Why is NTT Innovation Laboratory Israel a powerful Open Innovation channel for NTT’s Operating Companies around the world?

Since its establishment in 2021, NTT Innovation Laboratory Israel (NTT IL) has collaborated with 170 NTT Group OpCos in 325 innovation program projects. Its collaborative efforts have led to the introduction of thousands of innovative companies, 45 successful Proof of Concepts between Israeli entities and NTT's Operating Companies (OpCos) and customers, and a dozen commercial transactions, along with 4 investments in Israeli companies.

We wanted to ask three people with direct experience of NTT IL what made it such a positive asset for the NTT Group.

Naoki Shibutani, NTT East CEO, and former CTO of NTT

NTT East actively addresses social challenges such as global warming and an aging society to contribute to the development of a sustainable future. We achieve this by leveraging our world-leading optical network and combining it with a wide range of innovative solutions.

Over the last three years, NTT Innovation Laboratory Israel has been an extremely valuable partner in identifying and evaluating emerging technologies, as well as in the establishment of partnerships and the development of new business lines for NTT East.

During my recent visit to Israel, NTT IL offered me a comprehensive overview of the diverse sectors in which the country, known as the “Startup Nation,” excels. These sectors include cyber-security, enterprise software, AI, sustainability-tech, and digital health.

The visit and our subsequent collaboration have led to the creation of a pipeline of opportunities and to the formation of two new partnerships. One is with CropX for Smart Agronomic Farm Management. The other is with Binah.ai for Monitoring Employee Safety and Wellbeing. The two partnerships are a testament to our commitment to innovation and growth, as well as to our solid partnership with NTT IL.

Akhil Uniyal, Head of Global Collaboration, Innovation & Growth, NTT DATA

In my role at NTT DATA, I am responsible for fostering global innovation and growth in collaboration with our OpCos and ecosystem partners. This involves seeking out next-generation partners and start-ups who are pioneering disruptive technologies, to drive new business avenues for NTT DATA.

As one of our strategic ecosystem partners, NTT IL through their Center of Excellence provides NTT DATA with Open Innovation programs and tools, innovation process management software, and a Virtual Smart Lab for POCs and technology evaluations, among other resources.

My visit to Israel in 2022 offered insight into why it was selected as the hub for such innovative activities. The country boasts a dynamic startup ecosystem, abundant technological resources, a wealth of talent, and a pervasive “can do” attitude.

I have been working closely with the Israeli companies introduced by NTT IL to harness the combined capabilities and assets of NTT DATA and Israel’s technology ecosystem. NTT IL have been an incredibly useful asset for the Group.

Noa Asher, CEO, NTT Innovation Laboratory Israel Ltd.

NTT Innovation Laboratory Israel was established in 2021 as a focal point of the NTT Group and its customers to the flourishing Israeli innovation ecosystem. Our mission can be grasped by reading the words of NTT's Chairman Jun Sawada delivered on May 12th 2021: "I believe that Israeli breakthroughs and cutting-edge technologies in various fields will support our customers and us to transform and confront these challenges, so that NTT continues to lead the global innovation."

Like the more than 500 multinational companies already practicing Open Innovation here, we see Israel as a place to find new ways to be competitive, create new revenue streams and bring new value to NTT and its customers. NTT IL’s Open Innovation Center of Excellence offers different services to all NTT OpCos around the world at no cost.

All leading global corporates understand that Open Innovation, joined with internal innovation, is crucial to keep a competitive edge. We are here to enhance NTT’s Open Innovation capabilities and create additional business growth opportunities with OpCos around the world.

We’d like to give a friendly welcome to NTT’s BUs and OpCos to reach out to us and work together on any need or solution required, either for internal use or by NTT customers.