Developed "Future Platform®," an information platform for co-creating the future both inside and outside the company
With an eye toward solving future societal challenges such as decarbonization and well-being
It brings together cutting-edge technologies aimed at solving future societal challenges such as decarbonization and well-being, deepening discussions on urban and architectural planning

Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsushi Omatsu; hereinafter “Nikken Sekkei”) has developed “Future Platform®”*1, a web-based information platform designed to co-create the future from a long-term perspective, and will begin offering it for external trial use starting April 7, 2023.*2
*1 Patent pending (Patent Application No. 2022-038736) *2 Users must agree to the Terms of Use in advance

As the importance of sustainability grows in the pursuit of a carbon-neutral society by 2050, there is a growing demand for longer lifespans in the urban and architectural sectors in which the Nikken Group is involved.Since urban and architectural projects—which continue to impact society long after completion—often span more than 10 years from the planning stage to completion, it is crucial to anticipate future societal trends and incorporate them into planning, both at the project’s inception and with an eye toward the post-completion period.

However, amid a flood of diverse information, it requires a tremendous amount of effort to gather the early signs of technologies that will shape the future, gain a comprehensive understanding of them, and establish connections between them.As Nikken Sekkei worked with external experts to collaboratively explore solutions to increasingly complex social issues, we strongly recognized the need for a tool that could centrally aggregate information—including data on the future—and allow users to intuitively examine the relationships they seek and the paths to achieving their goals.

It is against this backdrop that we developed “Future Platform®,” which is now entering its trial phase. It serves as a database of cutting-edge initiatives and technologies that can be utilized to address social challenges—both those facing us today and those that will arise in the future—enabling us to explore future social environments where diverse initiatives converge with urban planning and architecture, all while engaging in dialogue with our co-creators.Through this development, Nikken Sekkei aims to promote the co-creation of a more sustainable future among organizations engaged in long-term projects and within the Private.

“Future Platform®” allows users to visualize the relationships between cutting-edge initiatives and technologies—both within and outside the architecture industry—in a variety of formats (Maps). The Time Map, displayed in 3D along a timeline, provides a comprehensive overview of technologies scheduled for implementation and societal trends up to the number of years selected by the user.On the “For SDGs Map,” which highlights the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), clicking on a goal’s icon displays the cutting-edge initiatives and technologies that support that goal.

The Relation Map, which illustrates relationships, uses a coordinate system consisting of three quadrants—Nature, Mechanical, and Digital—and concentric circles based on target size. This allows you to discover technologies related to your planned business and initiatives in other fields with which you have not yet collaborated, as well as to verify the relationships between them.The Alphabetical Map, which displays entries in Japanese syllabary order, allows you to organize all cutting-edge initiatives and technologies—or those found through keyword searches—in a single view.

On the “My Project Map,” which users can customize, you can register cutting-edge initiatives and technologies that interest you and freely arrange them to aid in brainstorming. By clicking on a thumbnail to view the “Detail Map,” you can check detailed information about cutting-edge technologies and initiatives(1. General Name, 2. Potential Contributions to Goals, 3. Image, 4. Explanation, 5. Related Links). Individual technologies and initiatives displayed as thumbnails can be moved around on their respective maps. Anyone can enjoy interacting with the interface, view information at a glance, and grasp concepts intuitively.

We began a pilot program within Nikken Sekkei in September 2021, and have been using it primarily in workshops and brainstorming sessions during the early stages of project planning. Unlike traditional text-based methods of information consolidation, this approach is ideal for multifaceted and creative discussions about the future, and has proven effective in defining specific goals and methods.

Nikken Sekkei is exploring new initiatives, such as regional revitalization and school education programs, using this tool. With a long-term perspective on societal needs—including decarbonization, well-being, and air mobility—we plan to further refine this tool as a platform for co-creation involving both internal and external stakeholders.

This platform’s web app accepts requests for limited-time trial use upon your agreement to the Terms of Service. We are also seeking partners to collaborate with us on development and operations as we expand this platform to a wider audience in the future. We are looking for individuals who can work with us to gather and disseminate information, conduct analyses and propose future directions through multifaceted discussions, evolve the user interface, and develop sustainable management methods.

Nikken Sekkei is a professional services firm specializing in architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services. For 120 years since its founding in 1900, Nikken Sekkei has been committed to creating value through "social environment design," which aims to solve both explicit and implicit social issues, in order to meet the demands of society and the diverse needs of its clients. To date, it has been involved in various projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and in recent years has expanded into India and Europe.

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