Okayama University Hosts NEDO Business Briefing Event for 2025 Initiatives

Overview

On December 16, 2025, Okayama University (headquartered in Okayama City, President: Yasuyuki Nasu) organized an event titled "NEDO Business Briefing" at its Tsushima Campus' Co-Creation Innovation Lab (KIBINOVE). The purpose of this briefing was to introduce projects and regulations to be implemented by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in the fiscal year 2026.

NEDO serves as a core supportive agency in Japan, focused on stimulating industrial and energy technology through various support systems aimed at enhancing collaboration between researchers and industries.

Approximately 20 participants attended the briefing, primarily consisting of university researchers and members from member corporations of OI-Start. Throughout the session, Akira Shimizu, a specialist investigator overseeing NEDO's newly established integrated consultation point in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, presented invaluable information about NEDO's extensive range of projects and systems. The discussions spanned from supporting the creation of research seeds to nurturing startups, social implementation, and matchmaking assistance. Attendees eagerly absorbed insights into the characteristics of these initiatives, application points, and practical perspectives for utilization.

In addition to university representatives, industry-university cooperation coordinators took part, fostering discussions around partnership possibilities and the robust support systems available for researchers and firms. Furthermore, a personalized consultation session was held on the same day, allowing participants to seek direct advice based on their research themes or business ideas regarding the applicability of these systems and how to advance preparations for applications. Participants shared feedback such as, "I gained a deeper understanding of the support systems, providing clarity for the next steps," and "it's reassuring to know we have consistent support from research to commercialization."

Looking ahead, Okayama University plans to strengthen its utilization of NEDO support systems to accelerate social implementation of research outcomes and the development of startups. The university also aims to reinforce partnerships between academia, industry, government, and financial sectors, further enhancing its supportive framework for local businesses and researchers.

Event Snapshot

The Co-Creation Innovation Lab (KIBINOVE) at Okayama University served as the venue for this important briefing, highlighting the innovative efforts taking place at the institution.

References

As Okayama University strengthens its status as a core regional and distinctive research university, it continues to make strides in contributing towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and was awarded a special prize at the first Japan SDGs Awards. Stay tuned for further developments from this innovative institution as it works towards a sustainable future for both the region and the world.