Startup
FESTIVAL#3
Upcoming Events
April
- 30th (Wed)
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Keihanna Expo Global Startup PoC Challenge
Yumeshima Main Venue (Startup PoC presentations, etc.)
July
- 25th (Fri)
-
Startup Fest
Keihanna Plaza
・PoC results presentations, pitch sessions, etc.
September
- 30th (Tue)
-
Keihanna Expo Global Startup PoC Challenge
Yumeshima Main Venue
“PoC-Friendly City” Keihanna
Keihanna Science City is a “PoC-friendly city” where proof-of-concept (PoC) initiatives—including demonstrations of cutting-edge technology and assessments of social acceptability—are actively pursued to realize a human-centric smart city for future generations.
With advanced technology testing facilities at the Keihanna Open Innovation Center (KICK) and the Keihanna Plaza Lab Building, along with various support functions (both hardware and software) such as “Club Keihanna”—where residents interested in participating in PoCs and workshops can register—and coordinators who provide hands-on support to startups and entrepreneurs undertaking PoC projects, Keihanna offers a robust environment for innovation.
Keihanna Global Startup PoC Challenge (KPoC)
At the Keihanna Expo, under the banner of the “Keihanna Global Startup PoC Challenge (KPoC),” startups from Japan and around the world gather to implement PoCs for cutting-edge technologies that contribute to future society, with their outcomes broadcast globally from Keihanna and Yumeshima.
At the Keihanna Expo “Startup Fest,” you can experience ongoing PoCs, KGAP+, as well as initiatives in advanced medical care and mobility. Come and experience Keihanna’s distinctive strengths: its powerful research and development, its PoC-friendly environment with active resident participation, and its global connectivity.
Startups from Three Countries/Regions Tackling Challenges Using Keihanna’s Assets
n October 2024, 10 finalist companies from five countries/regions were selected from a pool of 19 companies representing eight countries/regions and participated in the final selection meeting held at the Kyoto Smart City Expo. Ultimately, six companies from three countries/regions, implementing four PoCs, were chosen.
At the Yumeshu venue, these demonstrations and experiential sessions will be showcased.
Experience Local Challenges and Solutions Through VR
Harnessing Residents’ Voices for the Future
- Experience local challenges and solutions using VR technology
- Provide highly realistic feedback to local governments
“An Advanced Resident-Participatory Approach to Solving Local Challenges”
Implementing Startup: OVA (Canada)
Target Local Challenge: Agritourism in Wazuka Town, Kyoto Prefecture
Participants: Wazuka Town Hall, Tea Farmers
Conversion of CO2 and Green Hydrogen into Liquid Fuel and Demonstration of Its Fuel Cell Utilization
Demonstrating the conversion of hydrogen gas—which is difficult to transport and store—into a convenient liquid fuel called “methanol water,” and proving the effectiveness of fuel cells using synthesized methanol.
- Implementing Startup:：ECEP (Keihanna)
- Venue: Laboratory at the Keihanna Open Innovation Center (KICK)
Detection of Frailty and Promotion of Healthy Living Using Smart Activity Sensors
A model is being tested in which newly developed, privacy-protecting sensors are installed in approximately 30 households to encourage healthy routines, detect early signs of low activity, and enhance participants’ health awareness, thereby enabling seniors to live independently.
- Implementing Startup: AltumView (Canada)
- Participants: Elderly members of “Club Keihanna”
- Venue: Members’ Homes
Health Insights at the Gym: Three Innovative Measurement Techniques
Evaluating the feasibility of health services at a training gym using the latest measurement technologies.
- A Challenge for Maintaining Vitality: Assessing the effectiveness of a sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) prevention menu through sweat analysis
- Towards a Pain-Free Daily Life: Evaluating the effectiveness of a training menu for preventing lower back pain and shoulder stiffness via foot sole imaging
- Training Evolved Through Science: Evaluating fitness effects as indicated by facial complexion
- Implementing Startups: PITTAN (Keihanna), Suntory Wellness (Keihanna, etc.), SG-AITEK (Taiwan)
- Participants: Members of “Club Keihanna”
- Venue: Keihanna Training Gym
Coordinators with extensive technical expertise and experience have engaged in multiple discussions with startups, identified the optimal collaborators for each PoC, and have been preparing for several months to concretize the PoC plans together with the startups.
Startup Fest
Experience the Future Society Through Startups
In April 2025, the highly anticipated Expo will finally commence!
On July 25, the Keihanna Expo Startup Fest will be held at Keihanna Plaza!
Not only will we showcase how KPoC startups are using cutting-edge technology to solve challenges, but we will also bring together global deep-tech startups, Japan’s societal challenges, and problem-solving ideas from the next generation in Keihanna— the post-Expo city aiming for a seamless society.
This will be a day to experience and contemplate the future society together.
PoC Challenge Presentations
Presentations and exhibitions of four PoC projects,Includes interactive demos.
Reverse Pitch
Companies and organizations seeking collaboration with startups and researchers will present their themes and challenges.
Global Startup Pitch
Startups from Japan and abroad participating in KGAP+ Batch 13 will pitch and exhibit their innovations.
Problem-Solving Contest by International Student Teams
Several teams will develop and present solutions to social issues.
The winning team will carry out a PoC implementation.
University Incubators Panel Discussion
Presentations on entrepreneurship programs and challenges.Discussions and interactions with the audience to gain insights.
High School Business Idea Workshop
Students and researchers will provide advice on science-based business ideas.
The concept of the Osaka-Kansai Expo is “People’s Living Lab” (a testing ground for future society).
As a concurrent and collaborative event with the Osaka Expo, the Keihanna Expo has a responsibility to inherit the experimental results built by pioneers and provide a platform for their implementation in society as a Post-Expo City.
While Osaka’s Yumeshima presents the grand stage, the Keihanna Expo will reveal what happens behind the scenes.
This event is not only for those interested in startup initiatives but also for companies looking to expand their resources. We invite you to take this opportunity to join us.
