Shosuke Kiba

Program Director, SIP

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Kazuhiro Hono

President of NIMS

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Toshikazu Nambu

Executive Director in charge of SIP/BRIDGE, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

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Shosuke Kiba

Program Director, SIP

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Sahil Jain

Vice President, Strategy, Newlab

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Norihiko Fukuda

Kawasaki City, Mayor

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Abstract

Kawasaki City’s southern coastal area, covering 2,800 hectares, has long played a central role in Japan’s industrial development. Historically a hub for heavy industry, the region has successfully adapted to evolving societal challenges such as pollution and deindustrialization through close collaboration among businesses, citizens, and government. Today, it remains a vital center for research and production in sectors including petroleum, steel, energy, recycling, and logistics. In 2023, the suspension of JFE Steel’s blast furnace marked a major turning point, prompting the need to redevelop approximately 400 hectares of land. In response, Kawasaki City launched the “Project for the Next 100 Years,” a strategic initiative to transform areas like Minami-Watarida and Ogishima into next-generation industrial hubs. By leveraging its proximity to Haneda Airport and the availability of large-scale industrial land within the Tokyo metropolitan area, the city aims to foster innovation in materials and energy, address global challenges such as climate change, and cultivate human capital. This project also seeks to become a national model for transitioning industrial complexes from traditional heavy chemical industries to green transformation (GX), reinforcing Kawasaki’s leadership in shaping the future of Japanese industry. In other words, this means implementing the results of the SIP project in society.

Sahil Jain

Vice President, Strategy, Newlab

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Kazuhiko Tamai

Kawasaki City, Coastal Area International Strategy Headquarters, Head Director

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Shosuke Kiba

Program Director, SIP

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Lerwen Liu

National Institute for Materials Science, Center for Basic Research on Materials, Team Leader

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Abstract

Having lived and worked in different parts of the world, including Australia, China, Europe, Japan, ASEAN, and USA, Dr Lerwen LIU will share her insights on ecosystem building for advancing innovation and entrepreneurship practices.

Humanity is facing unprecedented challenges, including climate change and artificial intelligence. More than ever, we need to build an ecosystem that supports responsible innovation and entrepreneurship, driving a transition to a green economy. A functional, vibrant, and sustainable ecosystem needs government policy & investment enabling Open Innovation Environment, innovative R&D and Education, Knowledgeable & Empathic Financing community, and responsible supply chains & consumers. Innovation & Entrepreneurship education needs to be integrated into the education system, empowering all stakeholders to be equipped with the mindset, knowledge, and skills to take action in transitioning towards a green economy that can sustain humanity.

Dr Liu will examine some of the challenges in building a functional ecosystem that supports a just and green transition, and exemplify with a use case in Singapore. She will conclude her presentation with a call to action, outlining mechanisms that support cross-border ecosystem integration for a sustainable future.

Gil Granot-Mayer

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, OIST Innovation, Executive Vice President for Innovation and Outreach, Vice CEO

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Abstract

How do you create a deep-tech startup ecosystem with very limited resources ? no well-established deep-tech industry, no local venture capital, and only a young university on a remote island? At the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), we set out to answer this question. Over the past few years, OIST has built an innovation model that transforms frontier research into global ventures, attracts international startups to Okinawa, and anchors the ecosystem with dedicated incubators and long-term funding.
In this keynote, I will share how OIST is helping to shape Okinawa into a new deep-tech hub for Japan and Asia. Through the stories of startups like EF Polymer, Chorie Medical, Surzen Biotherapeutics, and the launch of OIST’s deep-tech incubators, I will highlight three essential ingredients: openness to global innovators, translation of science into impactful startups, and the creation of physical and financial infrastructure. The OIST model demonstrates that even regions with limited resources can become centers of innovation ? when vision, collaboration, and global ambition come together.

Liu Lerwen

Associate Professor, NTU Entrepreneurship Academy

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Gil Granot-Mayer

Executive Vice President, OIST

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Taizo Hayashida

Assistant Sub Program Director, SIP

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Shinya Mine

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Research Institute for Chemical Process Technology, Researcher

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Abstract

Data-driven materials development, which uses machine learning (ML) and other artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to accelerate the development of materials and catalysts, is attracting attention. There are already successful examples of 'optimization research' with defined rules and goals, including significant reductions in development time and cost. However, the development of truly innovative materials and catalysts remains elusive. This is because conventional AI technology cannot suggest information not contained within the data. Additionally, the significant time and cost associated with collecting high-quality experimental data for training purposes hinders the adoption of data-driven research. In other words, new ML approaches are needed that can explore 'extrapolated regions' of the training dataset and can be used with relatively small datasets.
In this talk, I will first give a brief overview of AIST's initiatives in data-driven materials development and automated experimental systems. In the latter half, I will present a case study from my own work on developing novel catalysts effective for CO₂ reduction through the integration of experiments and machine learning.

Ryo Tamura

National Institute for Materials Science, Center for Basic Research on Materials, Team Leader

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Abstract

Automated experimentation using robotic systems has attracted increasing attention. At the same time, significant advances have been made in exploration algorithms that propose the next experimental conditions. By connecting these two components, that is, integrating cyber and physical systems, it becomes possible to realize a self-driving laboratory that enables materials development without human intervention. To facilitate the seamless integration of exploration algorithms into automated experimental platforms, NIMS has been developing the software NIMO, which is released as open-source software (https://github.com/NIMS-DA/nimo). Using NIMO, various algorithms, including Bayesian optimization and phase diagram construction methods, can be applied depending on the needs of the exploration. We also present the self-driving laboratory systems we have developed.

Mitsuru Irie

Co-founder and Board Director, MI-6 Ltd.

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Abstract

Advancing R&D in materials and manufacturing demands more than digital tools; it requires a systematic way of connecting data, knowledge, and practice. At MI-6, we approach research and development digital transformation (R&D DX) through miHub®, our core informatics platform, and LabAutomation, which extends digital intelligence into laboratory execution. Together, they support not only materials developers but also materials users across industries, enabling more agile, data-driven R&D processes.

Our focus is on organizational productivity and knowledge management: ensuring that experimental data, computational models, and tacit expertise become shared and reusable assets. This approach allows enterprises to continuously build on past work, reduce redundancy, and accelerate innovation cycles.

Beyond competitiveness, such systemic improvements are essential for tackling broader global challenges—from energy to sustainability—where faster and more reliable R&D is critical. By linking human creativity with digital infrastructures, MI-6 aims to contribute to an innovation ecosystem where industrial R&D evolves into a more collaborative, adaptive, and impactful endeavour.

Masahiko Demura

Sub Program Director, SIP

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Shinya Mine

AIST

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Ryo Tamura

NIMS

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Mitsuru Irie

Co-founder and Director, MI-6 Ltd.

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Shosuke Kiba

Program Director, SIP

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