日本語

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation will host Youth Co:Lab, a program supporting youth-led social innovation and entrepreneurship, in Japan again this year!

We’re calling for innovative business ideas with an aim to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022.

The Social Innovation Challenge is open to applications from high school students to those under 35 years of age and invites a wide range of business ideas focused on achieving the SDGs. This year, following the SDG principle of ‘Leave No One Behind', the Social Innovation Challenge 2022 will also shed a spotlight on businesses that help difficult-to-reach members of the community access support and services. In addition to the Excellence Award and Audience Award, which will be determined according to the contest's judging criteria, there will be a Leave No One Behind Award this year.

1. What is Youth Co:Lab?
   Co-created in 2017 by UNDP and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to empower and invest in youth, to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship. Youth Co:Lab projects have been implemented in 28 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region and the initiative has benefitted over 11,000 young social entrepreneurs and helped to launch or improve over 1,240 social enterprises. 
2. What is Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022?
   Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022 is a business idea contest where selected teams will pitch and showcase their SDG-focused business models and ideas to a panel of esteemed judges. The individuals and teams who passed the screening process will pitch their solutions at the “Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022.” Winners from the Japan contest will have the opportunity to join the Springboard Programme and the top teams who participated in the Springboard programme will be able to showcase their businesses during the Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit which will take place in Spring 2023.
3. Springboard Programme:
   The regional springboard programme is a follow up programme that provides a showcasing platform for young social entrepreneurs from over 28 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, who are winners of the national challenges of the countries of origin. The programme consists of mini-exercises to brush up business ideas and provides mentoring and communication support from UNDP in the Asia-Pacific region. We will also provide support in preparation of presentations in English.
4. Youth Co:Lab Asia-Pacific Summit:
   The Asia-Pacific Summit, planned for the Spring of 2023, will bring together over 1,000 delegates, including hundreds of youth, partners and government officials from 28 countries, to exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences, to influence policy initiatives on youth entrepreneurship and social innovation. You can see summary reports from the online summit held in 2022 here.
5. Social Innovation Challenge Process and Schedule:
   • 1st Screening
     • 12 July (Tue): Applications open
     • 26 Sep (Mon) Noon: Applications close
     • Begining of Oct: Announcement of the results of the 1st screening (paper application)
   • 2nd Screening/Final Pitch
     • End of Oct: Submission deadline for the 2nd screening (pitch videos)/Announcements of finalists for the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022
     • 15 Nov (Tue): Finalists present their business plans at the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022. Announcement of the award winners.
   • Accelerator Programme & the Asia-Pacific Summit
     • Mid-January 2023: Commencement of the Springboard Programme
     • Spring 2023: The Youth Co:Lab Asia-Pacific Summit
6. Application Requirements:
   • You must be older than 15 and younger than 35 years old on 12 July 2022
     (Those who were born between 13 July 1987 and 1 April 2007 )
   • Japanese national, or a resident of Japan who has lived in Japan for more than 3 years
   • You have a business plan that is either in an idea stage, preparation stage, or in operation for less than three years.
   • *Application and final presentation at the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022 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.
7. 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
   • *Since the Springboard programme and Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit will be held only in English, we will consider your skill and willingness to communicate in an English-speaking environment for the selection of participants to the Springboard programme and the Asia-Pacific Summit.
8. How to Apply:
   Please prepare and send your application in either English or Japanese (either in Word or PDF under 20MB) event.japan@undp.org by the deadline. Please download the application form from below link;
   Application form in English
   
   [1st screening] We will inform the results of your application to all applicants regardless of the outcome.
   [2nd screening] We will inform the details of the 2nd screening (pitch videos) only to those who pass the 1st screening. We will inform the results of your 2nd application to all applicants.
9. Prize:
   Awards for the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022 include Youth Co:Lab Japan Excellence Award, Leave No One Behind Award, Audience’s Choice Award, among others. All award-winners will have an opportunity to join the Springboard programme and receive mentoring sessions from Citi. The top teams who participated in the Springboard programme will be able to showcase their businesses during the Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit which will take place in spring 2022.
10. Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022” Judges:
    Experts in business, social entrepreneurship and international development will serve as judges for the Social Innovation Challenge Japan:
    • Mr. Daisuke Takatsuki, Principal, CVC Asia Pacific Japan / Representative Director, Social Invest Partners
    • Ms. Atsuko Suzuki, Co-founder/Senior Coordinator, NPO ETIC.
    • Senior Management, Citi Japan
    • UNDP officer from the Bangkok Regional Hub
11. Special Support:
    If you require any special support participating in the “Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022", please tell us the kind of support you require on the application form.