Creating new global startups ecosystem from Osaka and Kansai

On July 26, 2024, we held the 2nd Academia Clinical Development Seminar online inviting Ms. Nae Nakamura from Osaka Business Development Agency to speak on Creating a new global startup ecosystem from Osaka and Kansai.

First, She explained about the governmental efforts to support the start-up companies and the support systems the part of “creation” and “growth” in Kansai, especially Osaka. In Kansai, as the "Keihanshin Global Start-up Ecosystem Base City," each consortium is taking advantage of its strengths to promote the Kansai start-up scene beyond the region's boundaries. In Osaka, with the "Osaka Innovation Hub" as its base, support programs are available for each stage from pre-seed to later stages. They gather people, technology, funds, and information from all over the world, and support the creation of startups that will create new value and innovative businesses, and their success in the world. Among the various programs, there is not only classroom learning but also hearing from the entrepreneur who got listed as a public company about their challenges and failures.

In addition, they are focusing on holding regular pitch events, such as "Umekita Pitch", they are supporting start-ups seeking to find partners and major enterprises to promote business collaboration and cooperation.

Also, they are promoting efforts to expand overseas and pitch contests for students, and they announced that "Hack Osaka" will be held in November this year, where start-ups from Japan and overseas will hold pitch events, business meetings, talk sessions, etc., she described.

Lastly, she mentioned that they are preparing to have startups exhibit in the exhibition of the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

This seminar was very informative as she gave an interesting lecture on the program for supporting start-ups on the two axes of creation and growth, there was a lively question and answer session from the participants, and the seminar ended with great success.

The next Academia Clinical Development Seminar will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024, and Professor Yasuyuki Ueki from Osaka University's Co-Creation Institute will be invited to give a lecture. We look forward to seeing you all there again next time.