News Releases
Icom Sponsored the NICT Next Entrepreneurs Pitch.
Icom sponsored the NICT Next Entrepreneurs Pitch, an event hosted by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) where young people, including high school students from the Kinki (Kansai) region, compete with their business ideas.
Background of Sponsorship
This pitch competition features young entrepreneurs from the Kansai region and is held in conjunction with the Osaka-Kansai Expo. It was organized in cooperation with the “Startup Challenge Koshien,” sponsored by Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures, and the “High School Business Plan Grand Prix,” sponsored by the Japan Finance Corporation.
The event was held to enhance international competitiveness in the ICT field and revitalize the region by fostering locally born ICT startups. High school students and others presented their visions for the future, which were based on business ideas they had refined during their studies.
As a company based in Osaka, we contributed to regional revitalization and supported the development of the next generation of young leaders by sponsoring the Icom Award as a Partner Company Special Award. The winning team received our products and an invitation to visit our facilities to deepen their understanding of wireless communication technologies that benefit society.
Event Overview
| Event | NICT Next Entrepreneurs Pitch supported by Startup Challenge Koshien × High School Business Plan Grand Prix |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 2025 |
| Location | Future Life Experience (FLE) Stage at Osaka-Kansai Expo |
| Host | National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) |
| Detail |
NICT - National Institute of Information and Communications Technology |
Event Highlights
Nine teams presented their business ideas on the day of the event. Icom presented the Icom Award to Team Initial K, who are graduates of Osaka Prefectural Higashisumiyoshi High School. The team presented the idea for the Healthy Electric Sheet K Cool & Healthy Electric Blanket K Warm
This business idea aims to commercialize special sheets and blankets that connect to a health management application. During normal times, users can check their vital signs while sleeping using the application. In disaster situations, bringing these items to evacuation shelters would enable functions such as recording health status and sharing GPS information with family members.
Our company selected this project for the Icom Award due to its unique approach to addressing health and life-related themes by combining everyday items, such as sheets and blankets, with information and communication technology (ICT). We also considered its feasibility and potential social impact.
Regarding the award, team member Mr. Akihiro Kubota expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I am deeply honored. I see this not as the goal, but as the starting point. I intend to continue our activities with the aim of commercialization.”
