On June 20, 2025, Jintae Kim, representative of Robo Co-op, appeared alongside Koji Sagara of Logisteed Inc. at the second event of the Insight Series hosted by Glass Rock, titled “Let’s Talk About Refugees Who Are Distant Yet Close – Shaping Work and Society Through Inclusion.”
The event focused on the theme of “inclusion” and explored the next possibilities for refugee support from multiple angles.
During his talk, Kim introduced the “online worker cooperative model” that Robo Co-op both advocates and implements. This model empowers individuals who often face limitations due to factors like nationality, family background, or location—especially refugees and single mothers—to build an economic ecosystem in which they can learn, earn, and support one another through the use of AI and digital transformation (DX).
One of the key highlights of the session was the introduction of systems that simultaneously promote social inclusion and economic independence, such as:
◇Career Impact Bond (Income-Share Scholarship Model): A system that provides learning opportunities now, with payments beginning only after tangible results are achieved. This approach lowers financial barriers and enables broader participation in education.
◇Digital Impact Sourcing: Through outsourced contracts with companies, individuals from diverse backgrounds engage directly in DX (digital transformation) projects. Under this framework, Robo Co-op members have participated in automation projects utilizing AI—such as shipment management, HR operations, and accounting tasks.
◆A New Era of Refugee Self-Expression: Introduction of a Special Website
Kim also introduced a website that was planned, designed, and created entirely by refugee members of Robo Co-op: Voices of Strength
This website is an effort to convey the vision of a society where refugees and others can live and work together—through the voices of refugees themselves living in Japan.
During the event, it was emphasized that this site is not just a platform for sharing information, but a symbolic step in shifting refugees from the “recipients of support” to the “voices and contributors to society.”
In the actual content creation process, AI tools and no-code CMS platforms were utilized, allowing the members themselves to take full ownership of the production.
This initiative highlighted the idea that having a voice is the foundation of inclusion, and that technology is playing a key role in enabling it.
Additionally, the event showcased real-world examples of Robo Co-op members engaging in numerous DX (digital transformation) projects in collaboration with Logisteed Inc.
These included contributions to the automation of operations such as shipping, HR, and accounting using AI, demonstrating their role in advancing the democratization of DX.
Through the presentations, the concept that social inclusion can be a driver of innovation was clearly conveyed.