The final stage of Gunma Prefecture’s entrepreneur discovery project, Gunma Innovation Award (GIA) 2024, will take place on December 14 at the Nippon Totor Green Dome Maebashi in Maebashi City.

Now in its 12th year, the project attracted 323 entries, with 13 finalists advancing to the final round after passing document and secondary screenings. These finalists will compete in two categories: the Business Plan Division (subdivided into high school and below, university/vocational school students, and general participants) and the Venture Division. The business plans span a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, and filmmaking. The final round will feature public presentations.

The event will also include a performance by a rapper active in Gunma Prefecture, dance showcases, and talk sessions with young entrepreneurs.

Gunma Prefecture offers unique advantages, including excellent accessibility to Tokyo, affordable land prices, and a robust manufacturing base. Additionally, the region is known for its low disaster risk, leading some Tokyo-based companies to relocate their headquarters or divisions to Gunma. It is anticipated that collaborations between such companies and GIA’s innovative business plans could lead to the development of new industries.

For more details, please visit:

https://www.gi-award.com/

Reference:

Organization Name: Jomo Shimbun

Program Name: Gunma Innovation Award (GIA) 2024