Innovation Challenge for Digital Circular Economy

Deadline: 14 January 2024

If your company has a business solution to help tackle the problem below, Hitachi would like to hear from you. No matter where you are from, join this contest for the chance to develop a business partnership with Hitachi, a global group!

Following Hitachi’s mission of social innovation and green ease, Hitachi has launched the Innovation Challenge for Digital Circular Economy to ensure that the planet everyone pass on to the next generation will be a better place than the founded one!

Themes

Battery Circulation
- While various data can already be obtained at the manufacturing and utilization stages of batteries, etc., please propose a solution using digital technology that contributes to the proper management of circulation or partial efficiency and management throughout the lifecycle, including material recycling, component recycling, repurposing/2nd use, sharing, etc.
- Example Ideas
  - Solutions that comply with the regulations of each country (e.g, Digital Battery Passport).
  - Data on activities in the supply chain, and the use of AI to analyze and predict the data obtained.
Plastic Circulation
- While various material types and recycling methods have been developed for plastics, please propose how to promote and properly manage the entire lifecycle of recycling, repurposing, and re-materialization, or a solution using digital in the partial recycling process.
- Example Ideas
  - Solutions for any type of plastic (PET, Nylon, etc.), but that comply with the regulations of each country and the regulations of each application of the recycled material (e.g., for use in food products).
  - Digital technology for collecting and analyzing quality data of recycled.
Bio Based Material Circulation
- Please propose solutions that utilize digital technology to collect and analyze data different from inorganic materials and products required in the lifecycle of biological materials and products, as well as AI-based analysis to utilize such data and ensure traceability.
- Example Ideas
  - LCA analysis and management for materials of biological origin using data.
  - Traceability using AI-based data analysis and digital technology specific to the life cycle of biological materials and their products.
Circulation Based Eco-Designs
- Based on the concept that products are not for one-time use but are later recycled and circulated, please propose solutions that support designs that include the concepts of disassembly and repurposing, and that utilize digital technology to connect designers and disassemblers (or disassembly robots), who have not collaborated much in the past.
- Example Ideas
  - AI-based design and analysis of how to utilize dismantled parts and materials.
  - Solutions utilizing data related to the disposal of EVs, which are expected to increase in the future.

Opportunities

The following opportunities await the startups which make it to the Final:
- Pitch to Hitachi execs: Pitch to Hitachi top executives during the Final Event
- Collaboration with Hitachi: Possibility for collaboration with Hitachi incubation representatives
- Connect to Hitachi BUs: Connection to related business units in Hitachi
- PoC discussion: Possibility to discuss Proof of Concepts

Criteria

This challenge is open to startups across the world.
Register on the platform and submit a presentation of about 10 slides in English (PPT or PDF format), addressing the following:
- Issue addressed by your project and value of the solution
- Overview of the project and technology used
- Addressed market (target area, market size)
- Business model
- Obstacles to implementation and required resources
- Nice to have: ecosystem and stakeholders involved in the project