NPO ETIC. Concludes Partnership Agreement with Nagano City — Promoting Regional Economic Growth with Side-Job and External Talent

NPO ETIC. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) concluded a partnership agreement concerning regional revitalization with Nagano City on May 21, 2026. This agreement aims to foster innovation by inviting urban professional talent to Nagano City and building relationships with local companies in the form of side jobs.

This agreement is based on the success of 'NAGA KNOCK!', which has been jointly implemented since FY2021. The program is a model where urban talent in their 20s to 50s engage in new businesses at local companies as a 'side job' for six months while also aspiring to start their own businesses. Over the past five years, approximately 50 companies and 80 individuals have participated, yielding significant results such as starting relocation or dual-residence living and establishing businesses.

Going forward, the aim is to transition to a mechanism where local companies and coordinators take the lead, allowing businesses to develop autonomously. ETIC. director Aiko Koizumi commented, 'We want to expand the circle of co-creation between urban talent and local managers with passionate visions.'

ETIC. is an entrepreneurship training and coordinating organization founded in 1993.