ABOUT | Open Innovation Contest

Let's innovate together, the solutions nobody has imagined!

Are you looking to do business in the Japanese market or across the world? Do you have an innovative idea that will change the world? If your answer to both of these questions are "Yes," you have come to the right place. NTT DATA, a leading IT provider, would like to work with start-ups to develop innovative businesses by leveraging its infrastructure and network for its large clients in a variety of industry.

Here are some examples of our work:

･ ANSER, an online banking system, is used by more than 500 financial institutions in Japan.
･ CAFIS, a general credit card payment system, has the largest number of users and transaction volume in Japan.
･ BeSTA, an Advanced banking application, has the largest market share of backbone systems for regional banks.
･ NACCS, an integrated customer processing system, is used for processing of imports and exports and for related private businesses.

NTT DATA is engaged in IT business in around 50 countries taking on projects such as operating a retailer's worldwide e-commerce site and the digitization of Vatican Library.

For the first time, the Business
Contest will be held in 10 cities.

NTT DATA has hosted four open innovation business contests in Japan, and now expands it globally to 10 cities.

Through this open innovation approach with NTT DATA, a start-up with innovative solution will be able to develop its idea a 100 or 1000 times greater in scale.

Wouldn't you like to work with NTT DATA and its clients (such as major corporations, banks and public institutions)? NTT DATA is looking for partners who are willing to work with us to solve social and economic challenges such as decreasing population, aging society, environment destruction, energy depletion, rising healthcare costs, reduced self-sufficiency food level and economic disparities.

Objective: To form "triple win" business alliance among startups, NTT DATA group and our clients (major corporations).

Challeges

NTT DATA is seeking innovative business proposal that combines with NTT DATA ‘s existing service/solutions and is attractive to NTT DATA's clients (major corporations).

Contestant may apply to any challenge and contest location online.

Preliminary screenings for regional contests will be carried out in February- March 2017. Winners of regional contests will be invited to Grand Finale in Japan, scheduled for 15^th March 2017 where the first prize winner will be pick out.

Major keywords of challenges: FinTech, IoT, energy, insurance tech, healthcare tech, BPM, Digital Archives, big data, digital marketing, blockchain, Open API, personal data, AI, cyber security, virtual/augmented reality, or robotics

When to enter: Application begins 26^th October 2016, Wednesday, 15:00 JST
Deadline has been extended to January 4^th, 2017, 5:00PM (JST)

Who can enter: Start-ups with advance technology or business model, or large corporations

How to enter

Step 1: Select the venue and challenge
Step 2: Submit application form
Step 3: Submit pitch deck including detailed business plan to collbaorate with NTT DATA (PDF/within 10 pages/less than 3MB/suggested contents) via the specified form

Screening criteria

Synergy with NTT DATA
novelty, feasibility, competitive advantage, growth potential, business scale, user needs, etc.

Note: Detailed proposal on the synergy with NTT DATA is required

Contact: Please click on the link below to see the local partner(s) in each venue.
FAQ(updated on Dec 14^th)

Application26 Oct, 2016 - 4 Jan, 2017
1. Step1 : Select the venue and challenge
  
  Review the information on the website and select the venue (1 only) and suitable challenge (up to 3) for your proposal.
2. Step2 : Submit application form
  
  Fill out the application below and submit. Before submission, you need to read and accept the requirements, and our privacy policy. If your application is accepted, you will receive an entry acceptance notification via e-mail.
3. Step3 : Prepare a detailed description of your business plan and submit it via the specified form
  
  Submit a detailed business plan using the form specified in the entry acceptance notification e-mail.
  Note: The detailed description must be a PDF file within 10 pages including the contents on this PDF. The file size must not exceed 3 MB.
First-stage
screeningJan 2017
1. Step4 : First-stage screening by written entry examination, interview, etc.
  
  Applications will be evaluated in this period. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview with respective "challenge" provider – online or face-to-face.
"Pitch Day"
in each cityFeb-March 2017
1. Step5 : Final screening pitch at each venue
  
  The "Pitch Day" will be held at each venue. The regional winner will be invited to the "Grand Finale" in Tokyo.
"Grand finale"
15 Mar, 2017
1. Final : Final selection for the champion
  
  The regional winners will gather at NTT DATA Headquarter building in Tokyo, to give their final pitches and the best one will be selected as the Grand Final Winner.

The Grand Finale winner will receive a three-month in-kind contribution worth 30,000 USD to support the development of their proposed new business.

The winner of each contest venue will get the chance to pitch at the Grand Finale in Tokyo with support by NTT DATA.

The winner of the Grand Finale: The Grand Finale winner will be able to take the most of a three-month in-kind contribution worth 30,000 USD to support the development of their proposed new business.
NTT DATA covers travel and accommodation (2 weeks) expenses for two people during the collaborative project with the challenge providing team at the targeted market.

The winner of each venue

The winner of each venue will receive

･ The chance to pitch at the Grand Finale in Tokyo with NTT DATA covering the travel expense for two people.
･ Supplementary prize from local contest partner

We will make our best effort to commercialized the business with the contest winner, however, there is no guarantee that the business will be commercialized eventually.

Let's innovate together, the solutions nobody has imagined!

For the first time, the Business Contest will be held in 10 cities.

For the first time, the Business
Contest will be held in 10 cities.