Innovation Award AEA 2023 at Kashiwa-no-ha with promising entrepreneurs from Asia: I2Cool Limited (Hong Kong) won the cup

An innovation award, the 12th Asia Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) 2023, took place in Kashiwa-no-ha on October 26th, 2023, where entrepreneurs from countries and regions in Asia contended with each other.

The final session showcased the 10 finalists who had made their way through the selection process. They presented their innovative businesses, which were evaluated based on several factors. These included the innovativeness for the world, the impact on the economy and society, feasibility, competitive superiority, management ability, the rationale of the strategies, collaboration with Japanese companies, and the potential for expansion in the Japanese market.

The company that won the first prize was I2Cool Limited, which is a start-up company in Hong Kong. Their newly invented cooling paint requires no refrigerant damaging the ozone layer, reflects the sunlight, and emits thermal radiation, "thereby contributing to energy efficiency and decarbonization". The technology is not only commercially promising but also socially influential, and was highly valued for its global contribution beyond the market in Japan. Thus the prize was given unanimously.

Another high-profile award, the Kashiwa-no-ha Prize which guarantees the support from the Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City for demonstrating the effectiveness of businesses, was given to Yanekara Inc, a Japanese start-up in Kashiwa-no-ha, which develops "A state-of-the-art bidirectional EV charger and a cloud software which can provide and store power to EVs by the solar power".

• Archive video
  *Click this: https://aea2023archive.peatix.com/ to watch the archive video.
  
  

• About AEA [WEB]: https://aea.events/e/
  
  
• AEA2023 Awarded Companies

[First Prize]
I2Cool Limited (Hong Kong)
https://i2cool.com/
Inspired by the skin of ants in the Sahara Desert, they have developed a high-performance cooling paint that contributes to energy conservation and decarbonization by using technology with superior sunlight reflection and heat radiation, eliminating the need for electricity and ozone-depleting refrigerants. It can be applied in various industries such as construction, new energy, logistics, electric power, chemicals, and automobiles to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

[Second Prize]
Yanekara Inc.
https://yanekara.jp/
Developed YaneBox, a state-of-the-art, bidirectional, EV charger capable of supplying and storing power to EVs using solar energy. It is cheaper, lighter, more efficient, and minimizes energy loss. The company is also developing cloud software to control the timing of EV charging and discharging, enabling remote control of solar panels and EVs.

[Third Place]
Castomize Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
http://castomize.co/
Developed 4D printed casts using advanced manufacturing techniques and customized polymers for comfort, convenience, and efficiency for patients and healthcare professionals. This is a next-generation plaster cast that uses minimal resources and processes, is low-cost, reduces medical waste, and is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

[Kashiwa-no-ha Prize]
Yanekara Inc.
https://yanekara.jp/
Developed YaneBox, a state-of-the-art, bidirectional charger that can supply and store power to EVs using solar energy. A two-year business demonstration (PoB) project is planned in Kashiwa City and the University of Tokyo to verify financial feasibility based on four use cases. The EV car sharing sector is also in the PoB's sights.

[Special Award]
- Life Science Award
AIRS Inc. / Korea
http://ai-robot-surgery.com/
State-of-the-art surgical robotics and navigation systems that utilize 3D imaging to improve surgical precision, improve grafting and prevent the risk of revision surgery. Radiation exposure for bone fracture surgery is reduced by 90% and operating time is also reduced by 50%.

- The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs Award
Dai3mimi Health-Tech Limited / Hong Kong
http://www.dai3mimi.io/
Innovative, painless, comfortable, low-cost, and innovative hearing solution for dementia prevention, hearing loss, and tinnitus in the elderly using patented acoustic technology and a material conduction system that transmits directly to the inner ear through the skull.

- IP Bridge Award
Yanekara Inc.

- Fujitsu Accelerator Award
Yanekara Inc.

- Audience Award
Castomize Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)

- Microsoft Award
All of the 10 finalists

• AIRS Inc. / Korea
• Dai3mimi Health-Tech Limited / Hong Kong
• Liaoning Jiayu Technology Co., LTD / China
• Huijia Health Corporation / Taiwan
• I2Cool Limited / Hong Kong
• Nabsolute Co., Ltd / Thailand
• Ostic Pharma Pvt Ltd / India
• BioPhenolics Inc. / Japan
• Castomize Technologies Pte. Ltd. / Singapore
• Yanekara Inc. / Japan

• Co-Hosts
  The University of Tokyo Industry-Division of University Corporate Relations: https://www.ducr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
  MITSUI FUDOSAN Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City: https://www.kashiwanoha-smartcity.com/
  TX Entrepreneur Partners: https://tepweb.jp/
  The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs: https://www.venture-ac.ne.jp/
  Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO): https://www.jetro.go.jp/
  Kashiwa City: https://www.city.kashiwa.lg.jp/index.html