City of Moreton Bay Council has been selected as one of only two cities worldwide – and the first Australian city – to partner with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) on a major open innovation challenge.
Chosen alongside Rome, City of Moreton Bay’s selection places it on the global stage for innovation-led solutions to real-world challenges and marks a significant step in strengthening international ties with Japan.
Under the Tokyo-funded program, five Japanese startup finalists will travel to Australia in August, where one will be selected and awarded the opportunity to work directly with the Council for four months to deliver a fully funded proof of concept addressing disaster resilience and response, or asset management solution at a city scale.
Mayor, Peter Flannery said the partnership demonstrates international confidence in City of Moreton Bay’s innovation capability and vision.
“Being chosen by one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated city governments is a strong global signal,” Mayor Flannery said.
“This project brings cutting-edge thinking into our City, while helping us prepare for future disaster challenges through technology, collaboration and innovation, and managing growth and significant infrastructure roll out with technology enabled infrastructure management.”
The open innovation challenge is funded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, one of the world’s largest city governments, with a population of more than 14 million people and a budget exceeding many nation states. Tokyo Metropolitan Government commenced its Global City Network for Sustainability (G-NETS) program in 2022, bringing together more than 50 major cities across five continents to collaborate on sustainability, disaster preparedness and innovation.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government said the Council was selected due to its strong commitment to innovation, resilience planning and international collaboration.
“City of Moreton Bay demonstrated a clear vision for using technology and open innovation to address complex challenges related to disaster resilience and asset management,” the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said in a statement.
“Through this program, we aim to connect leading Japanese startups with forward -looking global cities, and we look forward to working closely with City of Moreton Bay to develop practical, scalable solutions that can contribute to safer, more resilient cities both in Australia and internationally.”
The Council’s selection follows several years of engagement with Japan through the G-NETS program, including participation in international summits, study tours and knowledge exchange on disaster management and resilience. The City formally presented the challenge to the global startup community through a ‘reverse pitch’ at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest innovation and startup conference, which attracts more than 60,000 participants.
The project builds on Council’s own open innovation initiatives under Innovate Moreton Bay, following the successful Queensland Open Innovation Challenge in 2025, and directly supports the Council’s economic goal of becoming a Top 10 innovation hub.
Both the disaster resilience and asset management challenges have been developed collaboratively with Tokyo officials and align strongly with the themes of the G-NETS Summit in 2026. Potential solutions may range from advanced digital technologies to new approaches to stormwater infrastructure, and asset resilience following extreme weather events.
The Council will work closely with a local steering committee and key partners, including Unitywater, University of the Sunshine Coast, and disaster service providers, to support the successful delivery of the proof of concept.
As a global innovation leader and Queensland’s second-largest trading partner, Japan offers City of Moreton Bay opportunities of both scale and substance, building upon a 35‑year relationship with Sanyo‑Onoda and a growing economic partnership with Shizuoka to drive collaboration, commercialisation and investment attraction.
There is no obligation for Council to purchase the final solution, with any future procurement decisions to be considered separately following the completion of the proof of concept.
Council’s involvement in the program will be publicly announced by Tokyo Metropolitan Government in May.
“This partnership helps us learn from the best, attract global innovation to our city, and ensure City of Moreton Bay remains a leader in resilience, sustainability and economic growth,” Mayor Flannery said.
