About
Kotaro Mori is an innovation ecosystem coordinator serving as Deputy Secretary General at Yokohama Future Organization, an innovation-promotion body in Yokohama where companies, universities, government and citizens work together to create new value. The organization supports business matching, proof-of-concept trials, open innovation and commercialization, and runs programs including YOXO FESTIVAL, YOXO College and TECH HUB YOKOHAMA. Kotaro is named as the organization's secretariat contact in a Yokohama City press release on YOXO FESTIVAL. Kotaro brings an ecosystem-builder perspective on open innovation, collaboration between industry, academia and government, proof-of-concept projects, and city-level startup support. The role provides direct exposure to how large companies, universities, startups and a city government work together to test and commercialize new ideas. Kotaro is particularly relevant to conversations around open innovation in Japan, working with city governments and corporate partners, proof-of-concept opportunities in Yokohama, and regional startup ecosystems.