Locations
Japan SDGs Innovation Challenge
The Japan SDGs Innovation Challenge (JSIC) connects Japanese companies and start-ups - many of them new to the United Nations and SDG Action - with UNDP Accelerator Labs in selected countries. Together, they test, experiment and gain business intelligence in the context of a given theme and bring in specific technologies, know-how and networks from the Japanese corporate world. This “co-creative” approach fosters UNDP engagement with the private sector through a bottom-up, experimental model to tackle development challenges.
Since 2020, the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (CAO) – supported by the Japan Unit (JU) in New York - has strategically invested in the UNDP Accelerator Labs Network’s grassroots-driven approach as it combines real-time experimentation potential and distributed R&D for the Japanese private sector.
To date, nine UNDP Accelerator Labs have teamed up with Japanese companies to co-develop, design and test potential solutions to various local problems. Depending on context and insights from initial experiments, each challenge leads to either a prototype or a proof of concept; sometimes it opens avenues to scaling opportunities and/or the inclusion into a bigger portfolio or business model.
Watch to learn more:
Turning Seaweed into Opportunity: A Sustainable Future for South Africa
Off the coast of South Africa’s Western Cape, the greens and golds of seaweed hold more than just natural beauty—they hold opportunity. Through the Japan SDGs Innovation Challenge, the UNDP South Africa Accelerator Lab partnered with the Japanese Seaweed Resources Institute to explore seaweed’s potential as a livelihood opportunity for coastal communities. With over 900 native species and ideal growing conditions, seaweed cultivation requires no arable land, fresh water, or fertilizers—making it an accessible, eco-friendly solution. Community workshops revealed rich traditional knowledge, inspiring local entrepreneurs to develop seaweed-based products like salt, soap, and fertilizers. This collaboration highlights how innovation, cultural exchange, and community engagement can unlock sustainable economic growth while restoring respect for the sea and the environment.
Learn more about the initiative:
- Part one: Standing Up for SDG 14 and Speaking Up for Seaweed
- Part two: Searching for Seaweed Solutions
- Part three: Sinking into Seaweed: Japan SDGs Innovation Challenge
Watch our feature video:
