Osaka Finance Forum: A Gateway to Kansai's Life Science and Healthcare Startups

The Osaka Finance Forum on 25 November 2024 at Nakanoshima Qross offers a hybrid event for investors to connect with Kansai's Life Science and Healthcare startups. Featuring startup pitches, networking, and one-on-one meetings, the forum showcases Osaka’s pharmaceutical legacy, cutting-edge research, and incentives for global investors. It’s part of the Global Financial City OSAKA initiative.

The Osaka Finance Forum is set to take place on Monday, 25 November 2024, offering a unique global business matching event for Life Science and Healthcare startups in the Kansai region. Hosted by Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, the forum will be held at Nakanoshima Qross, a cutting-edge international hub for medical innovation, and is open to both in-person and online participants.

This hybrid event is a significant opportunity for investors to engage with groundbreaking startups in Osaka, a city recognised for its 400-year legacy as a “town of pharmaceuticals.” Osaka’s thriving ecosystem includes numerous pharmaceutical companies, world-class universities, and advanced research facilities, making it a focal point for life sciences innovation.

This forum forms part of the broader Global Financial City OSAKA initiative, aimed at attracting foreign financial companies and fostering collaborations. It highlights Osaka’s unique business environment, industry strengths, and incentives, including subsidies and tax breaks.

Event details

• Date: Monday, 25 November 2024
• Time: 16:30–20:00 (JST)
• Venue: Nakanoshima Qross 2F "Qrossover Lounge Yume" and online
• Format: Hybrid (In-person and online)
• Language: English (Simultaneous interpretation available)
• Registration: Register here by 22 November 2024

Programme highlights

• 16:30: Opening remarks
• 16:40: Keynote speech
• 16:50–17:50: Startup pitches (Session 1)
• 18:00–19:00: Startup pitches (Session 2)
• 19:00–20:00: Networking (on-site only)

The forum will feature 10 selected startups from Kansai’s Life Science and Healthcare sector. Attendees can participate in one-on-one business meetings at dedicated booths, providing a unique chance to explore innovations and collaborations.

Osaka: A life sciences powerhouse

Osaka has earned its reputation as a hub for pharmaceutical excellence, underpinned by strong collaboration between industry, academia, and government. The region’s dynamic ecosystem, anchored in Northern Osaka, is home to cutting-edge research in biotechnology, medical devices, and digital health.

For Global Investors

The Osaka Finance Forum offers international investors an exclusive platform to connect with pioneering Japanese startups. Participants will gain early access to innovative technologies and business opportunities emerging from Kansai, positioning them at the forefront of advancements in healthcare and life sciences.

Participating startups

Confirmed participants include:

1. At Co., Ltd.: Non-invasive visualisation and quantification of subcutaneous fingertip capillaries.
2. SleepWell Inc.: Revolutionising depression diagnosis using sleep EEG software-as-a-medical-device.
3. PaMeLa Inc.: AI technology to quantify and reduce global pain levels, developed at Osaka University.
4. COGNANO, Inc.: Reverse-data science to discover novel targets and address unmet medical needs.

About Global Financial City OSAKA

The Osaka Finance Forum is part of the Global Financial City OSAKA initiative, which aims to bring international financial companies to Osaka. This broad plan shares information about business matching events, highlights Osaka's unique industries and business environment, and features stories of companies that have successfully set up in the city. It also provides details about incentives like subsidies and tax reductions. Financial companies looking to expand into the Osaka/Kansai area, as well as financial institutions and businesses in Osaka/Kansai wanting to work with companies from outside the region, are encouraged to explore the opportunities offered by Global Financial City OSAKA.