News & Updates

The "Global Healthcare Challenge (GHeC),” an International Event Focused on Healthcare, has been officially announced.

Dec 26, 2024

A global symposium and startup pitch competition will be held, bringing together international healthcare stakeholders to create new innovations and approach health issues globally.

JETRO and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will host the “Global Healthcare Challenge (GHeC)” in Osaka in June 2025, taking advantage of the “Health and Well-being” theme week at the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025.
Since 2016, METI has been organizing the “Japan Healthcare Business Contest (JHeC),” a large-scale startup pitch competition for Japanese top-tier healthcare startups. To mark the 10th anniversary, GHeC will be held as a global version of JHeC, inviting healthcare startups globally. In this two-day event, we also have many contents, including keynote speech, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, enabling you to get in touch with renowned healthcare stakeholders across the world, including investors, big corporates, academia, medical professionals, and key opinion leaders.
Through this event, we aim to facilitate cross-border business collaboration, especially helping international startups to figure out healthcare business opportunities in Japan, leading to solving global health issues and realizing a society of healthy longevity.

Theme:
“Accelerating Healthcare Innovation beyond Borders”
Dates:
June 25th – June 26th, 2025 (2 days)
Agenda:
  • June 25,
    PM: Symposium & One-on-One Meetings
  • June 26,
    AM: Symposium & One-on-One Meetings
    PM: pitch competition * & Networking
Venue:
Osaka City, Japan
Organizers:
JETRO, METI
Audience:
300 people (Pre-registration will be required, with applications expected to start being accepted in spring 2025)
* pitch competition
Approximately 20 selected international and Japanese healthcare startups will present their pitches and potentially receive awards.

Who can apply: Healthtech fields such as prevention and wellness, treatment interventions using digital services, and medical support services; Medtech fields such as treatment and diagnostic devices; AgeTech and care tech fields providing solutions for an aging society, such as elderly care. Other fields (e.g., Biotech, Sportstech) may also be considered depending on the products, services, and technologies.

Healthcare Industries Team, Market Development Division,
Overseas Business Development Department.
JETRO
E-mail: healthcare@jetro.go.jp