“Creating an Industry-University Co-creation Ecosystem in the Kinki Region” Held － The University of Osaka

On November 13, 2025, a nationwide caravan for co-creation of the seventh Science and Technology Innovation Basic Plan was held at the University of Osaka Nakanoshima Center, co-hosted by the University of Osaka and the Cabinet Office.

This occasion is a component of a sequence held nationwide by the Cabinet Office to alternate views with numerous stakeholders—together with universities, corporations, native governments, and residents—in preparation for the formulation of the “Science and Technology Innovation Basic Plan,” which serves as a key guideline setting the path for Japan’s science, know-how, and innovation insurance policies.

As half of the evaluate of the seventh Plan, overlaying the five-year interval from fiscal yr 2026 to fiscal yr 2031, this occasion, titled “Creating an Industry-University Co-creation Ecosystem in the Kinki Region,” featured lectures and a panel dialogue centered round the University of Osaka, which boasts one of the nation’s finest monitor information in industry-university collaboration.

The occasion attracted a big turnout, considerably exceeding the initially deliberate capability, with roughly 120 members on-site and about 110 on-line attendees from numerous fields, together with academia, {industry}, and authorities businesses.

At the opening tackle, President Atsushi Kumanogoh expressed his gratitude to the Cabinet Office and all audio system for his or her cooperation in organizing this occasion. He highlighted the college’s historical past of producing world-class analysis achievements as a college devoted to sensible studying and its contributions to resolving societal challenges by means of industry-university co-creation. He additionally expressed his hope that at present’s discussions would result in additional growth of Japan’s science, know-how, and innovation coverage and that the University of Osaka would function the basis for brand spanking new collaborations to put it on the market all.

In the subsequent Part 1 keynote tackle, Akitoshi Tsunefuji (Deputy Director-General for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Cabinet Office) delivered a lecture titled “Status of Review of the 7th Science and Technology Innovation Basic Plan.” He outlined the key factors of the seventh Basic Plan and mentioned the underlying tendencies in science, know-how, and innovation, in addition to Japan’s present state of affairs and challenges.

In the second keynote lecture, Senior Executive Vice President Yasushi Fujio offered on “Industry-University-Government Collaboration and Ecosystem Development at the University of Osaka.” He spoke about the college’s sturdy ties with {industry}, tracing its origins to the efforts of the Kansai enterprise group and residents, and its historical past of producing excellent people who’ve considerably contributed to industrial growth since its founding. He additionally mentioned the college’s pioneering initiatives nationwide, resembling its joint analysis programs, collaborative analysis institute system, and large-scale complete partnerships between organizations. He additionally highlighted the college’s top-tier home achievements in industry-university collaboration and worldwide recognition, exemplified by Distinguished Honorary Professor Shimon Sakaguchi’s 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Moving ahead, he said that the college goals to additional leverage these strengths. It will work carefully with native governments and associated organizations to comprehend the “Osaka/Kansai Science Hills” – a co-creation ecosystem built-in with the metropolis. He outlined his imaginative and prescient for city growth, fostering startup clusters, and creating new industries. Concurrently, it would advance the cultivation of formidable people who admire the essence of human happiness and information its success.

The panel dialogue, moderated by Specially Appointed Associate Professor Haruyo Yasui (Office of Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration, Co-Creation Bureau), featured keynote speaker Akitoshi Tsunefuji, together with Professor Yasuo Kitaoka (Assistant Director, Co-Creation Bureau), Professor Takahiro Inoue (Assistant Director, Co-Creation Bureau), Professor Michiya Matsusaki (Graduate School of Engineering), Professor Takeshi Inoue (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Mr. Shinya Kirihara (Managing Executive Officer, SIGMAXYZ Inc.), and Mr. Katsuaki Sakurai (Executive Officer, Earth Corporation).

At the starting of the dialogue, Professor Takeshi Inoue launched the actions and institution background of the Oxidation Control Co-creation Consortium, and Professor Michiya Matsusaki launched the actions and founding story of the Consortium for Future Innovation by Cultured Meat as exemplary instances of initiatives for the social implementation of analysis achievements.

The subsequent panel dialogue featured enthusiastic exchanges of views, drawing on case research from each consortia and together with a Q&A session with members. Regarding success elements, challenges, and needed assist for ecosystem formation, the dialogue centered on the significance of analysis seeds providing thrilling, socially resonant content material that evokes societal empathy and expectations for resolving social points; the must stability free-curiosity-driven analysis with cutting-edge analysis aligned with nationwide precedence areas; the assist in areas resembling mental property administration and challenge administration; and the significance of analysis tools experience.

Furthermore, regarding speed up social implementation, members spoke of requests for nationwide programs to assist its acceleration and expressed their expectations for brand spanking new Japanese-style industry-academia-government collaboration.

In the closing remarks, Deputy Director-General Akitoshi Tsunefuji expressed his expectations for the college’s contributions to the development of science, know-how, and innovation.
Following the symposium, a networking session was held, permitting audio system and members to proceed exchanging opinions on the discussions of the day. The occasion concluded with nice success.