UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kosuke Ueda; hereinafter “UTokyo IPC”) is pleased to announce that it has selected five projects for “Launch1000,” a commercialization program for researchers’ technology seeds conducted as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)’s “Next-Generation Open Innovation Model Development Project.”
“Launch1000” is a commercialization program for researchers’ technology seeds designed to support the creation and development of startups that aim for growth in global markets from the pre- and early-incorporation stages, with a view toward early and full-scale international expansion and potential future exits in overseas markets. To accelerate the commercialization of outstanding technology seeds held by researchers and students affiliated with universities and national research institutions, the program provides up to JPY 10 million in non-equity funding, together with hands-on commercialization support by UTokyo IPC, including business concept development, intellectual property strategy, and partner company development.
For this call, Launch1000 received 120 applications from universities and national research institutions across Japan. Following a comprehensive review of factors including technological originality, potential for social implementation, growth potential in global markets, and commercialization support needs, five projects were selected.
For the selected projects, UTokyo IPC will provide practical support tailored to the circumstances of each project, including business concept development, intellectual property strategy, partner company development, scale-up planning with mass production in mind, and milestone design.
In addition, as a preceding support project under Launch1000, commercialization efforts are also progressing for supramolecular plastics developed by Takuzo Aida, Distinguished University Professor at the University of Tokyo. These efforts include discussions with global companies on potential proof-of-concept projects, acquisition of non-equity funding, and development of a research and development structure for commercialization. Leveraging the knowledge gained through these initiatives, UTokyo IPC will continue to support the creation of deep-tech startups that aim for global markets from the pre- and early-incorporation stages.
