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Various initiatives have emerged alongside the Osaka-Kansai Expo, with students thriving as the "main characters." On February 15, 2025, Nikkei Inc. hosted the “NIKKEI Future Society Co-Creation Contest,” where Generation Z students competed by presenting their efforts and ideas for building a sustainable society. Each student shared their vision for a "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," and four awards, including the Grand Prize, were selected.

The winning students will have the opportunity to present their ideas again at the Osaka-Kansai Expo Theme Week Studio. Additionally, the judges will provide feedback on each presentation　and participate in a talk session. The talk session, titled “Co-Creating the Future Society: Challenges and Possibilities of Generation Z,” will discuss the perspectives and skills needed by the next generation to shape the future society.

Based on the presentations, we hope that the winning students will be inspired to further expand the scope of their activities.

【Reflection】
As part of its initiatives inspired by the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Nikkei Inc. has been supporting Generation Z students who are actively addressing social issues, while promoting interaction between students and businesses. In February 2024, we launched the website “NIKKEI Future Society Co-Creation ENGINE,” where students conducted interviews and wrote articles about the Expo, providing a platform for them to share information and deepen their understanding of the event.
Additionally, through a regular learning program titled “BANPAKU Seminar,” we have supported students in refining their activities aimed at solving social challenges. As the culmination of these efforts, the “NIKKEI Future Society Co-Creation Contest” was held on February 15, where students competed with ideas and initiatives for building a sustainable society.
Out of 78 entries from across Japan, 13 teams advanced to the final round after passing the document screening. Judging was conducted based on three criteria: “Vision and Philosophy,” “Sustainability,” and “Social Impact.” Four teams were selected for awards, including the Grand Prize, Excellence Award, and two corporate-sponsored awards: the “Takara Belmont Award” and the “Science Award.”
At the Theme Week venue, the four winning teams presented their initiatives, followed by a talk session featuring the judges titled “Co-Creating the Future Society – Challenges and Potential of Generation Z.” Messages of encouragement were shared with students tackling social issues. Approximately 40 students (around 60 participants including stakeholders) attended the event, and the official Theme Week YouTube channel recorded over 600 views, successfully delivering the students’ challenges and messages to a wide audience.

【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The initiative “NIKKEI Innovation for the Future,” held as the culmination of the “NIKKEI Future Society Co-Creation Contest,” received a far greater response than we had anticipated. The students’ efforts to solve social issues and their forward-thinking ideas resonated with and attracted interest from a wide audience. Through this initiative, we believe that the Nikkei’s efforts successfully encouraged students to take a step toward the future and demonstrated new possibilities for solving societal challenges. Moving forward, we will continue to support the challenges of younger generations and expand the circle of co-creation, contributing to the realization of a better future society.