Crosswest Innovation, a comprehensive industry support company, selected for Ehime Prefecture's "FY2026 Ehime Glocal Frontier Consortium Enhancement Project"

Crosswest Innovation Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, President and CEO: Takayuki Tokoro, hereinafter CWI), a comprehensive industry support company, has been selected as the operator for Ehime Prefecture's "FY2026 Ehime Glocal Frontier Consortium Enhancement Project." This project will promote more practical initiatives for co-creation among industry, government, academia, and finance, and for startup creation, by holding general meetings and study sessions for consortium members within the prefecture utilizing the "E:N BASE" public-private co-creation hub opened in May this year (details below), building a website that consolidates support menus offered by consortium members, and supporting the participation of local companies in events.

Through this project, CWI and its joint venture partners will create and discover startup companies and local companies that deliver value from Ehime to the world, contributing to the sustainable growth of the regional economy.

About Ehime Prefecture's "FY2026 Ehime Glocal Frontier Consortium Enhancement Project"

Following Ehime Prefecture's selection as a "Second Phase Startup Ecosystem Hub City" by the Cabinet Office in June 2025 as the "Setouchi Startup Consortium," the prefecture is strengthening its support system and information dissemination capabilities for "creating globally competitive startups." It is also strengthening startup support in an "All Ehime" system, including fostering momentum for public-private co-creation, aiming to solve regional issues and further revitalize the prefectural economy by attracting and promoting the growth of startups.

*From Ehime Prefecture's "FY2026 Ehime Glocal Frontier Consortium Enhancement Work Consignment Specifications" *Ehime Prefecture Website: https://www.pref.ehime.jp/site/nyusatsu/125142.html

Public-Private Co-creation Hub "E:N BASE"

"E:N BASE," operated by Ehime Prefecture, is a public-private co-creation hub that opened in May 2026 in the second annex of the prefectural government building. It is positioned as a starting point for diverse stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, local companies, government, and educational institutions, to gather beyond boundaries and create solutions to regional issues and new value.

*E:N BASE: https://en-base.pref.ehime.jp/

Comments from Leaders of This Initiative

Takayuki Tokoro

President and CEO, Crosswest Innovation Co., Ltd.

"In each area of Ehime Prefecture, there are abundant excellent products/services and technologies that represent Japan, leveraging the unique characteristics of each area. The EGF Consortium is one of the initiatives to support those who challenge domestic and international expansion, creating many new industries by leveraging Ehime Prefecture's strengths. We will dedicate our entire company to the success of this wonderful project that disseminates Japan's pride from Ehime."

Hiroshi Takahashi

Business Producer, Crosswest Innovation Co., Ltd.

"This project is an initiative to build an innovation ecosystem with an ALL Ehime system. Startup development is an area promoted as an important national policy. Ehime is a region with many advanced initiatives in startup creation, development, attraction, and collaboration. We will do our utmost to contribute to further vitalizing consortium activities by mixing good examples and success stories."

About Crosswest Innovation Co., Ltd. (CWI)

Crosswest Innovation Co., Ltd. is a joint venture company formed by Relic Inc., a company that holds the No. 1 domestic share in new business support/co-creation, Iyo Bank, Ltd., the largest financial institution in the Shikoku area, and Nankai Broadcasting Co., Ltd., the largest media company in Ehime Prefecture. It aims to develop businesses targeting the Shikoku, Kyushu, and Chugoku regions, starting from Ehime, with the objectives of new business development, startup creation, and promotion of open innovation. Specifically, it plans to provide support for new business development targeting regional companies and entrepreneurs, form demonstration experiments and co-creation projects, and conduct human resource development and ecosystem formation in collaboration with local governments and universities.

Company Name: Crosswest Innovation Co., Ltd.

Representative: Takayuki Tokoro, President and CEO

Head Office Location: CITY&FRONT 3F, 2-12-1 Dogomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture

Established: January 2026

Business Activities: Incubation Tech Business, Business Produce/New Business Development Support Business, Open Innovation Business, Innovator Human Resource Development Support, Regional Revitalization/Regional Innovation Business, Innovation Workplace Business

Corporate Website: https://cwi.co.jp/

CWI is currently recruiting colleagues to energize the Shikoku economy together (recruitment by Relic Inc.) Details here: https://herp.careers/v1/relic/m0uLThTtSlge

<Contact Information for This Release>

Crosswest Innovation Co., Ltd.

E-MAIL: [email protected]