ICONN NINJA India Programme
Unleash Innovation: Overcoming Challenges of Japanese Corporate Giants!
CII Center of Excellence for Innovation, Enterpreusrship & Startups (CIES), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) & Deloitte Tohmatsu, Japan partnered to support Indian Entrepreneurs by providing them Market Access support through the NINJA (Next Innovation with Japan) Programme.
NINJA (Next Innovation with Japan) is JICA’s flagship programme to support entrepreneurs and startups across the world. Through this program, Japanese corporations are looking to engage with Indian startups that can solve their major challenges through Innovative solutions.
Here is a sneak peek at corporates and their challenges
Denso
AI-Driven Software Development
Brief: In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, the quest for efficiency, speed, and reliability remains a constant pursuit. As the demand for software solutions continues to escalate, the need for innovative approaches to streamline the development process has never been more critical. In this challenge, we invite innovators to pioneer the next generation of automation solutions that will revolutionize the software development lifecycle.
Challenges: Code Generation and Testing Automation: Develop automated systems or frameworks capable of generating high-quality code based on requirements, design patterns, or templates. The generated code should adhere to best practices, be easily maintainable, and exhibit high performance. In addition, design and implement automated testing frameworks that enable developers to write, execute, and analyze tests efficiently. These frameworks should support various testing methodologies, including unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing.
Collaboration Needs:
Solution 1: Utilize GenAI or other models to support software architecture and development.
Solution 2: Generate automated tests and deployment activities.
Solution 3: Automated Documentation.
Solution 4: Handle Git operations and version control
Opportunity: Collaboratively work on leveraging GenAI to improve software quality and accelerate development.
Asset/Support: Technology advice and relevant tools
Challenges: Code Generation and Testing Automation: Develop automated systems or frameworks capable of generating high-quality code based on requirements, design patterns, or templates. The generated code should adhere to best practices, be easily maintainable, and exhibit high performance. In addition, design and implement automated testing frameworks that enable developers to write, execute, and analyze tests efficiently. These frameworks should support various testing methodologies, including unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing.
Collaboration Needs:
Solution 1: Utilize GenAI or other models to support software architecture and development.
Solution 2: Generate automated tests and deployment activities.
Solution 3: Automated Documentation.
Solution 4: Handle Git operations and version control
Opportunity: Collaboratively work on leveraging GenAI to improve software quality and accelerate development.
Asset/Support: Technology advice and relevant tools
Optimizing field operations and customer support with Gig Workers
Brief: In today's rapidly changing business landscape, companies continually strive to optimize their field operations and customer support mechanisms to keep pace with evolving customer needs while also managing costs effectively. To tackle this ongoing challenge, there's a growing recognition of the adaptable workforce provided by gig workers. This initiative is centred on developing inventive solutions to boost operational effectiveness, streamline workflows, and elevate customer service standards.
Challenges: Optimizing Operations and Customer Support with Gig Workers: Build operations while efficiently deploying gig workers. Explore innovative approaches to allocate work assignments, and ensure operation quality while maximizing the flexibility and scalability offered by the gig economy model.
Collaboration Needs: Provide on-field operation and customer support by gig workers with efficient systems for task allocation and management.
Opportunity: Existing business use cases to evaluate solutions.
Asset/Support: Pan India service expansion opportunity
Challenges: Optimizing Operations and Customer Support with Gig Workers: Build operations while efficiently deploying gig workers. Explore innovative approaches to allocate work assignments, and ensure operation quality while maximizing the flexibility and scalability offered by the gig economy model.
Collaboration Needs: Provide on-field operation and customer support by gig workers with efficient systems for task allocation and management.
Opportunity: Existing business use cases to evaluate solutions.
Asset/Support: Pan India service expansion opportunity
NEC
Realizing efficient healthcare and Hospital services
Brief Challenges:
Collaboration Needs:
Opportunity:
Asset/Support: NEC’s AI solutions such as;
LLM https://www.nec.com/en/press/202312/global_20231215_02.html
dotData https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/dotdata/
Health score prediction: https://www.nec.com/en/global/techrep/journal/g19/n01/190115.html
NEC’s other AI solution and R&D resources: https://www.nec.com/en/global/rd/tech_domain/recognition_ai.html
NEC’s partner hospital and HIMS vendor connection
- Public - While certain health screening initiatives have been introduced in the public sector, there is still a need for follow-up based on screening outcomes and data-driven policy decisions tailored to local findings.
- Private hospitals face ongoing challenges despite implementing strategies. These include low bed occupancy, staff burnout, and underutilizing data for better care and working conditions, even with healthcare information systems (HIMS) in place.
- Lifestyle diseases like diabetes are on the rise, becoming a major health concern. Regular health checks can help identify these risks early, allowing for lifestyle changes to prevent them. The challenge? People often don't feel any symptoms before complications arise, making it difficult to motivate them to get checked and change their habits.
Collaboration Needs:
- Access to Public Screening Data and Public Sector Hospital System to generate follow-ups and tailored decisions using existing NEC assets.
- Behaviour modification as preventive medicine before the onset of lifestyle-related diseases.
Opportunity:
- Pilot project with the proposed solution in the Indian market
- Access to new markets in partnership with NEC's AI technology
Asset/Support: NEC’s AI solutions such as;
LLM https://www.nec.com/en/press/202312/global_20231215_02.html
dotData https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/dotdata/
Health score prediction: https://www.nec.com/en/global/techrep/journal/g19/n01/190115.html
NEC’s other AI solution and R&D resources: https://www.nec.com/en/global/rd/tech_domain/recognition_ai.html
NEC’s partner hospital and HIMS vendor connection
Murata
Providing solutions to resolving key societal issues through collaborative technology innovation
Brief Challenges: Murata is looking at innovative solutions in their key focus domains of Wellness, Agritech and Environment (including but not limited to Renewable space and climate tech). solutions which lean towards building a cycle of social and economic value will be preferred.
Collaboration Needs: Startups working on the above domains with innovative approaches
Opportunity: Develop cutting-edge technology/ Solutions for local issues that can be scaled and taken globally using Murata's know-how and network.
Asset/Support: Technology assistance, product samples, hypothesis validation, mentoring, GTM and scalability
- Key agritech and environment-related solutions which are both feasible, scalable and address a societal issue in India and other geographies. Murata is looking to work with startups from these sectors to develop and co-create using its assets and know-how.
- Improve Quality of life (QoL) for individuals, families and communities using technology. Focus areas may include but are not limited to Healthcare, Sustainability, accessibility, education or connectivity. The proposal should leverage cutting-edge technology to address specific challenges and improve overall well-being, comfort, safety or inclusivity in daily life.
- Solutions for maintaining water resources include but are not limited to clean water, waste management, non-revenue water (NRW)
Collaboration Needs: Startups working on the above domains with innovative approaches
Opportunity: Develop cutting-edge technology/ Solutions for local issues that can be scaled and taken globally using Murata's know-how and network.
Asset/Support: Technology assistance, product samples, hypothesis validation, mentoring, GTM and scalability
What is in it for you?
Fast track your growth
Be a part of an exclusive acceleration and open innovation programme
Be a part of an exclusive acceleration and open innovation programme
Real work Impact
Solve critical problems for established corporations and make a real difference in the Indian Market
Solve critical problems for established corporations and make a real difference in the Indian Market
Unparalleled Access
Network with industry leaders, mentorship from seasoned professionals, and gain valuable insights
Network with industry leaders, mentorship from seasoned professionals, and gain valuable insights
Resources
Access to essential resources for pilot project and funding
Access to essential resources for pilot project and funding
High Visibility
Showcase your innovation to a vast network and elevate your brand to new heights
Showcase your innovation to a vast network and elevate your brand to new heights
Ways to Participate
Startups that have proven product-market fit solutions and can extend solutions as required by Japanese corporations.
Acceleration Track aims to offer guidance and mentorship to help develop proposals for pilot projects and potential funding.
Acceleration Track aims to offer guidance and mentorship to help develop proposals for pilot projects and potential funding.
- Mentoring by Challenge Oweners (NEC, Denso, Murata): Corporates will appoint industry experts to assist you in developing a robust proposal for the pilot projects
- Knowledge Sessions: Startups will be given exposure to various functional expert sessions such as Investments, Legal Compliances, Cross-border GTM, Term sheet etc.
- Mentoring by Subject Matter Expert: JICA & CII CIES will assign a dedicated mentor to each startup throughout the program to help them develop the proposal for the pilot project & Demoday.
Note: Startups enrolled in this track must commit an average of 1-2 hours a week
Open Innovation Track
Startups which have proven and ready solutions and do not need much tweaking
Open Innovation programme aims to invite applications from growth-stage startups who can directly submit proposals to Japanese corporations.
Open Innovation programme aims to invite applications from growth-stage startups who can directly submit proposals to Japanese corporations.
Note: Applications received through this track will be evaluated by the Challenge owner and if selected, you will be invited to the Demoday.
Program Timeline
For any further queries, you may reach out to Mr Nishit Sharma at nishit.sharma@cii.in or info@ciicies.in
