Youth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge (Japan)

Deadline: 16-Nov-2026

The Youth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan invites young people to submit innovative business ideas and ventures that address social challenges and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative aims to empower young social innovators and entrepreneurs by providing a platform to showcase ideas, develop social-impact ventures, and connect with peers and experts across Asia. It particularly encourages solutions that use technology, strengthen disaster risk reduction, and contribute to sustainable development.

About the Youth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan

Youth Co:Lab Social Innovation Challenge Japan was established to support a stronger ecosystem for youth-led social innovation and entrepreneurship. The Challenge brings together partners from different sectors to encourage young people to develop creative solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges. By connecting participants with other young innovators and experts across Asia, the programme creates opportunities to exchange ideas, gain exposure, and explore ways to expand social impact. What Does the Challenge Support? The Challenge focuses on innovative business ideas and ventures that can address real-world social challenges. Applicants are encouraged to develop solutions that: - Address pressing social challenges. - Contribute to the SDGs. - Use technology or innovative approaches. - Strengthen disaster risk reduction where relevant. - Create positive social impact. - Have potential to contribute to Japan, Asia, or wider global communities. The Challenge welcomes both early-stage ideas and relatively young ventures that are already operating. Technology and AI Innovation Technology is an important focus of the Challenge. Young innovators are encouraged to explore how technologies, including AI and other digital tools, can be used to create innovative solutions to social challenges. The Youth Innovation Award specifically includes an AI & Technology category, providing recognition for innovative technology-driven approaches. Disaster Risk Reduction The Challenge also places emphasis on disaster risk reduction. Young people developing solutions that help communities prepare for, respond to, or reduce the impact of disasters can participate through the relevant Youth Innovation Award category. This focus encourages youth-led innovation addressing one of the major challenges facing communities in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals Applicants should demonstrate how their business idea or venture contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs provide a framework for addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, education, health, environmental sustainability, climate change, and inclusive economic development. A strong submission should clearly identify the social problem being addressed and explain how the proposed solution contributes to relevant SDG targets. Who Can Apply? The Challenge is open to young people who meet the programme’s age, nationality or residency, and business-stage requirements.

Applicants must:

- Be high school students or equivalent, or older. - Be under 36 years of age as of 31 March 2027. - Be a Japanese national or resident of Japan. - Have lived in Japan for more than two years. - Have a qualifying business idea or venture. - Meet the required business-stage conditions. The Challenge allows applications from individuals as well as teams. Age Requirement Applicants must be under the age of 36 as of 31 March 2027.

The eligible birth-date range is:

1 April 1991 to 31 March 2011. Applicants born within this period can meet the stated age requirement, subject to all other eligibility conditions. Nationality and Residency Requirement

Eligibility is limited to

- Japanese nationals, or - Residents of Japan who have lived in the country for more than two years. Applicants should ensure that they satisfy the applicable nationality or residency requirement before submitting their application. Business Stage Requirement The Challenge is designed for relatively early-stage business ideas and ventures. A business plan must be in one of the following stages:

- Idea stage: The concept has been developed but the venture has not yet started operations.

- Preparation stage: The applicant is preparing to launch the venture.

- Early operation: The venture has been operating for less than four years.

This allows the Challenge to support young innovators at different stages of developing their social-impact ventures. Individual and Team Applications Applications can be submitted either individually or as a team. For team applications, the lead representative must satisfy all eligibility requirements. Teams can therefore bring together people with different skills and experiences while maintaining a clearly identified eligible representative. Award Categories The Challenge offers several awards recognizing different forms of youth-led innovation and social impact.

Awards include:

- Excellence Award - Youth Challenge Award - Youth Innovation Award - Yachiyo Future Impact Award - UNHCR Award - Audience Award The Youth Innovation Award includes specific recognition for AI & Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction. Youth Innovation Award The Youth Innovation Award recognizes innovative solutions with particular relevance to emerging technologies and disaster resilience.

Its areas include:

- AI & Technology. - Disaster Risk Reduction. Recipients of the Youth Innovation Award can gain opportunities to participate in an international event, connect with young innovators from across Asia, and present their ideas on a global stage. Yachiyo Future Impact Award The Yachiyo Future Impact Award is one of the recognition categories within the Challenge. It provides another opportunity for promising young innovators to receive recognition for their social-impact ideas and ventures. UNHCR Awar