From Okinawa to the World: Sharing Demonstration Results and Exploring Future Co-Creation for Regional Solutions

On March 27, 2026, OIST hosted the symposium “From Okinawa to the World: Co-Creating Regional Solutions — Sharing the Results of Demonstration Projects for Regional Problem-Solving through the OIST Testbed.”

The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from local governments, companies, and research institutions, to share the outcomes of demonstration projects conducted through the OIST Testbed and to discuss not only future social implementation and new forms of collaboration, but also key issues that could inform the next phase of research and development.

At the opening of the symposium, Gil Granot-Mayer, Executive Vice President of OIST, delivered welcoming remarks, followed by an online guest address by Masayuki Kawamura, Counsellor, University Reform and Fund Office, Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Cabinet Office.
In his remarks, Mr. Kawamura positioned the initiative as an effort to promote regional open innovation through industry-academia-government collaboration by leveraging universities and other regional knowledge hubs. He also expressed his expectations that the symposium would serve as a forum for sharing demonstration results in energy, mobility, and drone logistics, while fostering discussion on future collaboration across sectors, social implementation, and cross-domain integration.

OIST then presented an overview of the Testbed initiative. The OIST Testbed is envisioned as a globally trusted platform connecting research, industry, and local communities. Its role is defined by two key functions: “connecting” and “enabling.” In addition to linking research networks, companies, and communities, the concept also emphasizes using the OIST campus and community itself as a living lab, creating a cycle in which data and insights obtained through demonstration activities are fed back into further research, development, and regional deployment.

The first project presentation focused on the energy sector. In this joint effort, led by OIST, Okinawa Electric Power Company, NEXTEMS and Boteo, the team examined the feasibility of using an EMS and P2P trading system to supply surplus electricity generated by on-site solar power facilities installed by PPA providers to other consumers within the same area, with the aim of expanding renewable energy adoption in Okinawa. Simulator-based analysis confirmed that transaction feasibility and renewable energy utilization rates varied depending on supply-demand conditions, and that transaction frequency and bidding logic influenced contract prices and transaction volumes. Technical issues that will need to be addressed for implementation were also identified, including communication volume, processing capacity, gateway connection limits, communication delays and the project generated findings not only on technical feasibility, but also on economic and institutional considerations relevant to future implementation.

Next, in the mobility sector, the symposium introduced an EV on-demand transportation demonstration conducted around the OIST campus. This project, implemented in collaboration with Mitsubishi Corporation and Next Mobility, operated an on-demand EV transport service on weekdays, offering OIST staff and students a smartphone-based reservation system. User numbers increased after the launch, and repeat users also grew over time. The results highlighted the potential of this service as a new mobility option for the campus and surrounding area. At the same time, the project highlighted the potential of the service while also identifying operational issues relevant to future optimization, including more flexible operation planning according to temporal demand pattern and user-interface design including multilingual support.

In the drone logistics sector, Vyorius presented its backend physical infrastructure and operating system designed to enable the integrated operation of multiple drones from different manufacturers on a single platform. A live demonstration at OIST showed how six heterogeneous drones could be operated in an integrated manner despite differences in communication methods and technical stacks. By leveraging AI assistants and dynamic spectrum management, the system demonstrated reduced pilot workload and stable operations. The presentation highlighted the potential of this technology as a foundational platform for operating combinations of drones suited to diverse transportation needs in island regions and wider logistics networks.

The symposium then moved into a roundtable discussion featuring speakers from Okinawa Electric Power, Mitsubishi Corporation, Bolteo, and Vyorius. Building on the outcomes from each sector, the discussion explored the kinds of value that could be created through cross-domain integration. The discussion also highlighted the potential of combining multiple domains, including the integration of on-demand transportation and energy management, the optimal control of distributed resources including EV batteries, and the coordination of logistics and passenger mobility while clarifying key issues for the next phase of demonstration, research and development, and social implementation. It also addressed key considerations for advancing future demonstrations and social implementation in light of Okinawa’s regional characteristics.

During the Q&A session, a wide range of topics was raised, including where startups can connect into the ecosystem, how collaboration can be expanded, the potential of CO2 utilization technologies, the gap between expectations and reality surrounding AI, and the pricing logic and environmental effects of P2P electricity trading through EMS. These exchanges demonstrated that the Testbed is functioning not only as a venue for sharing project results, but also as a point of connection for future research, development, and business collaboration.

In the closing session, OIST reiterated its commitment to further developing the Testbed as a platform open to both local and global collaboration.

The symposium served not only as an opportunity to share achievements to date, but also as a forum for looking ahead to future partnerships, research and development, and social implementation. By bringing together initiatives from different fields—energy, mobility, and drone logistics—through the shared platform of the OIST Testbed, the event highlighted new possibilities for co-creation aimed at addressing regional challenges.