10 Overseas Regenerative Medicine Companies Deliver Pitches for Their Planned Expansion into Japan at the JEAP Demo Day

In October 2025, JETRO launched the Japan Entry Acceleration Program (JEAP) targeting promising overseas companies in the regenerative medicine field that aim to enter the Japanese market or collaborate with Japanese companies. The program received approximately 70 applications from 25 countries worldwide, and ultimately 10 companies were selected as inaugural cohort, including two in ophthalmology, one in diabetes, and one in the knee joint field.

As the grand finale, JEAP held a Demo Day in Tokyo on February 20, 2026.

At the opening, JETRO explained the importance of collaboration with overseas companies in Japan's regenerative medicine sector. It also highlighted its initiatives to support overseas companies entering the Japanese market, including the provision of mentoring by industry experts and opportunities for meetings with Japanese companies through JEAP.

At the pitch session, the cohort companies presented their respective technologies and development plans in the Japanese market. Cell therapy and gene therapy technologies were introduced for areas such as inherited retinal diseases, corneal diseases, knee osteoarthritis, type 1 diabetes, solid tumors, refractory cancers, hematologic malignancies, and autoimmune diseases.

The 10 companies presenting on stage are as follows:

This event brought together overseas companies with advanced technologies in the field of regenerative medicine, attracting around 100 participants from CDMOs (contract development and manufacturing organizations),

pharmaceutical companies, venture capital firms, and others. After the pitch session, a networking event was held, providing opportunities for interaction between the cohort and the Japanese companies in attendance. In addition, approximately 70 individual business meetings were held for interested parties to discuss potential collaboration. Participating Japanese companies commented that they were able to "experience the latest technologies from overseas companies," "identify potential collaboration partners aligned with their own challenges," and "draw inspiration from ideas that are not readily encountered within Japan." The also evaluated the program positively, noting that it helped them clarify with whom—and in what manner—they should advance development in Japan, thereby refining their business plans and potential partnership strategies. For both sides, the event provided an opportunity to explore a wide range of collaboration options, including joint research, contract manufacturing, licensing‑in arrangements, and investment.

(Miyuki Yamada, Sumire Saito, Hiroyuki Ono)
(Japan, U.S., Europe)