3. Open innovation to carve the future

The TMG will continue to change so that Tokyo can overcome the various difficulties it faces. Obtaining knowledge, technology and a mindset that government agencies find difficult to absorb—incorporating this fresh outside air will give birth to new services. Such “open innovation” will be key to shaping the future.

A new stage to support startups

Startups play an important role here. We will surge up to a new stage together with them. Last month, I kicked this off with the vice chair of Keidanren. Leaving the Nishi-Shinjuku area, the TMG set up a base in a shared office in Toranomon. In this space, people come face-to-face, breathe the same air and share minds. The best and brightest from our various bureaus are stationed here to provide concentrated support at one stop. A director general was newly appointed and we will also upgrade the "Startup Collaboration Strategy" in November so that the TMG will come together as one team to nurture the budding seeds of innovation. Furthermore, in February next year, we will hold an international event gathering domestic and international companies and investors to support startups in taking on challenges. Under the concept of "SusHi Tech Tokyo," short for "Sustainable High-Ⅽity-Tech.Tokyo," the Tokyo government will also strategically inform the world of the various ideas and technologies it is leveraging to overcome Tokyo’s urban challenges.

Generating policy innovation with a new organization

We will also move forward with structural reform of the metropolitan government at explosive speed using open innovation. The TMG has been refining its user-oriented services by leveraging digital technology. For maximum display of the benefits of digital transformation and to swiftly respond in both quality and quantity to the upsurge in digital needs, it would be essential to create new mechanisms to take Tokyo's DX to the next stage.

With the aim to have Tokyo, including the municipalities, work together as one to improve services, we have announced our vision of establishing "GovTech Tokyo," a new organization that will bring together high degrees of specialization to push ahead measures. We will steadily advance preparations for its launch next year and through the combination of the power within and power outside the Tokyo government, we will give birth to policy innovation.