Event: The Potential of Okinawa and Kyushu in Shaping Future Deep Tech

Japan’s next wave of global innovation is emerging from the south. This roundtable session, co-hosted by OIST Innovation and Kyushu University Kyusokai, explores the strategic potential of the Okinawa–Kyushu axis as a powerhouse for national-level Deep Tech.

Join us to discuss how we can leverage our unique geographic and academic strengths to create a sustainable supply base for world-changing technologies. We will move beyond theory into the practical realities of venture capital and domain-specific scaling.

Carrot Harvesting Event by EF Polymer

OIST startup EF Polymer invites everyone to join their annual carrot harvesting event!

US Market Discovery Program

The US Market Discovery Program is an immersive international experience that helps entrepreneurial researchers explore the commercial potential of their technologies in the United States. Through a combination of virtual preparation and an intensive week in Washington, DC, participants engage directly with customers, partners, and mentors to test and refine their business strategies. Grounded in Lean Startup principles, the program emphasizes real-world learning to validate or reshape market entry approaches. Supported by OIST and PARKS, it is an ideal opportunity for innovators ready to take their research beyond the lab and onto the global stage.

From Field to Startup: Solving Okinawa’s Agriculture Challenges

BiTS and Pieces of the Global Startup Campus

BiTS Japan is a 15-week, part-time training program to instill knowledge of how to define BIG problems that face mankind, identify the metrics that, if achieved, could catalyze serious change and how to manage the cooperative research program to solve the problem. The training program was developed based on vast experience of the developers as they executed more than $1B of research programs. Join Dr. Douglas Wicks, Strategic Director of BiTS Japan, as he previews the training program and invites OIST faculty, researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to participate!

VC Mentoring Hours: D4V (Design for Ventures)

In collaboration with leading venture capital firms, OIST Innovation offers startups and entrepreneurial researchers or students the opportunity to connect directly with venture capitalists for one-on-one mentoring and discussion.
Each round begins with an open seminar-style introduction, where participants can learn about the VC firm's investment focus and characteristics. This is followed by private, closed-door mentoring sessions between startups/researchers/students and the VC representatives.

The featured VC for this round is D4V (Design for Ventures)

VC Mentoring Hours: Karry Fund (Karry Impact & Innovation Fund)

In collaboration with leading venture capital firms, OIST Innovation offers startups and entrepreneurial researchers or students the opportunity to connect directly with venture capitalists for one-on-one mentoring and discussion.
Each round begins with an open seminar-style introduction, where participants can learn about the VC firm's investment focus and characteristics. This is followed by private, closed-door mentoring sessions between startups/researchers/students and the VC representatives.

The featured VC for this round is Karry Fund (Karry Impact & Innovation Fund)

Registration is required.
If the number of applicants exceeds the available slots, OIST Innovation will select participants based on the information provided in the registration form and the strategic fit with the VC.

iGEM Okinawa 2025 Project Report & Community Feedback Event — iGEM Okinawa 2025 成果報告・地域連携イベント

Join us for iGEM Okinawa’s 2025 post-Jamboree event at OIST, where we’ll share our project results with farmers, supporters, and stakeholders and discuss future collaborations.

OISTにて開催されるiGEM Okinawaの成果報告イベントにぜひご参加ください。農家、地域関係者、協力団体の皆様と成果を共有し、今後の展望について語り合います。

Smart Work with Generative AI

OIST Innovation will host a seminar on “Smart Work with Generative AI” as follows.

Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 13:30–15:30

Venue: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Conference Center, Meeting Room

Admission: Free (pre-registration required)

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided

No online streaming

FDSFJapan Tour in Okinawa: Envisioning a sustainable future from Okinawa through the lens of science and finance.

The FDSF Japan Tour supports innovation and startup creation through science to address regional issues, with the power of finance backing these initiatives. Every year, FDSF, the Future Design Initiative for Science & Finance holds events nationwide to promote science-based innovation and future-oriented financing.

This year, the tour will be held in Okinawa, which has unique regional challenges. The event will bring together Okinawa’s industrial, academic, and financial communities to explore new collaborative possibilities and share the latest knowledge on GX (Green Transformation), circular economy models, and startup support.