On Tuesday, May 12, at Qrossover Lounge Yume on the 2nd floor of Nakanoshima Qross, the Osaka Prefectural Government will be hosting aNakanoshima Qross Innovation ChallengeWe held.
This event is a selective pitch event where 16 promising startups aiming for global expansion in the life science field will present the results of their six-month-long development program. The purpose of the event is to select promising startups from Nakanoshima, Osaka, who will take on the challenges of the global market, and to create a “place to challenge” that will lead to the next growth opportunity.
After a rigorous screening process, the following three companies were selected to advance to the next phase (Phase 2).
Qualipse Corporation
Physiologas Technologies, Inc.
LinkMed, Inc.
Mr. Tadayuki Tanimura, Executive Vice President
Mr. Kazuyoshi Miyawaki, Representative Director
Ms. Yukie Yoshii, Representative Director
Selected companies will receive further growth support and executive mentoring, and will participate in a UK immersion program scheduled for September 2026 to work with UK ecosystem players, understand the local market, and form partnerships.
[Jury].
Buzz Palmer, CEO, MedTech Actuator
Mr. Vikram Chand, Executive Officer and General Manager, Research and Development Division, AstraZeneca K.K.
Hanae Suzuki, Life Science Professional, Venture Capitalist, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Inc.
Dr. Tatsuo Ito (Professor, Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School)
Dr. Takeshi Machino (Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Tsukuba / Clinical Professor, University of Tsukuba Hospital / Director, Center for Collaborative Research and Development (CCReDO), University of Tsukuba / Deputy Director, Tsukuba Clinical Research and Development Organization (T-CReDO) / Director, Center for the Promotion of Bridging Research)
[Progress].
Mr. Lei Liu, Director, Innovation Partnership & i2.JP, AstraZeneca K.K.
Prior to the pitch, Mr. Miyo Kondo, Director of Future Medical Industry Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labor, Osaka Prefecture, Mr. Michael Blyth, Consul General of the United Kingdom in Osaka, and Mr. Yoshiki Sawa, President of the Future Medical Industry Promotion Organization, each took the stage and expressed their expectations for this program.
Next, Mr. Junichi Higashi, Japan General Manager of MedTech Actuator, LLC, explained the details of the NQ Health Accelerator program, in which 16 companies that participated in this pitch participated.
The keynote session, "How Innovation for Life Can Reach the World - AI, Regenerative Medicine, and Ecosystems: The Potential of Startups from Japan," was moderated by Hiroshi Ishiguro, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University / AVITA Corporation / Visiting Director, ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Research Institute / Osaka Kansai Expo Theme Project Producer, and Yoshiki Sawa, President, Future Medicine Organization. Hiroshi Ishiguro, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Visiting Director, ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Research Institute, and Producer of Osaka-Kansai Expo Theme Project, and Yoshiki Sawa, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Miracle Science Institute for the Promotion of Future Medicine, took the podium. Jun Miyagawa, CEO of MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION, Inc.
The following talk session, "From Nakanoshima Qross to the World: Future Medical Startups and the Potential of the UK Ecosystem," was facilitated by Mr. Vikram Chand, Executive Officer and General Manager of R&D, AstraZeneca K.K., Mr. Yu Moriguchi, Assistant Director General, Japan Institute for Future Medicine, and Ms. Hanae Suzuki, Venture Capitalist and Life Science Professional, JIC Mr. Buzz Palmer, CEO of MedTech Actuator, facilitated the discussion on how to leverage the UK ecosystem in the global marketplace. Mr. Buzz Palmer, CEO of MedTech Actuator, facilitated the discussion on how to leverage the UK ecosystem in the global marketplace.
In addition, "Introduction & Tour of Osaka Life Science Nexus (O-Nexus)" was held for the participants during the judging time after the Startup Pitch.
General Moderator
Ms. Mari Ogiwara (Innovation Partnerships & i2.JP Community Manager, AstraZeneca K.K.)
Osaka Life Science Nexus (O-Nexus) Tour Description
Ms. Misato Yoshida (EVP, MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Co.)
The event concluded with an introduction of future Nakanoshima Cross-related projects by Jun Miyagawa, followed by closing remarks by Akihiro Nishino, Director of the Life Science Industry Division, Department of Commerce, Industry and Labor, Osaka Prefecture.
After the first part of the Osaka Prefecture-sponsored event, a Networking Reception was held as the second part. It was a very meaningful time, with speakers and participants actively interacting with each other and creating new connections that transcended fields and positions.
