WingArc1st participates in Kobe Arena Project, Cooperative Creation Partnership Program

WingArc1st Inc. and Smart Value are jointly engaged in (1) business development in the digitization of administrative procedures, (2) business development in the smart city and mobility, (3) development of new businesses and scale-up of existing businesses, and (4) other business support based on the capital and business alliance signed on 14 February 2023.　

As part of specific efforts to (2) business development in the smart city and mobility, WingArc1st has newly joined the Kobe Arena Project promoted by One Bright KOBE Corporation, a subsidiary of Smart Value, and entered into the DX (Digital Transformation) Partnership.　WingArc1st will work toward the social implementation of a user-friendly urban development (smart city) that enhances the convenience of the experience of Kobe Arena users, such as participating in events and making purchases, through the use of data.
 Image of Kobe Arena

Background of the partnership
The Kobe arena project, based on the concept of the Smartest Arena, which connects hardware, software, digital, and social elements, aims to be a landmark project in Kobe that will be a source of pride for the next generation, contributing to regional revitalization and solving social issues.

WingArc1st has a vision, Empower Data, Innovate the Business, Shape the Future. As the first step, WingArc1st has concluded the DX partnership for data utilization. Based on the business collaboration agreement with Kobe City (*1), WingArc1st will jointly promote the creation of digital innovation in data utilization based on the arena, and work toward the social implementation of user-friendly urban development (smart city) that improves convenience through the use of data.

Cooperative creation partnership program for Kobe arena project
The Kobe arena project is a private project that will be operated over a 50-year period in accordance with a business partnership agreement with the City of Kobe, under the slogan "Raising the Heart Rate of the World.

With the arena opening in April 2025 as a base, the project aims to contribute to the revitalization of the local community and create an arena that solves social issues, where the area surrounding the arena will also become lively on a daily basis. The arena will also include a VIP lounge to provide a new spectator experience, and several tenant stores and restaurants are scheduled to open in the arena.

The Kobe arena project will be promoted together with companies and organizations that agree with this vision and create synergies through this collaborative partnership program for urban development and the realization of a sustainable society centered on the arena. The project is looking for companies and organizations that are willing to collaborate in creating new attractions for the city with the flexibility that only a privately run arena can offer.

(*1) Business collaboration agreement with Kobe City
The City of Kobe and Smart Value have signed a business collaboration agreement to create the future of the city center and waterfront area. Through this agreement, they aim to further revitalize the city center and waterfront area, which symbolizes the port city of Kobe, by improving circulation in the Sannomiya and waterfront area based on the Arena and by implementing digital innovation in society through industry-government-academia co-creation using technology.

WingArc1st and Smart Value completed a experiment test on the online implementation of administrative procedures in Kitakyushu City in March 2023, which is part of (1) business development in the digitization of administrative procedures. Both companies will accelerate and promote the development of SaaS for administrative DX by utilizing the knowledge and know-how gained through the experiment test.

In (4) other business support, both companies have strengthened their collaboration by regularly sharing information and promoting mutual personnel exchanges and are continuing to implement initiatives to create synergies from the alliance.

Company profile

Company name	Smart Value
President and CEO	Jun Shibuya
Address	Keihanshin Midosuji building 7F, 3-6-1 Dosho-machi, Chuoh-ku Osaka, Japan
Established	June 1947
Capital	1,044,944 K Yen (as of end of March 2023)
Listed market	Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market（9417）
Business	Cloud solution business
Homepage	https://www.smartvalue.ad.jp/ (Japanese)