ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Chief Executive Of cer: Ichiro Tsuge; Abbreviation: CTC; hereinafter: CTC) and Tanseisha have begun the joint development of "Innovation Space DEJIMA Digital" to establish a new open innovation model through communication using VR technology. The company will accumulate use cases of digital utilization in a test environment until the end of March 2021, and support the creation of open innovation for companies in response to the new normal era.
"Innovation Space DEJIMA Digital" is a virtual space recreated using VR (virtual reality) technology of "Innovation Space DEJIMA" (Shinagawa City Tokyo), which opened in 2017 as a place for creating open innovation.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult to hold forums for co-creation with people both inside and outside the company to generate business innovation, we have embarked on development to provide a new forum for the new normal era. Not only will we replace traditional workshops and other forums for interaction with people online, but we will also promote more active communication by implementing mechanisms unique to the online world. By leveraging the value of both online and offline, we will take on the challenge of forming a new open innovation model.
"Innovation Space DEJIMA" (left) reconstructed into a virtual space (right). Communication is possible through avatars.
Looking ahead to fiscal 2021, CTC and Tanseisha will continue to conduct testing to improve ease of use and value for users, while also contributing to the creation of open innovation through invigorating social interaction.
News Release
Background of the initiative and the roles of each company
"Innovation Space DEJIMA" (Photo: Daichi Misono)
"Innovation Space DEJIMA" (https://dejima.space) is a dedicated space for open innovation that was opened by CTC in 2017 to generate new business ideas with customers and hold various workshops and meetups. Tanseisha was responsible for the design and construction of the facility. Tanseisha is also a member of the DEJIMA Partners and is engaged in activities aimed at creating innovation. This initiative is part of that effort, and is being carried out with the aim of promoting innovation by creating a place for co-creation that adapts to the changing environment.
For the "Innovation Space DEJIMA Digital" initiative, CTC will be in charge of building the virtual space platform, and will optimize and deploy its know-how in creating communities at "Innovation Space DEJIMA," hosting workshops, and running innovation creation Produce for the virtual space. Tanseisha will utilize its accumulated know-how in space creation to create the virtual space and produce it to improve communication value.
■Comment from a CTC representative
Tomohiro Igarashi, Co-Creation Planning Promotion Section Manager, Service Design Group/SD Planning Division
Since its opening in the fall of 2017, Innovation Space DEJIMA has consistently served as a third place for companies seeking to create new businesses and innovation, working to build communities that transcend industry boundaries, support idea generation, and promote co-creation projects. Ideas are generated through flat, open communication, and the innovation space that serves as the foundation for this is at a major turning point amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a collaboration between Tanseisha, which specializes in communication design, and CTC, which specializes in the use of digital technology, the space will further stimulate companies' digital utilization and take on the challenge of creating innovation.
■ Comment from a Tanseisha representative
Design Center Culture & Communication Design Department Jun Yamashita
Tanseisha has been creating real spaces for a long time, and we would like to expand the ideas of spatial communication construction that we have cultivated so far from real to virtual, and even to the creation of hybrid spaces that combine real and virtual. In the current situation where business communication is limited, such as the difficulty of holding face-to-face business negotiations and events, the virtualization of innovation spaces has the potential to further stimulate co-creation between companies without stopping the progress of open innovation. With the power of Tanseisha's space creation, we will do our utmost to ensure the success of this project.
ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC) is a comprehensive IT service company that serves as a partner to its customers. We solve customer problems by combining advanced IT solutions and cloud services, from consulting to design, development and construction, operation and maintenance support. We provide optimal services in all fields, including communications, broadcasting, manufacturing, finance, distribution and retail, public and public interest, life sciences, and science and engineering.
Company name: Itochu Techno-Solutions Corporation
Location: Kasumigaseki Building, 3-2-5 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6080 (Head office)
Established: July 11, 1979
Capital: 21,763 million yen (as of June 18, 2020)
Listed: First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 4739)
Please note that this may be subject to change without prior notice.