Kyoto Institute of Technology

Problem

Osaka Gas Chemicals developed FLCF, a highly recyclable plant-based cellulose material. The team had to find suitable applications and ways to turn the material into a product.

What they built

After needfinding and benchmarking, the team chose micro-mobility: a lightweight, recyclable, easy-to-ride vehicle produced with FLCF filament and 3D printing, aimed first at the Japanese market.

Impact

Safer, more enjoyable travel for users with a smaller footprint. For OGC, a viable path to commercialising FLCF.

Problem

Harvia asked for a new sauna concept for future wellness. The team found sauna heat can heal muscles, while gyms focus on training devices rather than warm-up equipment.

What they built

Harvia Flow takes infrared heaters from the sauna into the gym: direct heat combined with light stretching accelerates warm-up and reduces injuries.

Impact

A way for Harvia into the global gym market, with similar implementation in Finland, Japan and beyond.

Problem

Create a new camping experience using cooling. Outdoor cooking is central to camping, yet almost no gear uses low temperatures.

What they built

Mogii smokes food between -10°C and 10°C by simply burning smoke chips, in roughly 15 minutes. Ingredients that would melt or grill at higher temperatures stay in good condition.

Impact

New flavours and a wider range of campsite food, shared around the campsite.

Problem

Hotel minibars run continuously because they are not tied to key-card power control. Across all rooms, that consumes a lot of energy.

What they built

Frio uses Kaimen's micro-cooling technology to shrink the exterior by 100 mm at equal volume. A digital system lets staff monitor power consumption and savings across rooms.

Impact

Integrated with property management systems, Frio switches fridges on and off with check-in and check-out, saving space, energy and manual effort.

Problem

Identify the problems small-scale, multi-variety farmers face and develop a user-centred solution that reduces pain points and maximises productivity.

What they built

A mobile robot monitors crop health and conditions with cameras and sensors. The app shows crops and data, schedules tasks, forecasts weather and reveals patterns over time.

Impact

Precise data for smarter farming decisions, better use of land and time, and higher yields.

Problem

Find new applications and services for Poggipolini's SENS-IN bolt, a fastener with embedded sensors, including a business model for a new market.

What they built

SENS-IN bolts measuring vibration and self-loosening sit at critical points of a roller coaster. Software monitors them continuously and generates pre-filled maintenance reports on a tablet.

Impact

Cheaper, better-documented maintenance for parks and design data for manufacturers. Poggipolini moves from product to service provider.

Problem

Help small-scale organic farmers reduce physical labour and work more efficiently without breaking their connection to the crops.

What they built

Nu-tan combines dispensing and spreading soil supplements during bed preparation, the most labour-intensive non-crop task, into one movement.

Impact

Less strain and time on bed preparation. The tool adapts to the farm, not the other way round.

Problem

Japan's ageing society changes ANA's customer base. The airline wants to appeal to senior travellers, including the retired businessmen who flew with it for decades.

What they built

ANA tomo knows the passenger's flight and location and gives live navigation to the boarding gate, plus timely, personalised cues throughout the airport journey.

Impact

Elderly travellers find scattered information in one place and feel less time pressure. ANA can locate lost passengers and speed up boarding.

Problem

Design a fully circular and sustainable knit garment product with competitive production costs.

What they built

Infini replaces fossil-based fibres with bioplastic, which is recyclable, compostable and lower in CO2, combined with cotton leftovers, while staying cost-effective.

Impact

Triwool can produce fast fashion that is ecological and sustainable without compromising quality or production costs.

Problem

How might Plansee create the best prototyping experience for key customers and employees by redesigning the onboarding of new projects?

What they built

During a new prototype request, the chatbot Jana acts as a personal online assistant, analyses the input and connects the customer with the relevant expert.

Impact

Transparency through shared data, simplicity through a natural interface, and efficiency gains as the process improves with use.

Problem

Integrate Tarkett's motion-sensing flooring where it helps most: hospitals and nursing homes, where recovery from falls declines with age.

What they built

Tablets fixed to caretakers' carts connect to the Floor in Motion system so staff can monitor residents at night while staying mobile. A pilot ran in a nursing home.

Impact

A safer and more comfortable home environment for the elderly.

Problem

Italy and Japan both suffer earthquakes. People who stay in their damaged homes suffer physically and mentally and lack goods, information and community.

What they built

Kintsugi combines an information zone with a display for volunteers, an automatic food distribution zone with fixed portions per person, and a hand distribution zone for supplies and contact.

Impact

Supplies and information for house refugees, and face-to-face distribution that builds community.

Problem

Create a safe, comfortable ride-sharing experience in a fully autonomous vehicle. The team focused on psychological safety and cleanliness.

What they built

Renoru separates passengers with translucent partitions, shows location and arrival time on screens, and uses infrared image comparison to detect lost items and judge whether the car can continue.

Impact

Ride-sharing advances without losing its appeal: riders see each other while keeping their own space.

Problem

Standing on water is exhilarating but surfing takes practice. Yanmar asked for an entirely new water-based experience.

What they built

Wheebo is a round platform with a central rotating jet, ridden standing, sitting or lying. A Bluetooth wristband controls speed and an app adjusts stability and sensitivity.

Impact

Novices enjoy the water, and Yanmar shows itself a pioneer beyond pleasure boats.

Problem

Advertising is largely ignored and mistrusted. Rovio asked for a new, organic and engaging advertising format for digital entertainment.

What they built

Any group can start a Pulse event by taking a picture. Events collect photos in real time, appear on a heat map and carry a sponsor whose Smart Content improves the experience.

Impact

Brands become a chosen part of experiences rather than an interruption. For Rovio, a new media channel in line with its vision.

Problem

UPM's new Grada plywood allows stronger, more durable bonds. The brief: create a product that opens new opportunities for the technology.

What they built

Inspired by Finland's Kela maternity package, TUPA turns into an infant bed with rocking crib, a table, chairs, a stepping stool or a toy box.

Impact

Families save up to 710 EUR with one adaptable piece of furniture, easing the financial weight of a new child.