On Wednesday, June 17th, we held the "NQ Deep Tech Studio 2026 Kick-off Event".

On Wednesday, June 17th, we held the "NQ Deep Tech Studio 2026 Kick-off Event" at the Qrossover Lounge Yume on the 2nd floor of Nakanoshima Qross.

This event was held as the kickoff event for "NQ Deep Tech Studio 2026," hosted by Osaka Prefecture. NQ Deep Tech Studio is a practical program that supports the social implementation of research seeds in the medical and life science fields. By providing end-to-end support from medical field observation and needs exploration to business hypothesis building, fundraising, and overseas expansion, it aims to create healthcare deep tech startups that can thrive on the world stage.

At the beginning of the event, Ms. Mio Kondo (Supervisor for the Promotion of Future Medical Industrialization, Department of Commerce, Industry and Labor, Osaka Prefecture) gave the opening address. She touched upon the high potential of Osaka and the Kansai region in the life sciences field, and spoke about the efforts to create and nurture startups centered on Nakanoshima Qross, as well as her expectations for this program.

Next, Jun Miyagawa (CEO of MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Inc.) presented the future vision of the life science ecosystem that Nakanoshima Qross aims to create. He shared information on creating an environment that supports everything from discovering university-based research seeds to commercialization and global expansion, as well as the current status of collaborations with overseas life science clusters.

Furthermore, Mr. Yoshiki Sawa (Chairman of the Board, Future Medical Promotion Foundation) emphasized that the most important element in the development of the startup ecosystem is human resource development. He spoke about the importance of nurturing individuals who can translate research results into social implementation and creating an environment where entrepreneurial spirit can gather.

During the program explanation, Masakazu Yagi (Expert Supporter, Future Medical Promotion Organization / Associate Professor, Endowed Chair, Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University / Program Director, Japan Biodesign) and Tomoya Wakamatsu (Partner Project Manager, MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Inc.) presented an overview of NQ Deep Tech Studio 2026. They explained that the program is based on three pillars: a commercialization support program, an exit strategy support program, and an international collaboration program, and that it incorporates the concept of biodesign, which starts with observations in medical settings, to support the social implementation of research seeds.

Next, Mr. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto (Deputy Director, Medical Information Department, Corporate Affairs Division, Osaka International Medical & Science Center / Administrative Department, Medical Information Division, Osaka Police Hospital) gave an introduction to Osaka Police Hospital and the Clinical Medical Research Institute. He shared information about the characteristics of the hospital, which will serve as the field for NQ Deep Tech Studio's medical practice observations, as well as their efforts in medical DX, collaborative research, and demonstration experiments.

Following this, Tatsuya Yoshida (Director of Ecosystem Building Area, General Business Division, Growth Strategy Headquarters, Kyoto University / Planning and Management Department, Planning Promotion Office) introduced the initiatives of "KSAC (Kansai Startup Academia Coalition)," a platform for creating university-born startups. He explained the current status and achievements of support for creating university-born startups in the Kansai region, including research seed discovery by university consortia, gap funds, and matching with entrepreneurial talent.

Daisuke Uchida (Associate Professor, Center for New Medical Research and Development, Medical Development Division, Okayama University) gave a presentation on supporting the social implementation of research seeds, primarily through the AMED Translational Research Program. He explained commercialization strategies starting from medical needs and the mechanisms that support everything from research and development to practical application.

Furthermore, Glen Lim (Senior Programs Director, Asia Pacific, MedTech Innovator APAC) introduced "MedTech Innovator APAC," one of the world's largest healthcare accelerators. He explained the support for business development with a global market in mind, as well as the collaborative program with NQ Deep Tech Studio, highlighting the efforts to support the overseas expansion of Japanese startups.

Next, Ryotaro Tani (Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kyoto University / CEO of Eudaimonix Co., Ltd.) took the stage as an example of a startup that was actually selected for MedTech Innovator APAC. He shared his experiences in developing a business based on challenges he discovered in the medical field, the knowledge he gained through selection for MedTech Innovator APAC and the US program, and practical experiences toward global expansion, such as building a network with overseas experts and refining business strategies. He emphasized that in order to deliver Japanese medical technology to the world, it is important to design a business with overseas markets in mind from an early stage and to connect with an international support network.

Finally, Kensuke Sumida (CEO, Industry-Academia Collaboration Research Institute Co., Ltd.) gave the closing remarks. He touched upon the significant evolution of the startup support environment in the Kansai region and expressed his hope that NQ Deep Tech Studio 2026 would foster collaboration among diverse players such as researchers, businesses, and support organizations, leading to the creation of new businesses.

Following the event, networking took place, fostering active exchanges among diverse participants including researchers, startups, companies, investors, and support organizations. This event, starting with Nakanoshima Qross, marked a new beginning in nurturing the next generation of healthcare deep tech talent, supporting the social implementation and global expansion of research results.