Press Release
IGNAS launched: A program to co-create the city of tomorrow starting from IG Arena -- Calling for ideas focused on solving challenges in IG Arena and surrounding areas
November 19, 2025
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
Aichi International Arena Co., Ltd.
NTT DOCOMO, INC.
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (President & Director: Kingo Hayashi, hereinafter "Chubu Electric Power") and Aichi International Arena Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Hisato Hiroshi, hereinafter "IG Arena"), and NTT DOCOMO, INC. (President and CEO: Yoshiaki Maeda, hereinafter "DOCOMO") will launch the IGNAS (Note 1) program (hereinafter, "Program") today, Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Program aims to co-create the future city, starting from "the IG Arena," one of Japan's largest arenas, which opened in Aichi Prefecture in July 2025. IG Arena and its founding partners, Chubu Electric Power and DOCOMO, will collaborate with various companies, including startups, to address challenges and revitalize the IG Arena and its surrounding areas.
Program aims to co-create a future city centered around the IG Arena by enhancing the visitor experience at the arena, improving the circulation of people in the surrounding area, and realizing sustainable urban development. This is the second phase of IG Arena Dream Project (Note 2) that DOCOMO and IG Arena have been promoting since March 2025.
In conjunction with the launch of Program, we are calling for ideas from various companies, including startups, across six themes: "Community," "Digital Transformation (DX)," "Entertainment Experience," "Sustainability and Resilience," "Mobility," and "Open Topic." The submission period runs from today until Monday, January 12, 2026 (a national holiday). If the idea submitted is selected, the submitting company will collaborate with Chubu Electric Power, IG Arena, and DOCOMO to conduct proof-of-concept experiments and work on solving challenges aligned with each theme.
For more information on Program and the call for ideas, please see the Appendix or the official program website.
Official program website
The three companies will continue to aim to solve issues and create new value in the surrounding area, starting with the IG Arena, through open innovation that combines their respective assets and accumulated knowledge with the ideas and solutions of the participating companies.
(Note 1) The name "IGNAS" is derived from IGNITE, meaning "to light a fire," and IGNIS, the Latin word for "fire." It also incorporates the first 'I' and last "A" from IG ARENA. Taking the IG Arena as the central hub where people gather and generate heat—energy—we named it "IGNAS" to embody our desire to spread the flame of ideas throughout society.
(Note 2) IG Arena Dream Project is a project that uses the IG Arena as a base for a variety of initiatives aimed at contributing to regional development.
Appendix
Appendix1
Outline of IGNAS
1. Program Implementation Period (including brushing up selected ideas and conducting proof-of-concept experiments)
February 2026 to June 2026 (planned)
2. Eligible Applicants for Idea Submission
Registered companies that have systems or solutions capable of conducting proof-of-concept experiments during the program implementation period
3. Period for Idea Submission
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, to Monday, January 12, 2026 (public holiday) (tentative)
4. Call for Ideas Themes
(1) Community
Increasing the number of people connected to the area through enhanced customer experiences, i.e., sightseeing and local exploration before and after events, and community building
(2) DX
Improving operational efficiency and customer experience via ticketing, crowd flow management, congestion mitigation, and in-facility ICT integration
(3) Entertainment Experience
Creating new entertainment value originating from the arena, including sports, music, and dining experiences
(4) Sustainability and Resilience
Reducing environmental impact and strengthening disaster response capabilities through initiatives focused on regional resource circulation and disaster prevention
(5) Mobility
Improving accessibility and circulation through the demonstration and commercialization of micro-mobility around Meijo Park and wide-area collaborative mobility
(6) Open Topic
Creating value through new ideas and technologies that open up the future of the arena and the community, not limited to the above themes
5. Support Details
Providing demonstration fields (the IG Arena and surrounding areas, etc.), conducting mentoring (such as brainstorming business proposals with experts), offering PR support, facilitating business partnerships and investment consideration, etc.