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The 5th US-Japan MedTech Frontiers Top Management Symposium "Innovation and Corporate Strategy for Medtech Companies"

On Thursday, November 8, 2018, the 5th US-Japan MedTech Frontiers Top Management Symposium - "Innovation and Corporate Strategy for Medtech Companies" was held at Nihonbashi Life Science Hub, sponsored by US-Japan MedTech Frontiers and co-sponsored by LINK-J.

This event was intended by the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy, to provide diverse support for promoting and developing exports of U.S. products and services to Japan and direct investments to the U.S. It was sponsored by US-Japan MedTech Frontiers (USJMF), a non-profit organization that promotes cooperative relationships among Japanese and U.S. corporations in the medical equipment field, and co-sponsored by LINK-J. It was sponsored by the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO); and general incorporated associations, including the Japan Federation of Medical Devices Associations (JFMDA) and Biodesign Japan.
This is the second time that the event was held in Nihonbashi.

The symposium is associated with MedTech Week Japan
Other events affiliated with MedTech Week Japan:
November 5: Kobe Medical Device Innovation Seminar
November 6: Exchange Meeting among Students & Entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley (Shizuoka)
November 7: 2018 US-Japan Medical Device Innovation Forum in Shizuoka
November 8: MedTech Innovation Symposium & Pitch

Opening Addresses
Jack Moorman, Chairman of US-Japan MedTech Frontiers, and Arlene Mayeda, Commercial Attaché of the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, delivered the opening addresses.

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Session 1
John B. Simpson MD, PhD, delivered the keynote lecture on Silicon Valley, Medical Devices, and the Future. Fumiaki Ikeno, MD, Program Director (U.S.) Japan Biodesign, Stanford Biodesign, served as the master of ceremonies.
Dr. Simpson is a famous entrepreneur and inventor, creator of the Advanced Cardiovascular System, Inc. (ACS), and known as the father of the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). He, alumni and other developer staff at ACS have developed medical devices based on less invasive catheters and have saved numerous lives as a result. Dr. Simpson explained the interesting history of many years of developments and his future work.

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Panel Discussion
A session was held with experts regarding the current state of development of medical devices in Silicon Valley and the U.S., and collaboration and cooperation between Japan and the U.S. Questions and answers were actively exchanged between the lecturers and audience.

Session 2: Panel Discussion
Medical Device Innovation and Unmet Needs
Moderator: Fumiaki Ikeno, MD (Program Director (U.S.) Japan Biodesign, Stanford Biodesign)
Panelists:

  • Daniel R. Burnett, MD, MBA (Founder, Theranova. LLC)
  • Aaron L. Berez, MD (President and CEO, Alembic, LLC)
  • Julia Rasooly (CEO, PuraCath Medical Inc., Stanford Biodesign Fellow)
  • JD Simpson (President and CEO, Galactic Group)


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Speech by Hiroshi Saigusa, Secretary General, LINK-J

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Session 3: Panel Discussion
Use of Digital Imaging Technology (AI and Machine Learning)
Moderator: Jeff M. Trost (Managing Director, Greenbox Venture Partners)
Panelists:

  • Charles Cadieu (CEO, Bay Labs)
  • Naoji Taniguchi (CEO/CTO, Holoeyes Inc.)
  • Matt Schwartz (CEO, Virgo Surgical)
  • Walter McClay (CEO, Voler Systems)

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Session 4: Panel Discussion
Japan-US Cooperation in the Medical Device Field
Chairman: J Elton Satusky (Vice Chairman, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)
Life Sciences Group)
Panelists:

  • Joe Heanue (CEO, Triple Ring Technologies)
  • Brad Vale, PhD, DVM (Founding General Partner, Strategic Health Investment Partners)
  • Yuichiro Morimoto (Vice President, Chief Business Strategy and Innovation Office, Enplas America, Inc.)

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The closing speech was delivered by Jack Moorman, Chairman of US-Japan MedTech Frontiers. He announced that this Symposium will continue to be held for the next two years.
This was followed by the social gathering attended by many people, which ended on a high note.

On the day of the social gathering, about 100 people gathered from a variety of institutions, including industries, universities and colleges.

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