MEDTEC INNOVATON Symposium and Pitch was held at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall on November 9, aiming to discuss the creation of new innovations in the medtech domain, which encompasses medical devices and others. The keynote speech by Mr. Yoshiki Sawa kicked off the meeting and was followed by a symposium and panel discussion where researchers, business operators and investors representing Japan took to the podium and energetically exchanged opinions about challenges in the creation of medtech innovations in Japan. Following the subsequent recess, the Med-tech Innovation Pitch started and domestic and overseas startups pursuing the creation of new technology participated in the contest for a great prize, namely assignment to an overseas role or 100 million yen for the commercialization of a business. During the recess, short presentations called Med-tech Auction took place in the posters section, where business enterprises and other organizations explained their activities.
Keynote speech
Aiming at the Successful Development of Medical Devices through Industry-Academia Collaboration: Ecosystem from Cross Innovation with Osaka University, Yoshiki Sawa (Vice Chairman of the board of LINK-J; Professor, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine)
How Should Medical Device Companies Handle Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC)? Shogo Nishida (Partner & Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group)
[Session and panel discussion] In pursuit of the creation of Med-tech Unicorns in Japan
Implementation of Healthcare Startups
Takahiro Uchida (CEO, Japanese Organization for Medical Device Development, Inc.)
Med-tech Startups in which VCs Would Invest
Hajime Oshita (President & CEO, MedVenture Partners, Inc.)
Pursuit of Med-tech Incubation in Clinical Practice
Nobuyoshi Takeshita (medical staff member, the Center for Developing Next-generation Endoscopic-surgical Treatment (NEXT), National Cancer Center Hospital East)
Medicine-industry Collaboration
Masaaki Matsutani (Chairman & Executive Officer, MANI, INC.)
Panel discussion
Mr. Takeo Asano (Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Strategic Global Partnership & Cross-Innovation Initiative, Graduate School of Medicine/Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University and Osaka University Hospital) and Mr. Yujiro Maeda (Co-director of Japan Biodesign, director of Aillis Inc and representative of Med-Tech Designer) served as moderators in the six panelist discussion, including the two keynote speakers.
Med-tech Auction, short presentations by exhibitors
The nine companies and organizations listed below exhibited at the venue, gave short presentations and attracted attention. Information was exchanged in a lively atmosphere.
- Covia Inc.
- Médecins Sans Frontiéres Japan
- Daiichi Medical Co., Ltd.
- Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
- Municipal Government of Higashiosaka-shi (Higashiosaka-shi Research Society for Medicine-Industry Collaboration)
- Fukushima Medical Device Industry Promotion Agency
- Miyoshi Electronics, Inc.
- MediGear International Corporation
- PGV
[Med-tech Innovation Pitch by Universities, Enterprises and Hospitals]
Alivas Inc. won for its efforts to develop a device for treating refractory constipation
Six teams participated in the pitch contest. Alivas Inc. was the winner (assignment to an overseas role or funding for the commercialization of a business) for its efforts to develop a device for treating refractory constipation One of the judges regarded the winner's activity as an interesting target despite some technical challenges; while another judge said the availability of a third option would be beneficial for patients with constipation as they would find either surgical or internal therapy to be painful. Other presentations were also highly regarded for achieving a very high level and their potential for breakthroughs. After winning, Mr. Tajima expressed his thanks by saying that winning the contest was only the beginning and it would hopefully be an opportunity for the project, which will take many years, to gain more support.
Judges:
Takahiro Uchida (CEO, Japanese Organization for Medical Device Development, Inc.)
Hajime Oshita (President & CEO, MedVenture Partners, Inc.)
Kirk Zeller (Board Member, US-Japan MedTech Frontiers)
Shinichi Takamiya (Chief Strategy Officer, Globis Capital Partners & Co.)
Contestants:
New Medical Device for the Treatment of refractory Constipation, Developed by Japan Biodesign
Tomoyuki Tajima, Alivas Inc.
Minchalle, a Lifestyle Improvement App: Changing Behavior and Making it a Habit
Go Nagasaka, A10 Lab Inc.
Program for Ameliorating Stammer, a Speech Disorder with Unknown Causes, Using VR
Madoka Umetsu, Kitsuon (stammer) VR Adversity Project
World's First Creation of Selective Separation and Collection of Cancer Cells in the Blood through the Concept of Intermediate Water
Masaru Tanaka, Tanaka Lab., Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University
Using Blockchain Technology to Stimulate Progress of Life Science
Jacob Lee, DTCO (Digital Treasury Corporation)
Single-use System for Cell Therapy
Seiichi Yokoo, Minimum Labo and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
[Get-together]
The symposium was followed by a get-together in the same venue. As guests, Mr. Mitsunari Yoshida (Director; Advanced Medical and Radiological Science Division; Research Promotion Bureau; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), Mr. Yasuo Iimura (Director; Office of Strategic Support for Ventures; Economic Affairs Division; Health Policy Bureau; Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) and Ms. Sayaka Tomihara (Director; Medical and Assistive Device Industries Office; Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group; Commerce and Information Policy Bureau; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) delivered speeches and messages. Mr. Yoshiki Sawa, LINK-J Vice Chairman of the Board, gave a toast to start the get-together. Opinions were actively exchanged among the individuals who took to the podium, other attendees and exhibitors, adding to the vitality of the event.
