BEYOND KNOWN PATHS. TOGETHER.

Toyota Open Labs is an open innovation platform that unites startups with business units across Toyota ecosystem, to scale innovation and lead the market into the next phase of mobility. The programme will power Toyota’s transformation to a mobility company by deepening its expertise across energy, the circular economy, carbon-neutral technologies, smart communities and mobility-for-all initiatives. Supporting business units include Toyota Motors Europe, Toyota Tsusho Europe, KINTO Europe, Woven Capital and Toyota Mobility Foundation.

Learn more at toyotaopenlabs.com.

We look for:

• Growth-stage startups and scaleups, who already have a relatively high level of product maturity and scale;
• Companies that are able to immediately enter into an active collaboration with Toyota business units, irrespective of money raised and revenue;
• Solutions for Toyota’s needs in its transformation path towards a mobility company in the programme target areas (energy, circular economy, carbon-neutral technologies, smart communities, mobility for all; for more details see “What are the key focus areas for Toyota Open Labs?”).

Moreover, we value the sustainable impact of the company, both social and environmental, and we also encourage and value diversity in the team, for instance the presence of women, people with disabilities, people with different cultural backgrounds

We look forward to receiving proposals from ambitious innovators who meet the the following requirements:

• Your company must be legally established, or will be legally established before the start of the Programme.
• You can commit at least one full-time member of your team to the programme, ensuring the necessary managerial and technical skills.
• Your company is present or has plans to be in the market of any of the 27 European Member states, the Horizon 2020 Associated Countries and United Kingdom.
• Participants from your team have high-level English language skills, as the programme will take place in English.
• Your startup is aligned with Toyota’s values and adheres to EU legal regulations (e.g. GDPR etc.).

Toyota Open Labs seeks innovative startups that support these goals across five key categories:  

• Energy: Technologies and systems to facilitate the energy transition, hydrogen economy, grid balancing, energy management, smart charging and vehicle-to-grid energy transfers.
• Circular economy: Technologies and systems to enable the recovery, recycling and reuse of vehicles and batteries.
• Carbon neutrality: Technologies and systems helping companies and society reduce carbon emissions, and digitalisation to enable transparent life cycle assessment.
• Smart communities: New business models and solutions to develop and support smart communities through vehicle sharing, subscriptions and mobility hubs.
• Mobility for all: Fair-value solutions to overcome mobility barriers, strengthen mobility systems and mobilise low-carbon communities, addressing the needs of an ageing  society and devising universal designs for all users.

Toyota’s participating business units (Toyota Motors Europe, Toyota Tsusho Europe, KINTO Europe, Woven Capital, and Toyota Mobility Foundation) will collaborate with participating startups and provide strategic counsel throughout the programme, with exposure to insights from the world’s largest automaker and leaders from global markets. Each participant will receive development funding, as well as the opportunity to showcase its technology at a Demo Day at the September 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Each participant will receive equity free development funding consistent with the collaboration proposal. Toyota’s growth- stage fund, Woven Capital will also advise participating companies regarding investment opportunities and provide ongoing strategic counsel. 

Beginning in November 2023, the programme is eight months long and offers participants the opportunity to develop a Proof of Concept with Toyota and explore routes to go to market and operate within the Toyota ecosystem. The initiative will culminate in a Demo Day at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

At the moment, yes. Other programmes will follow. Your application could be used for other programs too.

The most suitable companies will be invited to present and discuss their collaboration proposals to the Toyota Open Labs’ board and other executives in October 2023. The selected companies will be announced in November 2023. 

Your application is confidential and subject to GDPR requirements.

Please submit your proposal no later than 30th September 2023.

The programme will be remote; selected activities might be planned on site and will be discussed and organized accordingly with participants. It will be conducted entirely in English.

The programme is designed to match growth-stage startups with individual business units within the Toyota Ecosystem. During the course of the programme, participants will have a facilitated process to develop and launch joint POC products, services, and experiences with the mentoring of Toyota subject matter experts.

Contact us at info@toyotaopenlabs.com