At the AiCT ICT office in Aizuwakamatsu, Japan, Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, ‘Epson’) has set up its new Open Innovation Center research laboratory, where the company will collaborate with collaborators to help find solutions to societal issues. Epson also began participating in the meeting of Aizu Open Innovation (AOI) in which it began to partner with Aizu University.
Epson aims to seamlessly combine products such as printers, scanners, and projectors along with services using the internet, cloud, and other digital networks to deliver solutions that help solve challenges faced by society. In particular, the organization aims to build new value in more enhanced interactions in lifestyles, learning, work and home in the light of changing societal requirements due to the pandemic.
Against this backdrop, Aizuwakamatsu City has launched its Aizuwakamatsu Smart City program to leverage ICT to promote the growth of a prosperous and revitalized city that promotes fulfilled and comfortable lifestyles.
After finding major synergies with the city’s efforts to forge a partnership between the municipality, citizens, and universities to facilitate digital transformation, Epson established its new research laboratory. The organization will engage proactively in projects such as Smart City Aizuwakamatsu and the AOI meeting in the future as it aims to create new value for society.
An significant feature of the company’s Epson 25 business strategy is the promotion of open innovation. In May 2020, Epson’s efforts to boost alliances to find solutions to societal problems started at WeWork Shibuya Scramble Square in Shibuya, Tokyo, a location where several start-ups and other companies operate. The business seeks to further strengthen an atmosphere in which technology, innovations and knowledge from a wide spectrum of industries and corporate cultures can be integrated to solve problems in society.
* Smart City AiCT is a site for ICT-related organizations created based on concepts such as realizing smart cities, open innovation and regional collaboration.
