News Release

With the aim of encouraging the creation of new businesses, JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation (President: Murayama Seiichi; "the Company") together with the French-based company Agorize (Head office: Paris; CEO: Christophe Pingard)¹ recently organized an accelerator program² with the title Innovation Challenge for the Next Generation 2021-22 ("the program")³. The final selection for the program was held on March 29, 2022.

　

The program received a total of 65 proposals for a rich variety of ideas from startups and the academic community around the world. In carrying out the final evaluations of the seven companies shortlisted after interviews in February, we selected the top three companies based on evaluations from the perspectives of technology advancement, attractive of the business, and synergy with JX Nippon Mining & Metals Group's business. In addition, Audience Prize was selected by votes cast by employees of the Company. We look forward to exploring the potential for partnerships with the winning companies, including joint development, funding assistance, capital alliance, provision of materials, and provision of sales channels.

　

We will continue to promote the active co-creation developments with corporations, universities, research institutions and other outside partners all over the world for joint creation of new businesses, as well as in-house developments. Through continuing to pursue the further potential of nonferrous metals, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

　

Notes:
1. Agorize is a company with operating bases primarily in France, as well as elsewhere in the world. By providing open innovation SaaS and a global community of five million innovators, it helps to maximize the effectiveness and raise the operational efficiency of accelerator programs and other various open innovation activities.

2. An accelerator program enables companies to use a contest format to invite ideas and proposals from start-ups and others with a view to cooperation or investment.

3. For more details on the Innovation Challenge for the Next Generation 2021-2022, see the press release dated October 4, 2021, "Implementation of Accelerator Program: Innovation Challenge for the Next Generation 2021-2022."

　

Selection Results

Rank	Company name	Location	Business plan
Grand Prize	Additive Flow	UK	Multi-scale design optimization software which connects the digital thread within Additive Manufacturing
Runner-Up	PrintCB	Israel	Advanced copper materials for printing of electronics and energy devices
Second Runner-Up	Outsense Inc.	Japan	Modeling advanced shapes of copper foil by Origami Engineering
Audience Prize	Outsense Inc.	Japan	Modeling advanced shapes of copper foil by Origami Engineering

　

Final Selection conducted online

　

Alexander Pluke, CEO of Adaptive Flow, which got the the Grand Prize

　

Program website：Innovation challenge for the Next Generation 2021-2022