JETRO Announcements [Event Report] HVC KYOTO 2025, Japan's Largest Healthcare-Specific Pitch Event

The "HVC KYOTO 2025" pitch event, which supports the overseas expansion of healthcare start-ups and researchers with entrepreneurial ambitions from Japan and abroad, took place at Kyoto Research Park (KRP) from June 30 to July 1. The event has been held annually since 2016 by KRP, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, and JETRO, and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025.

HVC KYOTO is a pitch event conducted in English, focusing on two specialized fields: biotech and medtech ^*1. Selected companies and researchers receive approximately two months of mentoring from pharmaceutical companies and experts, after which they participate in a two-day Demo Day featuring one-on-one business meetings and pitch sessions with potential business and research partners. This year, 12 startups and 10 researchers were selected. On June 30, they held business meetings with representatives from major global pharmaceutical companies. On July 1, there were pitch presentations by 15 finalists, as well as keynote speeches and an exhibition held in parallel.

In 2025, HVC KYOTO collaborated with the "BIE Workshop in Japan, supported by SPARK Global"^*2, which was organized by the Kansai Startup Academia Coalition (KSAC). This workshop is designed for scientists, healthcare professionals, and researchers aiming to launch startups, in order to enhance creativity, innovation, and translational research capabilities in the biomedical field by their receiving practical training in essential skills. It is expected to serve as a talent development program for future HVC KYOTO presenters.

At the beginning of the event, Kazuya Nakajo, Executive Vice President of JETRO, delivered the opening remarks. He expressed his hopes for the emergence of startups that would expand globally through HVC KYOTO, as well as for the further development of Kyoto's life science ecosystem through strengthened collaboration between Kyoto and international ecosystems.

In her congratulatory remarks, Dr. Sharon Chan, Head of the Incubation Lab for the Asia Pacific region at Johnson & Johnson, spoke about the growing potential of Japan's life sciences sector. She emphasized that Japan is home to a large number of world-leading universities and research institutions specializing in life sciences, positioning the country as a hub of innovation with a strong concentration of advanced research and technological capabilities. She also noted that Johnson & Johnson is actively collaborating with Japan in areas such as development, manufacturing, and commercialization, including partnerships with institutions like Kyoto University.

In her keynote speech, Dr. Daria Mochly-Rosen of SPARK stated that incorporating biotechnology research outcomes into society presents significant challenges and emphasized the importance of bridging this gap.

At the pitch session, 15 startups, primarily in the seed and early stages^*3, presented their technologies and business ideas in hopes of forming partnerships and securing funding. Companies and researchers deemed promising received awards from various organizations.

The "JETRO Award," presented to companies with high potential for international growth, was awarded to Toshihiro Takamatsu of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. He was recognized for developing a near-infrared spectroscopic laparoscope system capable of visualizing deep intra-abdominal tissues.

Takamatsu stated, "Compared to open surgery, laparoscopic surgery offers a narrower field of vision. By utilizing near-infrared hyperspectral imaging technology and artificial intelligence (AI), we have developed a technique that can detect blood vessels and nerves deep within tissues that are invisible to the naked eye. Our aim in applying this technology is to prevent serious surgical complications and contribute to the wider adoption of safer laparoscopic procedures."