September 2026, organized by Osaka Prefecture"Nakanoshima Qross Global Startup Gateway"のNQ Health Accelerator ProgramAs part of Phase 2, we conducted a UK immersion program in the United Kingdom for three selected life sciences startups.
The participants this time were selected from among the 16 companies in the “NQ Health Accelerator Program” through the “Nakanoshima Qross Innovation Challenge,”
These are the three companies.
This program is organized by a consortium consisting of MedTech Actuator, AstraZeneca, MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION—the consortium operating this program—as well as the British Consulate-General in Osaka and the JETRO London Office. By leveraging their respective expertise and networks, we have developed a tailored program focused on expanding into overseas markets.
We visited healthcare institutions, research and innovation hubs, global companies, investors, and industry support organizations in the UK. Rather than limiting our activities to mere site visits, we conducted an intensive program tailored to each organization’s business and technological areas, as well as their potential for expansion into the UK market. This included one-on-one discussions with key local figures, business presentations, and mentoring aimed at facilitating market entry.
AstraZeneca's Mentoring Program for Startups at Its Global Headquarters in the U.K.
One of the key features of this UK Immersion Program was the first-ever mentoring program for Japanese startups, held at AstraZeneca’s global headquarters in the UK.
Representatives from the Japanese Embassy in the UK also attended this mentoring program, where they delivered opening remarks and shared their expectations for the three participating companies. The three participating companies toured AstraZeneca’s research and development facilities and gave presentations on their own scientific and technological capabilities and business plans. Through mentoring sessions attended by experts from various fields at the UK headquarters—including drug discovery research, technology evaluation, business development, and partnerships and alliances—they exchanged direct views on the challenges and opportunities associated with expanding overseas.
Not only did we receive advice within Japan, but we also had the opportunity to engage directly with experts from our global headquarters on-site and evaluate our company’s technologies and business from a global perspective—a key initiative that epitomizes this program.
Details: Please also refer to the report from AstraZeneca.
"Bringing Japanese Innovation to the World: Three Startups Visit AZ's Headquarters in the U.K."
Tailored programs designed to address the specific business challenges of each of the three companies
Prior to the visit to the UK, we conducted a series of in-depth mentoring sessions and meetings with participating companies, in collaboration with MedTech Actuator, AstraZeneca, and MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION, as well as the British Consulate-General in Osaka and the JETRO UK Office. Based on this, we organized each company’s technical areas, business phases, and the topics they wished to validate in the UK market, and individually designed engagement opportunities with medical institutions, research and innovation hubs, industry support organizations, investors, and others. During the stay in the UK, MedTech Actuator took the lead in designing and coordinating the on-site program, leveraging its network to arrange meetings and site visits tailored to the specific challenges of each participating company. Through ongoing coordination with local partners, we implemented a customized program optimized for each company.
Qualips, Inc. visited medical institutions, research centers, and industrial facilities in the United Kingdom, focusing on the fields of regenerative medicine and cell therapy, and exchanged views with local experts on topics such as clinical practice, manufacturing, and business development.
LinkMed Co., Ltd. conducted in-depth analysis of the needs and feasibility of implementation in the U.K. healthcare sector through dialogue with medical institutions and stakeholders in research and innovation related to its own technologies and business areas.
Physiologas Technologies, Inc. has engaged in ongoing dialogue with healthcare professionals, research organizations, and patient advocacy groups—primarily in the field of nephrology and dialysis—to gather information and build networks in preparation for expanding its business into the U.K. market.
Each company had the opportunity to directly present its technologies and business operations to local experts and receive direct feedback on the potential and challenges of the U.K. market, including questions such as “What is needed to expand into the U.K.?” and “Who should we partner with?”
From market entry and commercialization to engaging with investors
During this UK Immersion program, we not only facilitated interactions with research and clinical settings but also implemented programs aimed at entering the UK market and commercializing our products. We provided opportunities to learn about entering the UK healthcare market—including the NHS—and how to demonstrate the value of products and services, while also exchanging views with local stakeholders on topics such as investment, research and development, fundraising, and CDMO services. Toward the end of the program, we held an Investor Roundtable in Cambridge. Participating companies gave presentations on their businesses and future global expansion plans, and through direct dialogue with investors, they re-examined their strategies from the perspective of business growth.
Through several days of intensive discussions with key players in the UK’s healthcare, research, industry, and investment sectors, the three participating companies were able to,An opportunity to examine the company’s technologies and business from a global perspective and identify specific opportunities for overseas expansion as well as challenges that need to be addressed in the futureThat's how it turned out.
Demo Day will be held at Nakanoshima Qross on Friday, December 4
――Who did each company meet on site, what discussions did they have, and what did they gain from those interactions?――
During this UK Immersion Program, the three participating companies engaged in a series of discussions with key players in the UK’s healthcare, research, industry, and investment sectors to explore the potential and challenges of their respective businesses.
What did each company see in the UK, who did they meet, and what insights and results did they gain?
We will hold the “NQ Global Startup Gateway Demo Day” to showcase these results on the afternoon of Friday, December 4, 2026, at Nakanoshima Qross.
At Demo Day, three companies that participated in the UK Immersion Program—Qualips, Inc., Physiologas Technologies, Inc., and LinkMed, Inc.—are scheduled to present on their experiences in the UK, the results they achieved, and their future global expansion plans. We will also provide an update on the details of the UK Immersion Program during Demo Day.
Outline of the event
NQ Global Startup Gateway “NQ Health Accelerator Program” Demo Day
Commercialization with an eye on the global market, starting from Nakanoshima Cross.
Toward an ecosystem where promising healthcare deep tech companies gather, connect with global expertise, capital, and business opportunities, and continuously give rise to companies that grow on a global scale.
Date and Time: Friday, December 4, 2026, 2:00–4:30 p.m. Networking 4:40–6:00 p.m.
Location: Nakanoshima Cross, 2nd Floor, Qrossover Lounge Yume (4-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka City)
Organized by: Osaka Prefecture
Co-sponsored by: Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Future Medicine
Sponsored by: British Consulate General in Osaka
Operated by: NQ Global Startup Gateway Consortium (MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION / AstraZeneca / MedTech Actuator)