Promoting co-creation between local companies and startups, aiming for new business creation originating from Niigata. JR East Startups Co., Ltd. (CEO: Yutaka Shibata) will partner with and co-host the July 22, 2026 session of "Innovation Labo NIIGATA" (hereinafter referred to as "InnoLabo Niigata"), an open innovation program organized by S Innovation Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, CEO: Yoshinobu Hoshino) targeting companies within Niigata Prefecture. InnoLabo Niigata is an initiative continuously implemented by S Innovation to promote co-creation between companies in Niigata Prefecture and startups. In this session, five startups from outside the prefecture, which are invested in or selected by JR East Startups, will present pitches to companies within Niigata Prefecture that are partners of S Innovation. This event provides an opportunity to explore the potential for new business creation and business transformation in the Niigata area by combining the technologies and services of startups from outside the prefecture with the business foundations, customer touchpoints, and regional assets held by companies within Niigata Prefecture. Background of the Event In recent years, due to population decline, changes in the market environment, and accelerating technological innovation, many regional companies are finding it difficult to achieve sustainable growth solely through their existing businesses. On the other hand, collaboration with startups possessing new technologies and business models is gaining attention as an effective means for creating new businesses and solving challenges. However, in Niigata Prefecture, opportunities for interaction and co-creation with startups are not yet sufficient, and many voices are heard such as "I don't know how to collaborate" or "I can't find a startup that fits my company's challenges." Therefore, JR East Startups will combine the network of regional companies and co-creation support expertise culti