Chubu Electric Power Launches Open Innovation Website and Verification/Development Laboratory: Using ICT to Create New Business and Service

To create new customer-oriented business and service using information and communication technology (ICT), Chubu Electric Power has today launched a website and a verification and development laboratory intended for promoting open innovation initiatives.

The newly launching open innovation website Chuden Open Innovation Environment ("COE") has plans to call for various ideas and services from start-ups, universities, and research institutions.

Meanwhile, Chuden Open Innovation Laboratory ("COLab"), the newly opening verification and development laboratory, will provide start-ups, universities, research institutions, and Chubu Electric Power with a meeting space for offering and sharing ideas and a platform to materialize and verify/develop the effectiveness of ideas, in a drive toward developing new ICT-based business and service.

As a place to verify and develop ICT-based systems, the COLab will work together with participants in using the lean software development method (Note 1), thereby arranging an environment that allows for the development of Minimum Viable Products (MVP) and a cloud-computing system where participants can use the latest ICT: open-source software (Note 2).

Through open innovation initiatives using the newly launching COE and COLab, Chubu Electric Power will build stronger ties with start-ups, universities, and research institutions, in turn promoting the use and application of ICT. As a total energy service corporate group that is one step ahead, Chubu Electric Power will also harness such cutting-edge technology as artificial intelligence and the Internet of things in providing attractive household, community-based, and other new services that exceed customer expectations.

(Note 1) A system development method in which the lean production approach (a production control method in manufacturing as represented by the Toyota Production System) is applied to software products
(Note 2) Software the source code of which is made available for free; any individual is allowed to enhance or re-distribute the software.