Co-creation Social Environment Design Program 'FUTURE LENS' Opens Second Round of Applications on July 6, 2026

Zebras and Company, Inc. (Yomi: Zebras and Company, Headquarters: Azabu Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representatives: Yohei Azakami, Yoshitaka Tabuchi) and Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Atsushi Oimatsu, hereinafter "Nikken Sekkei") are pleased to announce the opening of the second application period for the co-creation social environment design program 'FUTURE LENS'. The application period is scheduled from July 6, 2026 (Mon) to noon on September 11, 2026 (Fri).

What is the Co-creation Social Environment Design Program 'FUTURE LENS'?

This program was conceived as a mechanism to disseminate the "future perspectives (FUTURE LENS)" of social entrepreneurs connected to their regions by "systematizing" the value of their businesses and "visualizing" social issues they are beginning to address early on. A key feature of this program is that it provides not only funding for demonstration research but also hands-on support from Nikken Sekkei's PYNT team and Z&C.

We will respond to challenges faced by regional social entrepreneurs, such as "not being able to quantify the value of their business," "wanting to structure issues to advance their business," and "not knowing how to expand their business into the community," by leveraging Nikken Sekkei's perspective on social environment design (expertise, ability to connect people, coordinate stakeholders, and implement concrete steps in the community) and our skills in visualization, quantification, and systemization.

We aim to promote initiatives that contribute to solving social issues by utilizing the experience and expertise Nikken Sekkei has cultivated over 125 years, along with Z&C's business development capabilities to connect social issue resolution with business, and its project promotion support.

'FUTURE LENS ANNUAL REPORT 2025-2026' Released

We have released the 'FUTURE LENS ANNUAL REPORT 2025-2026'.

This report summarizes the initiatives of the three companies selected in the first year, the significance of FUTURE LENS as seen through its activities, the points of co-creation that generate systemic change, and the four frameworks 'FUTURE LENS METHOD' that systematize methods for conceptual design and consensus building to lead visions to implementation.

The report also includes a dialogue between Nikken Sekkei's program director and Z&C, as well as a FUTURE LENS spin-off project. Please also read about the reasons companies applied to FUTURE LENS, the changes brought about by their initiatives, and the insights and growth of co-creation employees.

https://www.nikken.jp/ja/dbook/future_lens_annual_report

Second Round Application Overview for 'FUTURE LENS'

<Application Period>

・July 6, 2026 (Mon) – Noon on September 11, 2026 (Fri)

Register here to download application documents.

<Number of Selected Businesses>

・Approximately 3 businesses

<Amount and Period>

・Up to 5 million yen per business per year

・Continuance for 2 years in principle (however, continuation will be assessed annually based on progress reports, etc.)

<Support>

・Nikken Group employees will provide program support.

※Support is limited to activities related to this program in principle.

※In addition to Nikken Group employees, employees from external co-creation partner companies (PYNT co-creation partners) may participate.

※For other details, please visit the official page. ※Contact: FUTURE LENS Secretariat, e-mail: [email protected]

Reason for Nikken Sekkei Starting 'FUTURE LENS'

Nikken Sekkei, aiming to evolve into a social environment design platform, has opened "PYNT Tokyo" in April 2023 and "PYNT Takebashi" in November 2025 as co-creation spaces that promote open innovation by involving not only internal staff but also external co-creation partners such as companies, universities, government agencies, and NPOs, in order to address increasingly complex social issues.

https://www.nikken.jp/ja/about/pynt.html

Therefore, in addition to strengthening matching with partners who have a sense of課題意識 (awareness of issues), developing tools, and improving the resolution of projects, we have launched the program 'FUTURE LENS' as "support for social implementation starting from the initiatives of social entrepreneurs connected to their regions."

https://www.nikken.jp/ja/about/pynt_futurelens/index.html

Nikken Sekkei has been involved in urban planning and community development, exemplified by the redevelopment of the Shibuya Station area and the development of the second phase of the Umekita area. In these projects, we have worked on visualizing and quantifying issues to achieve consensus among many stakeholders. In this program as well, we aim to strongly promote the social implementation of solutions by leveraging these strengths, along with the PYNT space and network, to visualize the business challenges faced by regional social entrepreneurs and systematize their business value.

What FUTURE LENS Aims For

To create a system that aims for broader social issue resolution by co-creating with regional social entrepreneurs, leveraging Nikken Sekkei's expertise. Furthermore, by utilizing the knowledge and experience gained through this program, such as skills to enhance the resolution of latent needs in daily life, in future urban development, we will pioneer social environment design and realize the creation of new value in future cities.

Future Schedule for 'FUTURE LENS'

The selection schedule is planned as follows.

1 Program Information Session

Information sessions for this program will be held at PYNT offices in each regional base and online.

Please feel free to participate by applying and for more details via Peatix below.

https://futurelens2.peatix.com

【Osaka】July 29 (Wed) 12:00-13:30 @ PYNT Osaka (On-site/Online)

Location: Nikken Sekkei Osaka Office (Ginsen Bingomachi Bldg., 3-6-5, Bingomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka)

【Tokyo】August 4 (Tue) 18:30-20:00 @ PYNT Takebashi (On-site/Online)

Location: Nikken Sekkei Tokyo/Takebashi Office (Palace Side Building 5F, 1-1-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

【Kyushu】August 20 (Thu) 12:00-13:30 @ PYNT Kyushu (On-site/Online)

Location: 5th Floor, Nikken Sekkei Kyushu Office (1-12-14, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka)

【Application Consultation Session】August 31 (Mon) 12:30-13:30 (Online)

※The final session will be dedicated to answering questions and consultations from participants.

2 Pre-registration/Main Application

July 6, 2026 (Mon) – Noon on September 11, 2026 (Fri)

※Information regarding information sessions, deadlines, etc., will be sent to those who pre-register.

※After pre-registration, application completion will be confirmed upon submission of application documents via email.

3 Notification of Document Screening Results

Scheduled for late September 2026

4 Individual Discussions / Site Visits

Early October – Early November 2026

Individual discussions and site visits will be conducted for companies that pass the document screening to deepen mutual understanding.

5 Screening Committee (Pitch)

Mid-November 2026

Scheduled to be held at Nikken Sekkei "PYNT" and online.

6 Notification of Selection Results

Early December 2026

Results will be notified via email after the selection of successful companies.

About Nikken Sekkei

Nikken Sekkei is a professional services firm providing architectural and civil engineering design supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services. Since its founding in 1900, for over 120 years, we have been engaged in value creation through "social environment design" that addresses latent and manifest social issues to meet the demands of society and the diverse needs of our clients. We have been involved in various projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and have recently expanded into India and Europe.

URL: https://www.nikken.jp/ja/

About Zebras and Company

With the theme "Different scale, Different future (with a new measuring stick, new growth can occur, and a new future can be created)," we are a company that invests and provides management support, aiming for a "gentle, healthy, and enjoyable society" where anyone can challenge themselves to solve social issues and achieve sustainable, healthy corporate management. Through investment and management support, collaboration with government agencies and financial institutions, and research and information dissemination regarding "zebra companies," we systematize zebra-style management and aim for a world where the concept of "zebra companies" is implemented across all companies, expanding the possibilities for new business models.

https://www.zebrasand.co.jp