It has become common to see words like regional revitalization and local activation in the media.
The author moved to Kurashiki as a regional revitalization cooperation team member, but as I look towards graduation after my three-year term, I am pondering what to do in Kurashiki.
Starting a business comes to mind, but honestly, business and management seem daunting, and I haven't had many opportunities to step into that realm.
One day, I heard about an event called Takahashi River Basin Crossing "Open Innovation Forum", which would provide hints for creating new businesses in the Takahashi River basin.
Curious about what kind of event it would be, I promptly interviewed the person in charge.
About Takahashi River Basin Crossing "Open Innovation Forum"
Takahashi River Basin Crossing "Open Innovation Forum/Networking Event is an event that will be held on February 25, 2024 (Sunday).
Takahashi River Basin Crossing "Open Innovation Forum/Networking Event" is organized by Kurashiki City.
Takahashi River Basin Crossing is working towards the realization of a sustainable local economy through the strengthening of collaboration among businesses in the ten municipalities of the Takahashi River basin. The main activities are as follows.
- A workshop called Ideathon to discuss solutions to local issues among businesses
- A Networking Forum to gain insights into management and business from each other
- Project Support for commercializing business ideas generated from the Ideathon and Networking Forum
This event will be a "Networking Forum."
The Takahashi River Basin Crossing "Open Innovation Forum" started in 2021 (Reiwa 3) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a situation where the future was uncertain, I believe everyone felt anxious about the future of their businesses.
Therefore, it was planned to deepen understanding of open innovation, which is one strategy for local companies to survive.
Open innovation is an initiative to bring together technologies and knowledge from external organizations to solve internal challenges and create new value.
Rather than doing everything in-house, it involves incorporating good ideas from others to drive corporate transformation and innovation. To enhance such collaborative momentum in the Takahashi River basin, a prominent expert from Japan is invited every year, and this will be the third event in 2024.
Keynote Speech and Talk Session
The forum will feature a combination of keynote speeches and talk sessions, with individuals active at the forefront of business taking the stage.
The keynote speech will be given by Takashi Mitachi, a director of Ohara Museum of Art, on the theme "The Role of Regional Leaders in the Era of Coexistence."
In the talk session, five business leaders will share their insights on the theme "People of the Wind (Venture/Startup) × People of the Soil (Companies/Resources) - Creating a New Climate for Local Industries."
"People of the Wind" and "People of the Soil" are key terms in discussions about regional revitalization.
"People of the Wind" refers to those who have newly joined the region or brought new ideas, specifically venture and startup companies in this context.
"People of the Soil" refers to companies that are rooted in the region and continue to operate, as well as resources that the region inherently possesses.
There is also the term "People of the Water," which refers to those who support the activities of "People of the Soil" by providing advice and insights.
The business leaders speaking in the talk session will each represent "People of the Wind," "People of the Soil," and "People of the Water," sharing various perspectives. It will be exciting to see what opinions emerge regarding local issues.
For details on the program and schedule, please check the official website.
The forum will be held at Geibunkan Hall, Kurashiki City.
Admission is free, and the capacity is 300 people.
Pre-registration is required, and you can apply through this Google Form.
Networking Event
After the forum, a networking event will be held for those who wish to participate.
The venue will change to Cuore Kurashiki, where participants can interact while enjoying a meal.
The participation fee is 3,000 yen, and the capacity is 70 people.
This will be a gathering for those interested in local issues, making it a great opportunity for those who want to deepen their connections.
This event also requires pre-registration, so please apply through the same Google Form as the forum.
Interview with the Person in Charge
I spoke with Akitaka Yabuki from the Kurashiki City Office Commerce Division about what kind of event this will be.
Can you tell us about the feedback from the last event?
Yabuki (no honorifics)
Last time, about 280 people participated in the forum, and around 100 people in the networking event.
The age range was quite broad, with participants ranging from young entrepreneurs considering startups to veteran business leaders. Many seemed to be interested in "transforming their companies" and "challenging new businesses."
There were also students aiming to start businesses and people from support organizations like financial institutions and chambers of commerce present.
In the post-event survey, I was pleased to see many comments expressing a strong desire for regional revitalization and collaboration among businesses.
What are your thoughts on holding this event?
Yabuki (no honorifics)
We aim to increase the number of passionate companies that are rooted in the region and can drive the local economy, such as successor ventures and zebra companies (companies that balance profit and social responsibility), to make the Takahashi River basin's economic zone sustainable in a society with a declining population.
I hope that everyone who participates can interact with various business leaders and gain insights that can serve as a catalyst for creating new businesses.
The guests speaking in the talk session are all active business professionals at the forefront.
I believe we can learn what initiatives and resources are necessary to create new businesses rooted in the region.
The networking event will not be a formal gathering like a business card exchange, but rather a relaxed atmosphere, so I would be happy if people could participate casually.
Since it will be a gathering of those interested in local issues, there may be unexpected connections that lead to business opportunities.
I hope that through discussions on the regional issues presented, relationships can be formed, insights gained, and support provided for moving towards new businesses.
Who would you recommend this event to?
Yabuki
While many business leaders have participated in the past, I would like anyone interested in regional revitalization to feel free to join.
For example, at the previous forum, there was an opinion that to spark innovation in the region, "it is necessary to change the awareness of students who are also key players in the region," so I would be happy to see students and educators participate.
Students may be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. This is an opportunity to learn how companies focused on regional contributions and SDGs think about business.
Additionally, I would recommend it to those who want to understand the perspectives of other companies. I believe they can learn valuable insights for collaboration with companies other than their own.
This is the third year of the event aimed at strengthening collaboration among businesses. Are there any examples of success?
Yabuki
There are two examples that seem likely to take shape in the future.
The first is collaboration between the fire department and local businesses.
When fire uniforms are disposed of, they incur costs as industrial waste, but about four companies have stepped up to upcycle those uniforms.
I hope to showcase the results of this at the upcoming forum.
The second is halal measures for Muslim tourists.
A member of the regional revitalization cooperation team who is knowledgeable about cuisine is collaborating with a travel agency to plan travel itineraries.
It seems that the two connected through the Ideathon, and from there, their relationship developed.
After three years, we are finally seeing small but tangible movements.
We will continue to promote collaboration among regions in the future.
Please send a message to the readers.
Yabuki
In the future, I hope to see more regional companies growing while collaborating across regions and among businesses.
Nowadays, many companies grow large and move to urban areas, so I have a strong desire to increase the number of companies rooted in the region.
To achieve this, I believe it is necessary to adapt to changes in the surrounding environment, not just locally but also nationally and globally.
However, there are situations that are difficult to overcome alone, so I think it is essential to create opportunities to incorporate external insights and opinions, which is connected to this event.
I would be happy if it could serve as a hub for local people to interact.
I believe this event will be filled with hints for regional revitalization, so if you are interested in your local area, please feel free to participate.
Conclusion
I used to think that topics related to business and management were not very relevant to those outside of the business world.
However, through this interview, I realized that regional revitalization and business/management are closely related, and I felt that this event is accessible even for someone like me, who is interested in regional revitalization.
Even with the same regional issues, if each person shares their opinions from different perspectives, hints for the future and connections with others may emerge from that.
This event is recommended not only for those interested in business and management but also for those who want to hear others' opinions on regional revitalization or want to know what businesses exist within the basin area.
Data on Takahashi River Basin Crossing "Open Innovation Forum/Networking Event"
| Name | Takahashi River Basin Crossing "Open Innovation Forum/Networking Event" |
|---|---|
| Date | February 25, 2024 (Sunday) ■ Forum: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM ■ Networking Event: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM |
| Location | Geibunkan Hall, Kurashiki City |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 3,000 yen for the networking event only |
| Website | Takahashi River Basin CROSSING Forum |
