OKI Collaborates with 27pilots to Promptly Provide Solutions to Social Issues Using Venture Client Model

Gaining strategic benefits from leading global technologies by becoming a startup customer

TOKYO, Oct 10, 2024 -- OKI (TOKYO: 6703) is adopting the venture client model (“VCM”), which is currently gaining traction in Europe and the US, to promptly provide solutions to increasingly complex social issues—an approach taken as part of OKI's efforts to rapidly incorporate leading global technologies into its business operations. Having established processes and an internal organization to implement VCM, the company has now begun working with 27pilots Deloitte GmbH (Head office: Munich, Germany; CEO: Gregor Gimmy).

Engaged in global open innovation initiatives since May 2024 (*1), OKI recently launched a venture client unit (*2) in collaboration with 27pilots to promote the use of VCM with the goal of accelerating these activities and achieving sustainable growth.

Adopting VCM to implement a range of leading technologies strategically, directly, and rapidly will allow OKI to quickly test, effectively evaluate, and integrate leading global technologies into its operations. This makes it possible for OKI to conduct open innovation activities efficiently, and rapidly and reliably obtain broad-based strategic benefits from limited resources.

In its Technology Strategy announced in November 2023, OKI proposed the Edge Platform (*3) as a technology concept for swiftly providing solutions to address social issues, and the acceleration of open innovation activities via VCM is vital to the realization of this concept. According to Executive Officer Kurato Maeno, who also serves as Chief Technology Officer and Head of Technology Division: “By continuously and efficiently incorporating global technological innovations into its business through VCM, OKI aims to provide rapid solutions to increasingly complex social issues.”

OKI plans to provide stage programs, seminars, and exhibitions related to VCM at OKI WORLD 2024, scheduled for October 23 and 24, 2024.

VCM implementing organization

• VCM operational functions will be based at the Technology Division, which forms a horizontal technical division spanning across OKI.
• Based on the strategies and technical challenges identified by the business divisions, this function will then determine which technical challenges need to be resolved through external collaboration, and thereafter draw up lists of startups capable of resolving them.
• In collaboration with business divisions, it will promptly advance the evaluation and procurement of startup products, the development of peripheral technologies and systems, and on-site verifications based on usage cases, with the goal of achieving business outcomes using startup technologies at an early stage.
• The goal of these activities is to achieve rapid growth by actively incorporating global technological innovations into the Edge Platform concept outlined in its Technology Strategy.

VCM implementation process schematic

What is VCM?

Company Outlines

Terminology

Notes to Editors:

About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (OKI)

Founded in 1881, OKI is Japan's leading information and telecommunication manufacturer. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, OKI provides top-quality products, technologies, and solutions to customers through its Public Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, Component Products, and Electronics Manufacturing Services businesses. Its various business divisions function synergistically to bring to market exciting new products and technologies that meet a wide range of customer needs in various sectors. Visit OKI's global website at https://www.oki.com/

• Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is commonly referred to as OKI.

• All other company names and product names mentioned here are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.

OKI Europe Ltd at a glance

OKI Europe Ltd is a division of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd, a global business-to-business brand and pioneer of award-winning digital LED printer technology. Its compact, robust and leading-edge products combined with customer-centric solutions, empower businesses to create and print professional quality applications in-house.  Used by organisations across a range of sectors including retail, graphic arts (print for profit), education, healthcare, hospitality & events, construction, engineering, chemical and more, OKI’s printers are renowned for their innovation, reliability, unrivalled media handling capabilities and superb colour quality.

OKI Europe employs approximately 200 staff in 15 locations and is represented in 60 countries throughout Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. For more information, visit www.oki.com/eu or follow us at @OKI_Europe_Ltd

PR and Social Media contacts:

Marta Bilro and Javier Lopez: marketing@okieurope.com