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Hiroshima Launchpad: North America 2025

The CIC Institute, headquartered in Toranomon, Tokyo, is spearheading an initiative called Hiroshima Launchpad: North America 2025. This program aims to assist startups from Hiroshima in their efforts to penetrate the North American market. Recently, six startups have been selected to participate in the program for the year 2025, which includes two companies in the preliminary research support course and four in the networking course.

Program Overview

The participating startups will benefit from various forms of support that include seminars that provide essential knowledge for business expansion, personalized mentoring from experts, and financial assistance covering expenses for up to 14 days in Boston, where they will take part in local programming designed to facilitate business growth.

The program aims not only to bolster the startups’ market entry but also to create a bridge between them and potential partners in North America.

Selected Startups Overview

Here’s a glimpse of the six selected startups and their innovative projects:

Preliminary Research Support Course

1. Eight Knot Inc.
Website
This company specializes in the development of autonomous navigation systems for small vessels. Their flagship product, Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN, automates the steering process from departure to docking, and is gaining traction in environments such as sightseeing and passenger transport. Their design allows for quick implementation across various vessel types and propulsion methods, and they collaborate with Hiroshima National College of Maritime Technology to address on-site challenges.

2. Toshihito Nomura / Department of Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University Hospital
The team is developing and marketing a rapid antigen test kit for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), an emerging disease known to spread from animals to humans. Given the lack of commercial diagnostics, they aim to produce a simple, affordable test kit that doesn’t require specialized equipment.

Networking Course

1. Eight Knot Inc. (same details as above)

2. Antibody Therapeutics Inc.
Website
This startup is focused on creating and manufacturing medications targeting diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis using antibody technology based on research from Hiroshima University. Their founder, Dr. Yokozaki, has significant experience in the field, having contributed to the discovery of integrin in the U.S., and aims to make their promising drug candidates viable for human use in just three years since inception.

3. SMILE CURVE, Inc.
Website
This medical startup is creating an early detection system for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Utilizing a unique combination of the Moire technique and 3D scanning technology, they ensure high precision in detecting spinal curvature without radiating the patient. They plan to implement their system in schools and medical institutions while also eyeing international expansion.

4. Volante Eyes (Pre-launch)
Website
This venture is developing a next-generation edge vibration monitoring system for the manufacturing sector. Unlike traditional methods that use contact sensors, their solution utilizes cameras and AI analysis to visualize subtle vibrations and automatically detect anomalies. This innovation allows for on-site diagnostics without the need for specialized knowledge, making it safer and more cost-effective while contributing to predictive maintenance across various equipment types.

CIC Institute's Mission

The CIC Institute plays a crucial role in establishing an innovation ecosystem and supporting startups, particularly those focused on deep tech. They collaborate effectively with governments, local administrations, and universities to guide startups towards global success. The Institute is involved in several governmental projects, contributing to economic development through innovation and ecosystem growth. As the demand from local governments and private enterprises rises, the CIC Institute plans to launch even more initiatives, continuing to foster innovation across its networks, including CIC Tokyo.

For more details on the Hiroshima Launchpad: North America 2025, visit CIC Institute News and the Aichi Deeptech Launchpad portal.