Global Forum on Circular Economy and Urban Resilience (Initiated by City of Yokohama)

Global Forum on Circular Economy and Urban Resilience Date: Friday, September 25, 2026Venue: Club 135 by IndustriousAddress: 135 W 50th Street, New York, NY 10020Format: Invitation OnlyExpected Attendance: Approximately 200 participantsLanguage: EnglishHost: Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the AmericasSponsors: Bank of Yokohama, Nishimura & Asahi and ITO EN Partners: Greennex Global, ShibuLA Ventures, CleanLeap, Deep Tech Forum, Bankable Zero and Square Up New York About the Forum The global economy is undergoing a profound transformation driven by geopolitical uncertainty, the restructuring of global supply chains, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and growing demand for energy and critical resources. Against this backdrop, the circular economy is emerging not only as an environmental agenda, but also as a strategic approach to strengthening economic competitiveness, resource security, industrial resilience, and sustainable growth. Held during Climate Week NYC 2026, the Global Forum on Circular Economy and Urban Resilience will bring together city and regional government representatives, international organizations, corporations, investors, financial institutions, startups, and climate innovation leaders from Asia, North America, Europe, and beyond. Through business showcases, reverse pitches, keynote remarks, and cross-sector discussions, the Forum will connect urban challenges with innovation, investment, and international partnerships. It will also explore how cities can serve as platforms for collaboration among businesses, startups, investors, and global institutions. The Forum will serve as an important step toward Yokohama’s major international initiatives in 2027, including GREEN×EXPO 2027, Asia-Pacific Circular Cities Forum (APCC-Forum), the Asia-Pacific Urban Forum, and broader international dialogue on circular and resilient urban development. View the Speaker List Program Morning Programme: Business & Innovation Forum Connecting Innovation Ecosystems Across Asia, North America, and Europe 9:00–9:30 Registration and Networking Coffee 9:30–9:40 Welcome Remarks 9:40–10:30 Startup Showcase Selected startups will present innovative technologies and business models in the fields of the circular economy, climate technology, and urban sustainability. The session is designed to create opportunities for pilot projects, joint development, investment, strategic partnerships, and expansion into Japanese and broader Asian markets. Presenting Startups: MacroCycle Technologies — Dr. Jan-Georg Rosenboom, Co-Founder & CTO Bridge Green Upcycle — Balki Iyer, Founder & Chairman InfraSure — Prashant Mupparapu, Founder Mass Magnetics — Eric Silver, Co-Founder Pascal Technology — Victoria Marquez, Head of Business Development Mantel Capture — Cameron Halliday, CEO & Co-Founder 10:30–11:20 Reverse Pitch Japanese companies will present their business challenges, innovation priorities, and areas of interest to an audience of international startups. The session aims to identify potential partners and initiate discussions on joint development, pilot projects, and future business collaboration. Participating Companies: Nick Vega, Director on the Investments & Strategy team, Sumitomo Corporation Takeyori Nabeta, Business Development Manage at Chiyoda International Corporation Junya Saka, Manager, Strategic Investment & Partnerships, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Hirotaka Mori, Principal Researcher, Business Development & CVC, ENEOS Americas Inc. Additional companies: TBD 11:20–12:00 Innovation Leaders DialogueAI, the Circular Economy, and the Next Industrial Transformation Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries through major investment in semiconductors, data centers, digital infrastructure, and advanced industrial systems. At the same time, AI has the potential to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy by improving efficiency across manufacturing, energy, logistics, resource management, and recycling. This session will explore: How AI is reshaping industrial competitiveness Emerging opportunities at the intersection of AI and the circular economy The potential of AI to improve resource efficiency and industrial decarbonization Partnerships needed to commercialize and scale next-generation technologies The roles of corporations, investors, and startups in the next industrial transformation Speakers: Durgesh Patel, Vice President, AI Center of Excellence, Hitachi Ray Hugel, CFA, Managing Director, Closed Loop Partners Kazuhiko Nishioka, Co-Founder and CEO, Sun Metalon Kevin Ninomiya, CEO and Co-Founder, ShibuLA Ventures (Moderator) 12:00–1:30 Networking Lunch An opportunity for investors, startups, corporations, city leaders, and international organizations to connect across sectors, explore collaboration opportunities, and develop partnerships that can continue beyond the Forum. The networking lunch will also be open to participants attending the afternoon programme. Afternoon Programme: Policy & Leadership Forum Accelerating Circular Economy and Urban Resilience 1:30–1:35 Opening Remarks 1:35–1:40 Special Ministerial Remarks H.E. Mrs. Messouda Baham Mohamed Laghdaf, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Islamic Republic of Mauritania 1:40–2:00 Keynote Address The Next Chapter of the Circular Economy: Competitiveness, Resilience, and Global Collaboration The circular economy is increasingly becoming a strategic framework for strengthening economic competitiveness, industrial resilience, resource security, and sustainable growth. The keynote will examine why accelerating the transition requires deeper collaboration among cities, businesses, investors, and international organizations, setting the stage for the Forum’s discussions on innovation, partnerships, and global action. Keynote Speaker: Jibran Ahmed, Lead, Economic Development, Urban Transformation, World Economic Forum 2:00–2:20 Session 1 Asia’s Circular Future: New O