B Lab, which was established the other day.

https://blaboratory.org/

"B Lab," an acronym formed from the first letters of "Beyond," "Borderless," and "Breakthrough."

Universities and research institutes, companies, communities, government agencies, and individuals around the world.

Transcending all barriers and frameworks, and collaborating with all kinds of organizations and individuals,

It is a participatory platform where we can all work together to create an exciting future.

This is the “Super Research Lab” I mentioned wanting to launch at the end of last year. I’m so happy that iU immediately agreed to run the Super Research Lab and that KMD Research Institute will be joining us on this project.

Super Research Lab—A Lab Where We All Create an Exciting Future Together—

As we stand at the threshold of Society 5.0—represented by technologies such as AI and IoT—we want an organization that can create something new.

Just as this was happening, the COVID-19 pandemic struck humanity, making the creation of a new world—one that exists “with COVID-19” or “after COVID-19”—our central challenge.

Until now, the government, universities, and corporate research institutes have each addressed these issues independently. However, might we not need an approach that differs from that of highly specialized research institutions grounded in advanced academia?

A research institute where everyone—including users—connects to build a new society. We want to create a platform and “reactor” that is social, open, and participatory—one that fuses diverse insights and the unique skills of many people to generate new technologies, services, content, businesses, and societies.

While our scope is broad—encompassing technology development, solving social issues, and creating new services—the common thread is digital technology, real-world implementation, and collaborative creation. We are launching B Lab, a new research institute that is social, open, and participatory.

The theme is “Creating an Exciting Future.”

We place a high priority on creating an exciting future and bringing it to life in society.

From small innovations—such as clever ideas and inventions in everyday life—to the creation of entirely new businesses, we will co-create the future through both small and large acts of creativity.

It’s also a place where challenges, ideas, technology, funding, skills, and people come together.

● A community of universities and research institutes around the world

　We will collaborate with 100 research institutes around the world to create a community that transcends boundaries.

● The World Is Our Playground

　We will establish labs around the world, whether virtual or physical.

●Anyone Can Be a Researcher

　The "1 Million Researchers" Initiative. Everyone—from middle-aged women to children—is a researcher.

"Technology"—such as IT and AI—"culture"—such as pop culture—and "people."

These three pillars drive innovation, incubate these three pillars, and spur further innovation.

Innovation × Incubation = i²

Technology, Culture, People.

We create and nurture it together.

B Lab is a space, community, and network dedicated to that purpose.

Each person will maintain a spirit of inquiry throughout their life and become a contributor to the creation of society.

I hope this will become a place where we can all work together to create an exciting future.