Kyoto, Japan – 22 November 2024-Kyoto City and IBM Japan have presented the “IBM BlueHub Program in Kyoto” which seeks to boost the development of startups and use their innovations to address the problems facing the region including enabling the use of generation AI.
The expected result of the program is to deliver growth and sustainable solutions for Kyoto’s business and society. The first set of applications are now available and the second application period will be till July 2025.
The selected start-ups will utilize AI Platform Watson, IBM Cloud, and the mentorship of IBM Japan experts in the development of their solutions to be aimed at addressing the major issues of sustainable tourism, the preservation of culture, and education for young people.
“This program demonstrates our intention to contribute to the social urban development of Kyoto integrated with technology and innovations,”
Said Akio Yamaguchi President and CEO, of IBM Japan.
At IVS2025 KYOTO, which is one of the biggest startup events in Japan, five startups will showcase their achievements. This initiative was positively acknowledged by Masaru Asada, Executive Managing Director, Salesforce Japan, who stated:
“We look forward to working with IBM Japan and the City of Kyoto because it supports our concept of helping startups be a force of good.”
The program is keen on accepting applications from a wide variety of entrepreneurs and provides them with access to technologies, investors, and the City of Kyoto for collaboration.
One of the partners Shinpei Fukui, Managing Partner Archetype Ventures said:
“With the help of AI and innovations, we want to make Kyooto one of the engines of progress.”
IBM BlueHub Program is said to enhance growth and introduce change and therefore, it will be able to make Kyoto a location of hi-tech and eco-friendly solutions.
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