JAPAN PAVILION at Expand North Star 2024

GITEX Expand North Star 2024 (GITEX ENS), the largest technology exhibition in the MENA region, was held from October 13th and 16^th at the Dubai Harbour. A total of 22 startups exhibited at the JAPAN PAVILION organized by JETRO at GITEX ENS. Exhibitors presented solutions and services tailored to the demands of the Middle East in various fields of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain, healthcare, biotech, smart mobility, space technology, drones, and telecommunications.

During the event, the “Supernova Challenge” an official pitch contest took place. Among the finalists were Holoeyes, a medical virtual reality (VR) technology company; XANA, a Web3 metaverse company; DigitalBlast, a space life science experiment service provider; Metagen Therapeutics, a company specializing in “Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)“ and “microbiome drug discovery” technologies; and Polymerize GK, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict optimal formulations and material properties for experiment. Notably, Metagen Therapeutics and Polymerize GK were selected as finalists in the competition.

In addition, Dots for Inc won the GITEX Nigeria-sponsored contest. Dots for Inc for provides permanent Internet access and offers a variety of online services in Africa, where Internet communication networks are still underdeveloped in the region.

Furthermore, after the exhibition, a site visit to the UAE Startup Ecosystem was conducted, with visits to key players in the startup ecosystem in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi, including as Dubai Internet city, RAK DAO, and Hub71.