Ideas change society: IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program
IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program, uncovers original ideas, technologies, and designs from individuals, connecting them to solutions for social challenges and the creation of new value.
This feature follows entrepreneurs carrying forward Honda’s DNA—tackling challenges such as mobility support for the visually impaired and visualizing the ocean—through their relentless pursuit of innovation.
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Honda StoriesDesert Sand Becomes Road to the Future: The Challenge of PathAhead, a Startup from HondaInnovationIn Africa, some countries have a road paving rate of less than 20%*1, and even when roads are paved, the harsh reality is that they can deteriorate within just a few years. The quality of roads affects the movement of people and goods and is directly tied to the very potential for economic growth. At the same time, there is a global shortage of sand for construction, including materials used ...
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Honda Stories“Visualizing the Sea” to Save Earth’s FutureInnovationUMIAILE Co., Ltd., a company aiming to protect a peaceful and prosperous Earth through “visualizing the sea,” was established through Honda’s IGNITION new business creation program. UMIAILE is a startup company launched through Honda to develop and sell the UMIAILE ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle) small pilotless boat, and analyze and provide ocean observation data the boat col
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Honda StoriesThree Key Issues Honda Venture Ashirase Considered to Achieve Mass ProductionInnovationAshirase Inc. was established as the first business venture project to originate from IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program, to develop “Ashirase,” a shoe-mounted navigation device to help the visually-impaired walk. A new model, “Ashirase 2,”exceeded 300 units in its initial production run, succeeding in mass-production. This issue of Honda Stories provides through i
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Honda StoriesTurning Bicycles Electric and Connected: What Is the Modern-Day “Batabata” SmaChari?InnovationSmaChari is a service that links a smartphone app with an electric assist unit mounted on a bicycle, enabling various types of bicycles to be electrified and connected. In this issue of Honda Stories, the development leader behind SmaChari reflects on how the idea was born and what new possibilities emerge when bicycles become connected. Nomura : SmaChari does not refer to the bicycle itself ...
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Honda StoriesHonda Venture Supports Freedom of Mobility for Visually Impaired: IGNITION Supports Challenges of Starting a BusinessInnovationHonda engineers with a desire to help the visually impaired walk freely, brought their technology to the world by starting a new business. IGNITION, Honda’s new business creation program, is designed to turn such passionate aspirations of employees into reality. In this project, Honda welcomed new supporters of entrepreneurship and commercialization from outside the company....