Five years of building innovation readiness: SRI and Nomura Holdings celebrate NSIC milestone
NSIC has helped 25 Japanese companies develop the capabilities and connections to pursue new business opportunities.
The Nomura-SRI Innovation Center (NSIC), established by SRI and Nomura Holdings, is celebrating five years of helping Japanese companies develop the capabilities and connections to pursue new business opportunities. Since its founding in 2021, NSIC has brought together 100 corporate innovators from 25 Japanese member companies across 10 cohorts.
At the heart of NSIC’s mission is what Managing Director Chris Cowart describes as “accelerating innovation readiness” — helping companies develop the skills, experience, and organizational support needed to pursue innovation.
NSIC combines SRI’s research and technology expertise with Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial approaches. Through strategic foresight, emerging technology exploration, and hands-on programs, participants identify new opportunities, validate customer needs, test business assumptions, and build internal support for innovation.
Accelerating innovation readiness
What began as a one-year flagship program has expanded to include bootcamps, deep dive and new hybrid business creation programs, and executive sessions, reflecting the evolving needs of member companies.
“We learned that the first cohort is never the product,” said Cowart. “The product is what you build after you’ve run it once, gotten honest feedback, and had the courage to throw out what didn’t work.”
Beyond individual programs, NSIC has built a community connecting Japanese corporate innovators, SRI researchers, coaches, and industry partners. Participants exchange ideas across industries, develop new approaches to business challenges, and bring those experiences back to their organizations.
“We learned that the first cohort is never the product. The product is what you build after you’ve run it once, gotten honest feedback, and had the courage to throw out what didn’t work.”
— Chris Cowart
Building toward NSIC’s next five years and beyond
As AI and emerging technologies reshape industries, NSIC continues to help corporate innovators connect technical possibilities with customer needs and business opportunities.
Looking ahead, the center aims to strengthen its network of member companies, alumni, researchers, and partners, encouraging collaboration beyond individual programs. “I’ll know the ecosystem has a life of its own when members share success stories we played no part in,” said Aya Iwasuji, Associate Director of NSIC.
Through their continued partnership, SRI and Nomura Holdings look forward to helping more Japanese companies build the capabilities, connections, and confidence to innovate.
Learn more about the Nomura-SRI Innovation Center.