Exploring Regional University Initiatives and Startups with Tanaka from Scheme Verge
On September 16, 2025, Kazunari Tanaka, a board member of Scheme Verge, will participate in a public symposium hosted by the Young Academy of the Japan Science Council. The event titled "Utilizing Regional Characteristics: University Initiatives and Dual Promotion of Academia and Startups" aims to address various contemporary challenges faced by local communities, including declining birth rates, an aging society, changes in industrial structures, technological innovations, and environmental issues.
As communities grapple with increasingly complex challenges, universities play a vital role as knowledge centers, working to repay society with academic insights derived from their research. Furthermore, universities are receiving attention for their contributions to industry creation through societal implementation of research findings, with university-generated startups emerging as a prominent method for fostering innovation. These startups are expected to create new value in local economies and lifestyles by leveraging regional characteristics and needs, and transforming academic research into applications through entrepreneurial ventures.
The symposium will explore how universities collaborate with communities to tackle pressing issues and will further discuss the potential of university-driven startups as a means to address these challenges. The event will provide a platform for dialogue about the emergence of innovative startups responding to social issues and will also delve into the intersection of researchers' careers and the future of local communities, looking for the evolving societal roles universities can assume. Moreover, the Young Academy of the Japan Science Council is actively compiling insights gained from interviews with researchers and analyses of domestic and international trends to encourage the dual advancement of startups and academic initiatives.
The event will be held at the Toki Messe Niigata Convention Center, located in Niigata City, Japan, from 14:00 to 17:30. It is open to anyone interested, with a maximum capacity of 80 attendees in-person and up to 300 participants online via Zoom. Participation is free, and there is no need for prior registration. Attendees wishing to participate in person simply need to arrive at the venue, while those opting for online attendance can join through a provided link or Zoom meeting ID (994 7572 1246). Please note that online participants will be responsible for their internet costs.
The program will feature a variety of discussions and presentations focusing on how universities can leverage local characteristics and partnerships to drive innovation and support regional needs. The event will kick off with opening remarks from Tomoki Maekawa, a member of the Japan Science Council, followed by introductions to the symposium’s objectives and activities from Yu Onodera, another member of the council.
In the first session, titled 'Leveraging Local Characteristics: University Initiatives,' several experts will report their work related to regional collaboration, including Keichiro Okamoto from Niigata University and others representing various facets of academia focused on local development. The second session, themed 'Promoting Innovation through Academia and Startups,' will include contributions from leaders in the startup ecosystem, such as Ayumi Fujimoto and Tanaka himself. This session will highlight innovations emerging from the synergy between academic research and startup initiatives.
Lastly, the day will conclude with a discussion session aimed at synthesizing insights from the day's activities. With this symposium, the Young Academy of the Japan Science Council is set to stimulate discussions on the critical connection between academia and local communities, paving the way for future innovations that could emerge from this collaboration.
As communities grapple with increasingly complex challenges, universities play a vital role as knowledge centers, working to repay society with academic insights derived from their research. Furthermore, universities are receiving attention for their contributions to industry creation through societal implementation of research findings, with university-generated startups emerging as a prominent method for fostering innovation. These startups are expected to create new value in local economies and lifestyles by leveraging regional characteristics and needs, and transforming academic research into applications through entrepreneurial ventures.
The symposium will explore how universities collaborate with communities to tackle pressing issues and will further discuss the potential of university-driven startups as a means to address these challenges. The event will provide a platform for dialogue about the emergence of innovative startups responding to social issues and will also delve into the intersection of researchers' careers and the future of local communities, looking for the evolving societal roles universities can assume. Moreover, the Young Academy of the Japan Science Council is actively compiling insights gained from interviews with researchers and analyses of domestic and international trends to encourage the dual advancement of startups and academic initiatives.
The event will be held at the Toki Messe Niigata Convention Center, located in Niigata City, Japan, from 14:00 to 17:30. It is open to anyone interested, with a maximum capacity of 80 attendees in-person and up to 300 participants online via Zoom. Participation is free, and there is no need for prior registration. Attendees wishing to participate in person simply need to arrive at the venue, while those opting for online attendance can join through a provided link or Zoom meeting ID (994 7572 1246). Please note that online participants will be responsible for their internet costs.
The program will feature a variety of discussions and presentations focusing on how universities can leverage local characteristics and partnerships to drive innovation and support regional needs. The event will kick off with opening remarks from Tomoki Maekawa, a member of the Japan Science Council, followed by introductions to the symposium’s objectives and activities from Yu Onodera, another member of the council.
In the first session, titled 'Leveraging Local Characteristics: University Initiatives,' several experts will report their work related to regional collaboration, including Keichiro Okamoto from Niigata University and others representing various facets of academia focused on local development. The second session, themed 'Promoting Innovation through Academia and Startups,' will include contributions from leaders in the startup ecosystem, such as Ayumi Fujimoto and Tanaka himself. This session will highlight innovations emerging from the synergy between academic research and startup initiatives.
Lastly, the day will conclude with a discussion session aimed at synthesizing insights from the day's activities. With this symposium, the Young Academy of the Japan Science Council is set to stimulate discussions on the critical connection between academia and local communities, paving the way for future innovations that could emerge from this collaboration.
About Scheme Verge
- - Company Name: Scheme Verge Inc.
- - Head Office: 401, HiRAKU GATE, 2-3-10 Mukogawa, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- - Management: CEO: Taki Kaminari, Director: Kazunari Tanaka.
- - Establishment: July 2018.
- - Website: Scheme Verge
- - Business Registration: Registered Travel Agency No. 2-8136 by the Governor of Tokyo (Type II Travel Agency).
- - Business Activities: Design, development, and provision of urban and transportation solutions; research and proposals on related technological, societal, policy, and international issues; and development, sale, and lease of information processing, communication, and provision services and software.
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