Akiyoshi Iryo, Noboru Konno, and Others Appointed as Judges for "BizCon AWARDS 2026," Evaluating Systems Supporting New Business Creation and Secretariat Initiatives

Filament Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka; Representative: Masaru Kaku) announces that the judges for the final selection committee of "BizCon AWARDS 2026," an award that evaluates the efforts of secretariats supporting internal business contests, have been decided. This award, following last year's inaugural event, marks its second iteration. It aims to elevate initiatives for new business creation within companies by recognizing the challenges and achievements of secretariats that plan and operate internal business contests, and by sharing their expertise.

About BizCon AWARDS

Internal business contests (BizCons) have been adopted by many companies as a mechanism to connect employee ideas to business commercialization, and in recent years, they have been increasingly utilized as a crucial driver for talent development and corporate transformation. The success of these contests is underpinned by the "secretariat," which is responsible for designing systems, managing operations, and supporting applicants. BizCon AWARDS was established with the objective of spotlighting the efforts of secretariats, who play a vital role in the operation of internal business contests conducted by companies, and evaluating their challenges and achievements. Through this award, we aim to visualize the efforts and ingenuity of secretariats in embodying employee ideas and connecting them to new business creation, and to widely share this knowledge. This will foster an environment where more companies can embrace corporate transformation through BizCons. By disseminating the excellent initiatives of secretariats to society, we will contribute to the evolution of new business creation mechanisms and accelerate sustainable corporate transformation.

About the Judges

For the final selection committee of this award, experts with deep knowledge in new business creation and innovation promotion have been invited as judges to evaluate the secretariats' initiatives from multiple perspectives.

Judges (Comments)

- Professor Akiyoshi Iryo Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Waseda University

While internal business contests are conducted by many companies, opportunities to systematically share the expertise and ingenuity cultivated within them are limited. I feel that this award holds great value in visualizing and widely sharing these efforts from various companies. The accumulation of individual practices should lead to hints for innovation creation in Japanese companies. I have high expectations for this year's awards.

- Noboru Konno Director, Japan Innovation Network

An award that shines a light on "internal BizCons" themselves is an unprecedented challenge. Innovation has become a central activity in corporate management, but what is being questioned is the mechanism for generating innovation sustainably. This award addresses the very question of whether BizCons can be established as "part of a management system" rather than just an "event." I am looking forward to encountering the practices of various companies and seeing how they connect their unique capabilities with business imperatives to embed innovation within their organizations.

- Masaru Kaku Representative Director CEO, Filament Inc.

I believe that the quality of internal BizCons cannot be measured solely by the number of applications or commercialized projects. The process itself of encouraging applicants' challenges and rooting those experiences in the organizational culture is where the true value of the secretariat is tested. In the judging process, we will look not only at the ingenuity in planning and operation but also how they supported applicants and ingrained those activities within the company. The wisdom of each company should reside in the secretariat's efforts to ignite the passion of applicants. Regardless of winning an award, I hope this becomes a valuable asset for the entire industry.

Event Outline

Name: BizCon AWARDS 2026 Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Venue: Minato City Industrial Promotion Center, Large Hall Location: Zanozuji Square, 5-36-4 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo URL: https://bizcon-awards.com/2026

Information on Invitation Tickets for Coordinators

We are offering invitation slots for coordinators of internal business contests to attend the final selection committee of this award. On the day, through case presentations by finalists and talk sessions, attendees can learn about the real-world initiatives and trial-and-error processes of other companies' system design and operation from the perspective of those involved.

- Target: Coordinators of internal business contests - Up to 2 people per company can apply - Also eligible: Those who are preparing (considering) an internal business contest *Regular tickets are scheduled to go on sale from May 18. Apply here: https://bizcon-awards2026.peatix.com/

Company Profile

Filament Inc. Established: April 9, 2015 Representative: Masaru Kaku, Representative Director CEO Location: 2F, 2-1-1 Minamihonmachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka Business Description: Support for new business creation and related human resource/organizational development URL: https