Mankind's main survival challenges
within a generation (2020-2050),
Create a global business ecosystem
that leads to solutions.
Humanity faces four intricately interrelated 'survival bottlenecks' and in many areas has exceeded the planetary boundary, heading towards a highly vulnerable future. Companies are expected to contribute to this urgent challenge through innovation on the business side and through active social engagement and collaboration.
Bottlenecks are also the "parents" of invention, and innovation + technology + impact-oriented finance must be leveraged to accelerate progress towards the future, where great business opportunities also exist.
Japanese industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to resolving bottlenecks through its technological prowess and its willingness to co-create with the rest of the world. The "4Revs Global Innovation Hub" will give form to this "potential" and create a global business ecosystem that will lead to solutions to humanity's main survival challenges by 2050 - this is the raison d'être of the "4Revs Global Innovation Hub".
About 4Revs
4Revs starts in 2020.
4Revs was launched in 2020 to encourage collaboration between Japanese companies, social entrepreneurs and sustainability practitioners from around the world, and to find clues for Japan-originated innovation in the areas of food, water, resources and energy, the "four survival challenges" facing the world. As a '4Revs Co-creative Ecosystem = a unique co-creation platform spreading across the world', it supports participating companies in solving issues and developing their businesses.
Specifically, young social innovators, social entrepreneurs and sustainability practitioners from six continents (110 countries) discover and uncover the 'seeds' of innovation related to the four survival issues, provide them to participating companies in Japan, and support them in discussions and business model creation in line with the themes. With the aim of strengthening the 'innovation needs' and 'partnership building' + 'capacity building' of companies and public institutions (including both R&D + business creation + HR aspects), approximately 200 participants from about 20 Japanese companies are taking part (as of May 2024).
If you are interested in developing the next generation of business leaders or co-creating sustainable innovation businesses, please feel free to contact us using the contact form on the 4Revs Activities website.
CONNECT
INSPIRE
EMPOWER
CONNECT
INSPIRE
EMPOWER
Specifically, young social innovators, social entrepreneurs and sustainability practitioners from six continents (110 countries) discover and uncover the 'seeds' of innovation related to the four survival issues, provide them to participating companies in Japan, and support them in discussions and business model creation in line with the themes. With the aim of strengthening the 'innovation needs' and 'partnership building' + 'capacity building' of companies and public institutions (including both R&D + business creation + HR aspects), approximately 200 participants from about 20 Japanese companies are taking part (as of May 2024).
If you are interested in developing the next generation of business leaders or co-creating sustainable innovation businesses, please feel free to contact us using the contact form on the 4Revs Activities website.
4Revs' idea of an activity platform: an ecosystem for co-creation
The 4Revs activities are envisioned as an unprecedented co-creation ecosystem (innovation ecosystem) whose raison d'être is to lead to solutions to the 'four survival challenges' facing humanity.
It is a unique global co-creation platform that connects young social entrepreneurs, social innovators and sustainability practitioners around the world with companies and public organizations to create next-generation, major innovations in the four fields one after another through collaboration and co-creation.
Activities of 4Revs
Activities
- Annual co-creation activities to build an innovation ecosystem and develop innovator human resources (depending on eligibility).
- More than 20 webinars, workshops and summits in total
- Research, exchange and learning through access to the DB and co-creation channels on a dedicated online platform
- A wide variety of information content provided throughout the year, including trend letters, case studies, etc.
- Collaboration, co-creation and mutual learning between companies and between companies and NELIS
Outputs (single year)
- Training of up to 15-25 social intrapreneurs and support for the formation of a community of innovation leaders
- Access to 4Revs Data & Opportunity Lab (Pillar sponsors only) and access to hundreds of innovation case studies
- Access to around 20 new case studies (access to hundreds of existing cases)
- Six Sustainable Innovation Trend Letters (in English and Japanese)
- Access to the 4Revs Handbook and guidance on the programme and implementation of Ideation WS for internal use, etc.
Outcomes (approximately 3 years)
SILC
Sustainable Innovation Leader Community
Build a pool of human resources within the company who can drive sustainable innovation.
SEED
Sustainable Enterprise & Ecosystem Development
Developing a business ecosystem for sustainable enterprise.
* Pillar sponsors only
Long-term impact
For participating companies
To take a leadership position in the field of sustainability innovation in the global market and become a company that can make a significant contribution to the future of the global community while achieving sound business development.
For global society
Hunger has been completely eradicated (in a society with near-zero food loss) as a result of the restoration of the topsoil that supports agriculture in many parts of the world, the purification of the oceans and healthy fisheries.
Renewable energy sources account for the majority of primary energy and net-zero CO2 emissions from human activities have been achieved.
Water stress is no longer a threat to humanity due to the restoration of water sources and advances in water-related technologies, and human activities and the global water cycle are in harmony.
Plastic pollution has come to an end, the economy is almost 100% circular and the forest area has increased significantly.
From the 4Revs initial vision (2020)
Two activity streams (overview)
The 4Revs annual programme operates in two streams: the Blue Stream for 'capacity building' (human resource development) and the Red Stream for 'innovation ecosystem development' (business innovation). Pillar sponsors can participate in all of them. Community partners can only participate in the Blue Stream.
Innovation Ecosystem
Red Stream
Activities
- Flagship innovation projects
- 4Revs Data & Opportunity Lab
- Global impact investment ecosystem
Outcome
SEED
Sustainable Enterprise & Ecosystem Development
Development of a business ecosystem for sustainable enterprise.
* Pillar sponsors only
Capacity Building
Blue Stream
Activities
- Internal innovation games (WS) using the 4Revs handbook as a starting point
- Social Intrapreneur & Sustainable Business Model Course
- Research Salon, Sustainability Trend Letter, Kick-off General Meeting, Trend Webinar, Final Debriefing
Outcome
SILC
Sustainable Innovation Leader Community
Build a pool of human resources capable of driving sustainability innovation within the company.
Overall picture of the co-creation ecosystem
Participating companies
The 4Revs Global Innovation Hub is funded by annual company membership fees.
There are two participation slots: the main sponsor, Pillar Sponsor, and the minor sponsor, Community Partner.
The number of participants and the benefits of participation vary.
Pillar Sponsor (main sponsor)
- ASKUL Corporation
- Suntory Holdings Ltd.
- Seven & i Holdings Co.
- Taneya Group
- Toshiba Corporation
- NEC Corporation
- Panasonic Corporation
- Meiji Holdings Co.
- Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.
- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Yokogawa Electric Corporation
- Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.
Community partners
- Imuraya Group
- Sapporo Holdings Co.
- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
- Daiwa House Industry Co.
- Teijin Limited
- Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
- Marui Group Inc.
- Marubeni Corporation
Participation quota and benefits
Pillar Sponsor
Full participation in all Red Stream and Blue Stream activities; participation also possible from consolidated subsidiaries exceeding 51%.
- Main benefits for Red Stream
- Co-creation programmes originating from the 4Revs Data & Opportunity Lab and utilisation of the resulting innovation DB (R&D, business development)
- Participation in the investment impact ecosystem, participation of new investment departments such as CVC members, support for impact investment research and identification of future investment opportunities
- o Support by the conception and secretariat of specific flagship innovation projects led by participating companies
- Parts of the programme (related to the impact investment ecosystem) can also be attended by employees other than those mentioned above involved in CVC and new investment (separately).
- Participation in the Sustainability Trends webinar (open to general employees) (once a year)
- Participation and use of 4Revs' own online platform (4Revs Data & Opportunity Lab can use all content)
- Sharing and uploading of 4Revs-related content on company intranet, etc.
Community partners
Participate in all Blue Stream activities
- Participation in the Sustainability Trends webinar (open to all employees) (once a year)
- Participation and use of 4Revs own online platform (4Revs Data & Opportunity Lab is only accessible to the public part)
- Sharing and uploading of 4Revs-related content on company intranet, etc.
Governing body Nelis
NPO NELIS
Next Leaders' Initiative for Sustainability
1-22-5-401 Nakamachi, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-0006
www.nelisglobal.org
Established in 2015 (general incorporated association); from August 2020, NPO (registered in Tokyo).
From April 2020, NELIS presides over the 4Revs Global Innovation Hub, promoting co-creation activities between 20 Japanese companies and social innovators and social entrepreneurs from five continents.
In addition to Japan, local subsidiaries have been established in Singapore, Nepal, Nigeria, Uganda, Liberia, Finland and Colombia (by local members), with a total of about 13,000 people in 115 countries participating in the network.
In addition to the 4Revs, the One Million Leaders (OML) project, a programme to develop the next generation of leaders, is being developed in four regions: Africa, Asia, the Middle East (Arabic-speaking countries) and Latin America.
Representative Director
Peter David Pedersen
Representative Director of NPO NELIS, 33 years in Japan.
Professor at Shizenkan Graduate University
External director of Meiji Holdings
External director of Marui Group
Co-founder of E-Square Inc.
Chairman of Trans-Agent Inc.
Steering Secretariat and Global Team
Secretariat
Peter David Pedersen
President, 4Revs
President of NPO NELIS
Professor at Shizenkan Graduate University
External director of Marui Group and Meiji Holdings
Maiko Shintani
4Revs Community Manager
Since her university studies, she has been exploring and pursuing (and desiring) "Denmark." With the motto "Have not, belong, be not trapped", she spends about three months in Denmark & Europe every year. After working for the Danish Embassy in Tokyo and Rare Co.
Magnus Bengtsson
PhD in Environmental Systems Analysis, MSc Industrial Engineering & Management
Independent environmental and sustainability policy researcher and consultant
Founding member of the Sustainable Consumption and Production Systems - Knowledge and Practice Network of Future Earth (international collaborative research platform)
Sakura Hamaoka * since 11 Sept 24
4Revs Community Support
Has a Master's degree in Human Ecology from Lund University, Sweden.
She is interested in building awareness and promoting action on climate change.
In addition to 4Revs, she will be in charge of One Million Leaders, NELIS's next generation leadership development fellowship in the Global South.
Global team
* Countries are in order of country of origin and country of residence
Frantz Dhers
France and Greece
Cultural Sustainability
4Revs Global Team Coordinator
Ilaria Brambilla
Italy
CE, regional planning, geography
<Research Salon facilitator>
Katie Conlon
USA, India
Waste issues in Asia,
CE, lifestyle
Jovin Hurry
Mauritius
CE, strategy, regenerative
Leadership
Felix Iziomoh
Nigeria
Africa's waste problem,
<4Revs Africa Secretaria>
Lucas Sanchez
Colombia
Social change through the arts,
<4Revs Latam contact point>
Noemi Salantiu
Romania, Belgium
Food, community building
<4Revs online platform>
Shravan Shankar
India
Climate finance
Sustainable start-up investment
Taylor Smythe
USA/UK
Regenerative business and community development
Puja Thiel
Norway, UK
Food, lifestyle
<Research Salon progression>
About NELIS, a non-profit organization
NELIS has organised three Next Generation Leader Summits in Japan in 2015, 2017 and 2018 in collaboration with Ritsumeikan University and Sophia University, as well as one European Summit and two African Summits in collaboration with the University of Helsinki and Lagos State University. NELIS has formed a community of young social innovators (mainly under the age of 40) in 33 countries around the world, and has established local subsidiaries and chapters in Nigeria, Singapore and Uganda, in addition to Japan.
NELIS members are involved in a wide range of sustainability topics. 'Hard' areas such as sustainable forest management, sustainable management of ecosystems, food, organic farming, permaculture, circular economy, plastics issues, urban planning, transport, climate change, energy (energy creation, energy saving), water, sustainable finance, next generation leadership The 4Revs are made up of a diverse range of members with expertise in 'soft' areas such as next-generation leadership, communication experiences through art, environmental education for children, new learning and education paradigms, social change activities through empathy, non-violent communication, and social entrepreneurship development.
Discussions are held online and offline with business representatives participating in 4Revs (language support is provided by the secretariat through consecutive interpretation). Many members run their own businesses in their own countries, and their strength lies in their ability to make proposals for commercialisation and in their mobility and networking skills.
In April 2023, it is launching the One Million Leaders App, a tool to partner, connect and empower millions of young sustainability leaders worldwide.
Name: non-profit organisation NELIS - Global Network of Next Generation Leaders
English name: NELIS - Next Leaders' Initiative for Sustainability
Establishment: 30 January 2015 (general incorporated association), NPO since 3 August, 2020
Representative Director: Peter D. Piedersen (Professor, Shizenkan Graduate University)
Secretariat: 1-22-5-401 Nakamachi, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-0006
Website: https://nelisglobal.org