JStories – Taiwanese startups are presently casting a eager eye on the Japanese market. Amid the thrill surrounding the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the 2025 Taiwan Tech Week is scheduled to be held Aug. 19-22 as a facet occasion formally supported by the expo. Roughly 30 promising corporations from world-leading fields corresponding to good cities and AI (synthetic intelligence) are anticipated to take part. This initiative, a part of the Startup Island TAIWAN program promoted by Taiwan’s Nationwide Growth Council (NDC), goals to create tangible enterprise alternatives and improve the worldwide model publicity for Taiwanese companies.
A key spotlight of the occasion would be the pitch classes on Aug. 20-21, that includes Taiwanese startups thought-about “next-generation unicorns.” The occasion will even be attended by a number of outstanding Japanese organizations, together with the Osaka Prefectural Authorities, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and the Japan Exterior Commerce Group (JETRO) Osaka.
The pitch classes can be held at NORIBA10 umeda, a co-creation area operated by Hankyu Hanshin Properties. Situated straight exterior the central ticket gate on the second ground of Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station, it serves as a “place” for individuals to co-create the long run, internet hosting occasions for startups and numerous creators.
Nobuhide Okamoto of Hankyu Hanshin Properties, which operates NORIBA10 umeda, has expertise working in Taiwan and holds nice expectations for Taiwanese startups. He expressed his sturdy need to facilitate one-on-one conferences between Taiwanese startups and Japanese corporations in the course of the occasion.
“I am at all times impressed by the sense of velocity in Taiwanese startups, in addition to Taiwan itself,” mentioned Okamoto. “I’ve the impression that they’re very skillful at integrating know-how with day by day life, and I imagine a lot of their improvements might be utilized in Japan. I feel it is rather significant to draw these Taiwanese startups to the Kansai area, and I hope they’ll use this chance to be matched with nice companions in Kansai.”
Umeda Imaginative and prescient, pushed by a way of urgency
The sturdy curiosity from Hankyu Hanshin in Taiwanese startups stems from their excessive expectations for these corporations.
“We need to additional promote open innovation within the Kansai area. First, we plan to construct momentum in Umeda after which unfold this power all through the whole Kansai space,” Okamoto mentioned.
Hankyu Hanshin Properties has been actively selling innovation. One of many initiatives is Hankyu Hanshin Properties Enterprise Co-creation AWARD, which they’ve been internet hosting since 2020. This program invitations a number of startups to pitch concepts primarily based on themes proposed by the corporate’s workers. In 2024, one Taiwanese startup was chosen for this award.
The Umeda Imaginative and prescient was launched in 2022 with the objective of enhancing the worth of the Osaka-Umeda district. Since most of the Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Group’s belongings are concentrated in Umeda, rising the town’s worldwide competitiveness is important for elevating the group’s general worth. Beneath this imaginative and prescient, the group goals to raise its largest enterprise hub, Osaka-Umeda, into an Worldwide Change Hub and join it with the world. The opening of NORIBA10 umeda and the initiatives held there is without doubt one of the key measures to convey this imaginative and prescient to life.
With the Expo as a catalyst, Umeda goals to be an East Asian hub
Osaka is presently at a primary juncture to reinforce its presence as a global metropolis. Main initiatives, together with the continued Osaka-Kansai Expo, the Osaka IR built-in resort scheduled to open in 2029, and its designation as a Nationwide Strategic Particular Zone for a Tremendous Metropolis by the Cupboard Workplace, are drawing important consideration each domestically and internationally.
Okamoto feels that the dynamism of fast-moving, modern corporations, beginning with these from Taiwan, is important to grab this chance and additional elevate Osaka-Umeda into a global alternate hub. Going ahead, he intends to draw a various vary of world corporations and expertise, together with startups, to advertise open innovation.
“Interacting with international innovators creates alternatives for collaboration. Taiwanese startups are one such group of innovators,” Okamoto mentioned. By way of these efforts, he goals to assist obtain the Umeda Imaginative and prescient and contribute to the additional progress of the Kansai economic system.
High picture: Startup Island TAIWAN
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