​This event has reached capacity and general registration is now closed.

​Members of the media, investors, and representatives of Japanese companies who are interested in attending are kindly requested to contact us directly at info@businessyokohama.com.

​Global Forum on Circular Economy and Urban Resilience

​Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Venue: Club 135 by Industrious
Address: 135 W 50th Street, New York, NY 10020
Format: Invitation Only
Expected Attendance: Approximately 200 participants
Language: English
Host: Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas
Sponsors: 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 List of Speakers, Sponsors and Partners

​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.

• ​Ethan Sohn, Principal, Climate Fund, Toyota Ventures

​11:20–12:00 Innovation Leaders Dialogue
AI, 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 Opportunities for Global Collaboration

​Asia’s rapid urbanization and growing policy ambition are making the region increasingly important to the global circular economy transition.

​Cities will play a central role in translating global goals into locally driven policies, partnerships, and practical action. This session will examine how Asian cities can work with global partners to accelerate circular solutions and create new opportunities for cooperation.

​Discussion themes include:

• ​Why Asia will be central to the next phase of the circular economy

• ​The role of cities in advancing circular solutions through policy, procurement, and partnerships

• ​Opportunities for collaboration between Asian cities and global partners

• ​Yokohama’s role as a platform for international collaboration toward 2027

• ​GREEN×EXPO 2027 and related international initiatives

​Speakers:

• ​Tomomi Yamashita, Director General for Global Initiatives, City of Yokohama

• ​Carlos Silva Filho, Member of United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste (Moderator)

​2:20–3:05 Session 2
Investing in the Circular Economy: Innovation, Markets, and Growth

​The transition to a circular economy is creating new markets, attracting investment, and driving innovation across industries and cities worldwide.

​This session will explore how cities, businesses, investors, and innovation ecosystems can create market opportunities, attract capital and talent, and scale solutions capable of delivering both economic and environmental value.

​Discussion themes include:

• ​Emerging investment opportunities in the circular economy

• ​Building innovation ecosystems that attract capital and talent

• ​The role of cities in creating markets for circular solutions

• ​Public-private partnerships for scaling innovation

• ​Strengthening competitiveness through circular innovation

​Speakers:

• ​Charlotte de Jong, Director of Business Development for Asia-Pacific, The Ocean Cleanup

• ​Nicole Spina, Vice President, Climate Innovation & Industry Development, New York City Economic Development Corporation

• ​Sean Jones, Director of Circular Technology, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

• ​Stacey Weismiller, President & CEO, American Manufacturing Futures Institute (Moderator)

​3:05–3:50 Session 3
Bridging Regions: Partnerships for Circular and Resilient Cities

​The circular transition cannot be delivered by cities, financial institutions, businesses, or international organizations acting independently.

​This session will explore how regional and global partnerships can connect urban priorities with technical expertise, investment, and implementation capacity. The discussion will focus on moving beyond the exchange of ideas toward concrete projects, financing mechanisms, and long-term collaboration.

​Discussion themes include:

• ​Connecting cities across Asia, North America, and other regions

• ​Mobilizing finance for circular and resilient urban projects

• ​Building pipelines of investable city projects

• ​Connecting cities with businesses, investors, and international institutions

• ​Scaling successful solutions across different markets

• ​Turning international dialogue into practical collaboration

• ​Continuing collaboration through international forums and Yokohama’s initiatives in 2027

​Speakers:

• ​Sandra Goldmark, Associate Dean for Engagement and Impact and Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia Climate School

• ​Berat Senyerli, CEO of Bankable Zero

• ​Remy Sietchiping, Deputy Director, UN-Habitat Liaison Office, New York

• ​Vijay Jagannathan, Senior Fellow at World Resources Institute (Moderator)

​3:50–4:00 Closing Remarks

• ​Satoshi Katahira, Ambassador, Consul General of Japan in New York

​Who Should Attend

​The Forum is designed for:

• ​City and regional government representatives

• ​International organizations

• ​Corporations and business leaders

• ​Investors and financial institutions

• ​Startups and entrepreneurs

• ​Climate technology and circular economy experts

• ​Urban development and resilience professionals

• ​Innovation ecosystem leaders