Accelerator Program "DraPla Innovation Lab"
Four companies selected for Phase V

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  • Four companies selected for the fifth phase of the accelerator program "DraPla Innovation Lab"

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January 28, 2020
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.

NEXCO EAST (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has selected four companies from a total of 92 applicants as recipients of the fifth phase of the accelerator program "DraPla Innovation Lab," which was open for applications from August 1 to September 17, 2025. We will continue to promote further co-creation to create new value.

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Background to the program and its selection

The "DraPla Innovation Lab" is a program aimed at creating businesses that will realize next-generation Expressway services, revitalize local communities, and solve social issues by verifying technologies and business models with companies that have new technologies, services, and ideas. This year, the fifth time the program has been held, applications were accepted under four themes, and four companies were selected based on their future potential and feasibility. The selected companies will work to create new value by conducting demonstration experiments Expressway and in fields along the expressways.

Adopted companies / Proposal content (company name in alphabetical order)

company name Overview
RCI Agency Co., Ltd.
Image of the RCI Agency Inc. logo
"Advanced business operations through verbalization and structural data conversion of design drawings"
Using proprietary AI technology, we will verbalize and convert design drawings into structural data, and conduct trial verification to improve the consistency confirmation process between design drawings, quantity lists, and special specifications.
SUSHI TOP MARKETING Co., Ltd.
Image of the SUSHI TOP MARKETING Co., Ltd. logo
"Providing new customer experience services using NFTs"
In collaboration with apps such as DraPla, we will provide a user experience that utilizes NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens, e.g., unique digital characters), and implement content that can be used by customers to gather tourist information.
Spotlight Co., Ltd.
Image of Spotlight Inc.'s logo
"Building an app that brings smiles to customers' faces and provides total support for driving and outings"
We will develop the "DraPla (trial version)" app, propose content centered around "going out," and conduct trial testing to improve the convenience and value of the current "DraPla app."
Michi Co., Ltd.
Image of the Michi Co., Ltd. logo
"Proposing a new style of travel that dogs and people can enjoy together"
We will hold a "Canicross" event and conduct trial testing to create new value for road trips with your beloved dog.
  • Canicross: A portmanteau of "Canine" and "Cross-country," it is an outdoor sport in which people and dogs run together through fields and unpaved roads.

Recruitment overview

  • Application period
August 1st to September 17th, 2020
  • Total number of applications
92 items
  • Recruiting theme
  1. Updates for safety, security, comfort and convenience for next-generation Expressway
  2. Further increasing the value of service areas and parking areas
  3. Strengthening regional collaboration and creating new businesses based on various assets
  4. Sustainable business operations and contribution to the SDGs
  • Judging criteria
Significance, future potential, feasibility, etc. of the initiative
  • verification budget
25 million yen in total

NEXCO EAST Group has positioned the period from 2021 to 2025 as a period for contributing to the achievement of the SDGs and transforming toward a new future society, and is undertaking a variety of initiatives.
We believe that the DraPla Innovation Lab initiative will contribute to SDGs goals 8 and 17 as a business activity that will lead to the co-creation and social implementation of new services and products with partner companies.

Image of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS logo and SDGs target 8th and 17th logos
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Related Sites and Content

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If you are looking for information on fares, routes, service areas and parking areas, please click here.

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Click here if you are looking for road information such as road closures during disasters.