Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) will expand the eligibility for participation in its new business creation program, Ignition, from the current “Honda associates in Japan” to “any individuals and businesses in Japan,” and begin accepting applications in November 2023.
Ignition is a new business creation program Honda has been conducting for the purpose of giving shape to the original technologies, ideas and designs of individuals with high aspiration and strong passion that contribute to solving societal issues and creating new value for customers.
Ignition started in 2017 as a new business creation program targeting associates of Honda R&D Co., Ltd., a R&D subsidiary of Honda in Japan, then, in 2021, the eligibility for participation was expanded to include all Honda associates in Japan.
Now, the eligibility will be expanded to all individuals and businesses in Japan. By combining the ideas of people outside the company with Honda’s technology and knowledge, Honda will further strive to contribute to solving various society issues and creating new value for people. Moreover, through this program Honda will explore opportunities for future collaboration and alliances by supporting individuals and businesses outside Honda.
Any individual who aims to start a business and any startup within three years from the start of their business and still in the “seed stage”, in Japan, are now eligible to participate in the Ignition program. Honda is in search of participants who are willing to further refine their ideas and realize their dreams through co-creation with Honda.
The Ignition program is planning to set four themes for applications: 1) carbon neutrality, 2) robotics, 3) mobility and 4) production/manufacturing technology.
