shape the future together with NEC.
For inquiries about NIC, click here
Contact Us