Toyota’s Woven City Opens Its Doors: A Glimpse into the Future of Urban Living

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 7, 2025

On Monday, Toyota reached a major milestone with the completion of the first phase of its ambitious Woven City project. Nestled at the base of Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji, this futuristic “smart city” is set to welcome its first 100 residents this fall, with plans to expand the population to 2,000 over time.

Key Highlights

Woven City, Toyota’s groundbreaking “smart city,” is being developed at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan. Announced in 2020, this innovative urban environment will serve as a testing ground for cutting-edge technologies in a real-world setting. The city is designed to explore advancements in key areas such as:

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Autonomous Vehicles: Streets will be divided into distinct zones for pedestrians, cyclists, and self-driving cars, ensuring seamless mobility for all.
Robotics: The city will host robots designed to assist with daily tasks and infrastructure maintenance.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI will be integrated to manage everything from smart homes to energy grids, enhancing the city’s efficiency.
Internet of Things (IoT): A network of interconnected devices and systems will form the backbone of Woven City, fostering a truly integrated urban environment.

Design and Sustainability

The city’s innovative architecture comes from Danish architect Bjarke Ingels and his renowned studio, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). With a focus on sustainability, most of the buildings will feature eco-friendly materials like wood. The city will run on hydrogen fuel cells and solar power, aiming to reduce its environmental impact. Initially, Woven City is expected to attract around 2,000 residents, mainly engineers, researchers, and technologists, who will be actively engaged in the city’s ongoing development and testing.

A Vision for the Future

For Toyota, Woven City is more than just a high-tech hub; it’s a prototype for what future cities could look like. The name “Woven City” embodies the concept of interlacing various forms of mobility and technology into the urban fabric, creating a harmonious balance between traditional city life and futuristic innovation. Toyota envisions this city as a model for more sustainable, connected, and technologically advanced ways of living.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda shared his excitement for the project at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas, saying, “This year, residents will begin moving in as we slowly bring Woven City into operation. We want to accelerate the pace at which new technologies can be tested and developed in Woven City.”

Looking to the Stars

In addition to its work on Woven City, Toyota is exploring the frontiers of space. At CES, Toyoda also revealed that Toyota is looking into the development of orbital rockets. Through its subsidiary, Woven by Toyota, the company is investing 7 billion yen ($44.4 million) in Interstellar Technologies, a Japanese private space company focused on launching satellites.

Toyoda emphasized the need for more than just one car company leading technological advancements, referencing Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk’s ventures into space with SpaceX. “We are also exploring the possibility of rockets because the future of mobility should not be limited to Earth or to one car company,” Toyoda remarked.

Interstellar Technologies, founded in 2013, has already completed seven launches of its small MOMO suborbital rockets, with the company’s sights set on developing larger rockets like the ZERO and DECA series to deliver spacecraft into orbit.

Toyota aims to leverage its expertise in mass production to help Interstellar Technologies create cost-effective rockets, potentially giving the company a competitive edge in the global launch market. Toyota’s new space ambitions position it alongside rivals like Mitsubishi, whose subsidiary Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has developed the H3 series rockets, designed to rival SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in terms of cost and capability.

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Cyprus Government Fortifies Economic Resilience Amid Global Uncertainty

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 12, 2025

Government Commitment to Stability and Growth

Cyprus continues to build a strong and resilient economic foundation to support business planning and investment, as emphasized by Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki. Representing President Nikos Christodoulides at the 12th Keve Business Leader Awards, Piki underscored that in today’s volatile global landscape, a consistent and reliable economy remains the cornerstone for long‐term strategic planning and confidence-building among businesses.

Strengthening Competitive Edge and Attracting Investment

Piki lauded the role of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) for its dedication to promoting Cyprus as an attractive investment destination and for supporting the expansion of local businesses. Reflecting on President Christodoulides’s recent address at Keve’s annual general assembly, she outlined the government’s vision for a more competitive Cyprus, which includes expanding market access, improving financing channels, and implementing a streamlined, business-friendly regulatory framework—all pivotal as Cyprus prepares for its EU Council presidency.

Economic Indicators Reflecting Confidence

Despite global uncertainties, Piki highlighted that the Cypriot economy continues to demonstrate resilience: gross domestic product grew by 3.4% in 2024, and forecasts indicate nearly 4% growth in 2025. With inflation remaining among the lowest in the European Union and unemployment dropping below 5%, these indicators affirm steady economic progress. Furthermore, positive ratings from international credit agencies, which have placed Cyprus in the A category with upbeat outlooks, underscore the success of prudent economic policies.

Fiscal Discipline and Strategic Investments

The government’s upcoming 2026 budget, which reinforces fiscal stability with a surplus balance and targets a decline in public debt to 50.9% of GDP, opens the door for strategic policy interventions. Piki noted that investments in energy, digital infrastructure, technology, and green growth are key priorities. Enhanced by the nearing completion of Recovery and Resilience Plan projects, Cyprus is now setting the stage for the next seven-year EU funding framework, ensuring a robust platform for sustained growth with active collaboration from the business community.

Regulatory Reforms and Market Liberalization

Central to the government’s agenda is the imminent tax reform, expected to be finalized on December 22 and implemented on January 1, 2026. This reform is designed to bolster business liquidity and attract new investments. The establishment of the National Enterprise Development Organisation further complements these efforts by offering financing tools and advisory services for small and medium-sized enterprises. Complementing these initiatives, the Cyprus Equity Fund is actively investing in innovative companies, while the Ministry of Energy grant schemes are projected to mobilize €360 million by 2027 to boost competitiveness.

Accelerating Digital Transformation and Energy Reforms

In its pursuit of a modernized business environment, the government is set to introduce a Business Service Centre in central Nicosia in 2025, consolidating licensing procedures to significantly reduce bureaucratic delays. In tandem, the impending launch of a competitive electricity market in October 2025 will empower companies to select their energy suppliers, fostering market competition and fair pricing.

Nurturing Human Capital

Recognizing the importance of talent in driving economic progress, the government is intensifying efforts to attract skilled professionals back to Cyprus. The Minds in Cyprus initiative, a collaboration with Keve and Invest Cyprus, seeks to reverse the talent drain by engaging Cypriots abroad through a series of events scheduled in the United States, United Kingdom, and Greece during 2026.

Commitment to Sustainable Growth

Concluding her address, Deputy Minister Piki congratulated the award recipients for their innovation and resilience, asserting that their achievements are a testament to the dynamism of the Cypriot business community. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to implementing reforms that support a stable, competitive, and sustainable economic future for Cyprus.

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