CEO Fujita took to the stage at the Mizuho Bank-sponsored event “M’s Salon Frontier Summit: Creating the Future Together: From Aichi to the World”

On Tuesday, December 10th, CHITOSE Group CEO Fujita, together with NGK Insulators Ltd. Vice President CN Business Development Corporate NV Creation Takeshi Ohtsu, appeared at the event "M's Salon Frontier Summit: Creating the Future Together: From Aichi to the World" hosted by Mizuho Bank, and gave a speech titled "Japan-originated, Global-originated, Open Innovation to Create a New Economic Zone (CHITOSE Group x NGK Insulators)." The event was held with the aim of supporting the growth of startup companies, and approximately 300 people attended the lecture.

Fujita introduced the CHITOSE Group (hereinafter referred to as CHITOSE) and explained the MATSURI project to build an algae-based industry, and Mr. Otsu introduced NGK Insulators Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as NGK) and spoke about their collaboration with CHITOSE. NGK is participating in the MATSURI project and entered into a capital and business alliance with CHITOSE in September 2023. In addition, CHITOSE has welcomed employees on loan from NGK, who are providing a wide range of support, primarily in terms of equipment for algae production. Mr. Otsu also shared his frank opinions about CHITOSE and Fujita, conveying to the audience the significance and appeal of large companies collaborating with CHITOSE.

The lecture was followed by a Q&A and discussion session, during which Fujita received many questions about business operations, including the business development methods and financial aspects that have produced results so far. On the other hand, Mr. Otsu was asked many questions about collaborating with startups, such as what makes him decide to partner with a startup, the challenges of collaboration and how he overcomes them, and the discussion became so heated that he was unable to answer all the questions within the allotted time.

The networking session held during the event provided an opportunity to deepen interactions with many companies based across the country, particularly in the Tokai region. We hope that through these lectures and sessions, the audience will become interested in the construction of an industrial structure based on photosynthesis, which is the goal of CHITOSE. We will continue to explore new possibilities together with people from a wide range of fields.

Event Outline
Event name: M's Salon Frontier Summit Creating the future together: From Aichi to the world
Date and time: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 9:30~17:30 (Lecture 9:50~10:40)
Venue: STATION Ai Main Hall (Nagoya) / Online (Zoom Webinar)
Title of the lecture: The reality of open innovation that creates a new economic sphere originating from Japan and taking the world by storm (CHITOSE Group x NGK Insulators)
M's Salon Frontier Summit Creating the future together: From Aichi to the world