Ammon News - Under the patronage of H.E. Mr. ASARI Hideki, Ambassador of Japan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the final pitching day event of “Project NINJA – Next Innovation with Japan” was held on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, at Al Hussein Technical University in Amman.

The project was supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and brought together more than 120 participants, including local and international business leaders, Japanese investors, representatives of public and private sectors, international organizations, media representatives, and entrepreneurship ecosystem partners. The event also welcomed participants from Japan and neighboring countries who joined online.

The event was further honored by the presence of H.E. Ms. Lina Annab, former Minister and Ambassador; Dr. Ismael Al-Hinti, President of Al Hussein Technical University; and a representative of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE), Eng. Abdelqader Albatayneh, Executive Director Strategies, Future & Entrepreneurship.

Combining in-person attendance with online participation, the event served as a platform to highlight the outcomes of several months of intensive work involving 10 Jordanian startups that successfully completed the implementation and proof-of-concept phase. The program reached more than 7,500 beneficiaries, including youth, women, and other vulnerable groups, following an intensive acceleration period that included capacity building, specialized mentorship, and technical and operational support.
During the event, participating startups presented their business models, social and economic impact, and growth and expansion plans before a specialized judging panel.

In his keynote address, H.E. Ambassador ASARI Hideki reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable growth in Jordan through innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasized the importance of empowering ideas and creativity, particularly among youth, women, and vulnerable groups, and praised the participating startups for their ability to transform challenges into impactful solutions. He also expressed his hope that the event would open new avenues for collaboration between Jordanian startups and the Japanese market.

In his remarks, Mr. MORIHATA Shingo, Chief Representative of JICA Jordan Office, noted that Project NINJA reflects JICA’s commitment to advancing innovation and strengthening startup ecosystems as pathways toward sustainable and inclusive economic opportunities. He highlighted the ability of Jordanian startups to translate local ideas into impactful solutions, particularly in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities, and stressed the importance of linking local innovation with international cooperation and investment.

Mr. Nader Nemeh, Chairman of Migrate, the implementing partner of Project NINJA in Jordan, stated that the event marks not the conclusion of the project, but rather the beginning of a new phase for the participating startups. He noted that the program showcases the results of hands-on implementation and practical experimentation during the proof-of-concept stage, while opening tangible opportunities for networking and partnership development.

The event also featured dedicated networking and partnership-building sessions that brought together startups, business owners, investors, and private sector representatives, alongside a media-focused space highlighting success stories and achieved impact. This further reinforced the project’s role in connecting local innovation with international cooperation and investment opportunities.

The event was organized in collaboration with several partners, including Marubeni Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Zain Jordan, EY Jordan, Beyond Capital, and Al-Fanar Venture Philanthropy, in addition to other partners who contributed to strengthening the innovation ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurship in Jordan.

At the conclusion of the event, the three winning startups were announced amid strong recognition of the overall quality of the innovative solutions and demonstrated impact presented by the participating companies.

TechCare emerged as the first-place winner among a highly competitive group of startups. Dr. Hassan Zabalawi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TechCare, stated that participation in Project NINJA provided the company with specialized technical guidance and mentorship to bridge the gap between innovation and market readiness. He added that the project played a pivotal role in refining the solution and strengthening its social impact in preparation for regional expansion. Throughout the acceleration period, TechCare leveraged the program’s resources to better align its technology with real market needs, with a strong focus on delivering tangible impact in the healthcare sector and improving patient quality of life.

Migrate is a leading Jordanian business services company, empowering enterprises across diverse sectors in Jordan and the Middle East to establish and operate their businesses with lower costs and risks. Migrate designs solutions, implements, and manages projects in line with international best practices in project management, in addition to creating and operating advanced business environments and hubs equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to attract investment and support companies of all sizes.

Project NINJA – Next Innovation with Japan was launched in 2020 with the support of JICA. The project aims to strengthen startup ecosystems in developing countries through capacity building, incubation, and the promotion of social and economic innovation, contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities.