TIME TABLE

Digital

11:00-11:45

Taking on the world with cybernetic avatar startups!

Hiroshi Ishiguro・Ryota Kanai・Norihiro Hagita・Takahiro Miyashita

With avatar technology advancing at an incredible pace, such as CG avatars, avatar robots, and micro avatar robots that can be used inside the body and blood vessels (!), this talk session will cover from every angle the potential of the rapidly growing avatar market (cybernetic avatar market).

Keynote

13:00-14:00

The Expo is a stepping stone, not the destination. Kansai sets the stage for the next wave of globally innovative startups.

Takafumi Horie

Takafumi Horie, an icon of disruptive innovation and a fearless challenger to the status quo, will share his thoughts on the mindsets, strategies, and bold action startups need in Osaka and Kansai to succeed in the global market.

Digital

14:15-15:00

Bridging Worlds: Women Leading Across Disciplines, Borders, and Futures

Rika Nakazawa・Sayaka Tanaka・Rui Nagamori

This session highlights the roles and leadership of women in technology as we look toward the future of AI and global collaboration. It explores the importance of diversity in AI development and discusses how the Osaka-Kansai Expo can inspire new visions for global cities.

Bio and Life Sciences / Healthcare

15:15-16:00

Catalyzing the Next Wave of Global Health Innovation

Kuldip K. Ahluwalia・Mari Ogihara・Lei Liu・James Yuji Grosvenor

As digitalization and the role of AI continue to expand across all facets of healthcare—including drug discovery, disease prediction, and personalized medicine—this session explores the opportunities for Japanese startups in the digital and healthcare sectors.

Keynote

16:15-17:00

Local Communities × Decentralization: How Autonomous Systems Can Transform Society
From Centralization to Local Autonomy: The Potential Unlocked by Startups(Tentative)

Vitalik Buterin

As centralized systems reach their limits, solving local challenges is shifting from reliance on a few to collective action. In this session, we invite Vitalik to share his views on how blockchain technologies such as Ethereum and DAOs can empower communities, and what a decentralized future could look like in welfare, energy, education, and urban development.

Ecosystem

17:15-17:45

Europe to Start and Scale

Agnieszka Stasiakowska・Arnold Ackerer・Victoire Cachoux・Edo de Ronde・Yusuke Nagao

In light of recent developments across Europe, where startups, research, and innovation have become top priorities, the European Commission has launched the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. Titled “Choose Europe to Start and Scale,” this initiative aims to reinforce Europe’s position in the global innovation landscape and to make it the ideal base to start, grow, and scale a global company.
This panel will provide an in-depth examination of Europe’s current innovation landscape and how Europe is becoming a great environment for startups to grow. In this context, special attention will be given to Japan-EU relations and the potential for Japanese startups looking to expand to Europe. The discussion will inform about opportunities in Europe and touch upon the startup support available in European cities, outlining the characteristics of the ecosystem that make them attractive for Japanese startups.

Green Technology

12:00-12:45

(1) Pitch contest

miibio, Inc.
QioN, Inc.
Refined Robotics K. K.
SeatecHIROSHIMA Ltd.

Digital

13:00-13:45

(2) Pitch contest

AVETE Inc.
Kasanare, Inc.
XAION DATA ,Inc

Bio and Life Sciences / Healthcare

14:00-14:45

(3) Pitch contest

Digireha Inc.
molmir, Inc.
Revascular Bio Co., Ltd.

Green Technology

15:00-15:45

European Cleantech Investment Ecosystem: Pathways to Sustainable Growth for Japan and Osaka

Louis Murayama・Hidemi Naganuma・Tomosaku Sohara

Europe has established advanced systems that promote entrepreneurship and investment in the cleantech sector.
This session focuses on what Japan and Osaka can learn from these systems and how they can achieve growth.

Ecosystem

16:00-16:45

Osaka's innovation ecosystem ~Current status and future prospects~

Hideyuki Yokoyama・Ryuichi Morotomi・Naoki Ichihashi・Hiroshi Onishi・Mizuki Kishihata

Did you know that over the past few years Osaka has been rapidly improving its environment to support startups, promote co-creation between companies and local governments, and promote open innovation?
This session will bring together people from co-creation facilities, startups, and government to share the current state of Osaka's ecosystem and discuss future prospects.

17:00-17:30

Pitch contest, exhibition award ceremony
Closing ceremony