1. Application Requirements: 

• Applicants must be from high school students (or equivalent) and between the ages of 15 – 35 years as of 31 March 2025 (birthdays between 1 April 1989 and 1 April 2009). 
• Japanese national, or a resident of Japan who has lived in Japan for more than 2 years.
• Should have a business plan that is either in an idea stage, preparation stage, or in operation for less than five years.

Note:

• Application and final presentation at the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024 can be done either in English or Japanese. Springboard Programme as well as Youth Co:Lab Asia-Pacific Summit will be held in English.
• Application can be submitted as an individual or in a team. If you are applying as a team, the lead representative of the team must meet the above eligibility requirements.
• Applications from non-members of Tokyo University are welcome.
   

2.  Judging Criteria: 

I. SDG contribution: Impacts on society and environment 

II. Business idea: innovative approaches of the solution 

III. Business model: Feasibility and sustainability of the business model 

IV. Passion and vision as an entrepreneur 

For the UNHCR Award, the business will be selected from among those that meet the following additional criteria:

V. Businesses founded by members with a refugee background, or businesses aimed at solving refugee problems (for-profit and non-profit businesses)

For the Women in IT Social Entrepreneurship Award, businesses will be selected from those who meet the following additional criteria:

VI. Women-led social businesses (social enterprises, social cooperatives, self-employed businesses) with business models that utilize IT technologies (digital services, cloud computing, platforms, etc.) to solve social issues 

VII. Social businesses that have been in operation for more than two years. 

3. How to apply: 

Complete the application form in either English or Japanese and submit it in Word or PDF format (20MB or less) to event.japan@undp.org by noon on Friday 11 October 2024. 
To download the application form, click on the link below:

• English Form 

[1st screening] We will inform the results of the application to all applicants regardless of the outcome. 
[Main screening] We will inform the requirement of the main screening (pitch videos) only to those who pass the 1st screening. We will inform the results of the application for the main screening to all applicants.  
 

4. The Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024 Judge Panel: 

Experts in the fields of business, social entrepreneurship, international development, etc. will evaluate business presentations at the “Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024”:

• CVC Asia Pacific Japan (CVC) 
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representation in Japan 
• ICMG
• The University of Tokyo 
• Citi 
• UNDP

5. Special support: 

If you require any special support participating in the “Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024", please tell us the kind of support you require on the application form.

“Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024 Orientation Session” 

We will hold an orientation session for those who are thinking to apply to the “Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2024”. We will give tips on filling out the application form and answer any questions you may have.
This session is held in Japanese. To request for a briefing in English, please email: event.japan@undp.org

• Date: 4 September 2024 (Wed) 19:00 - 20:00 （TBC) 
• Place: Zoom 
• Max cap: 30 people 
• Participation fee: free
• Registration from here

Youth Co:Lab
Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth, so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Since its inception, Youth Co:Lab has supported young people in 28 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region and has helped launch or accelerate more than 2,600 social enterprises, reaching more than 280,000 participating through related events. 

What is the Springboard Programme? 
The Springboard Programme is a unique online accelerator program open to winners of national competitions in the Asia Pacific countries and regions. The program offers a variety of training opportunities ranging from management, marketing, and team building to green business.

The University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo, founded in 1877, is a Japanese national university with approximately 30,000 students, 10 undergraduate faculties and 15 graduate schools, and a strong reputation for cutting-edge research and education. One of its goals is to build a startup ecosystem with a view to global expansion, and it provides entrepreneurial education and support for social entrepreneurship. 

Co-organized by