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CoA Nexus: Bridging Gaps in R&D Talent Acquisition

In a significant development for innovation in Japan, CoA Nexus, a tech startup based in Meguro, Tokyo, has been selected for the Tokyo Co-inNovators program aimed at addressing societal challenges. This initiative, funded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, focuses on fostering collaboration between startups and larger enterprises. CoA Nexus, led by CEO Kouta Nozaki, aims to better match research and development (R&D) talent through its proprietary AI platform, CoA Researcher.

Addressing Japan's R&D Challenges

The decline in Japan's R&D capabilities has become a pressing issue. An article published in Nature in October 2023 states, "Japan's research and development capabilities are no longer world-class." The report highlighted that while Japan ranked 4th globally for its quality of academic output around the year 2000, it has now dropped to 13th place. Furthermore, the proportion of young researchers under 40 in academia has decreased from nearly 40% in the 1980s to about 20% in recent years, leading to a worrying shortage of future talent in crucial R&D fields.

In response to this alarming trend, both the Japan Business Federation and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology presented recommendations in 2023 to foster and leverage PhD talent and female professionals in STEM disciplines. The need for stronger engagement with R&D personnel in industry has been underscored as an urgent priority.

The Corporate Talent Acquisition Crisis

The challenges companies face in securing skilled R&D professionals are equally concerning. According to a survey by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, over 74% of firms—both large and small—identify the recruitment of R&D talent as their most pressing issue. Our own independent survey showed that about 80% of 300 researchers are interested in side gigs. However, many companies lack the structures necessary to support such side work in R&D, creating a significant disconnect between growing talent needs and available opportunities.

How to bridge this gap and facilitate valuable connections between researchers and enterprises will be pivotal in determining Japan's competitive edge in the global market.

Insights from the CoA Nexus Project

As part of the Tokyo Co-inNovators initiative, CoA Nexus will collaborate with leading domestic chemical companies to conduct a practical experiment aimed at establishing a talent pool based on patent information.

Utilizing our advanced AI technology, the project will involve inferring and verifying researchers' email addresses from patent data, thereby creating new avenues for contacting previously hard-to-reach R&D talent. Additionally, for potential candidates who may not be an immediate fit for traditional employment, we plan to propose side projects to build relations that could eventually lead to future hiring.

Through these efforts, CoA Nexus aims to enhance the mobility of R&D personnel and provide solutions to corporate hiring challenges, contributing to the establishment of effective new systems in the workforce.

What is the Tokyo Co-inNovators Initiative?

The Tokyo Co-inNovators program encourages collaboration between startups and corporate entities to tackle societal challenges. The initiative includes several pitch events and networking opportunities that aim to connect startups with companies willing to adopt innovative solutions. The goal is to assist in the verification of concepts through mutual collaboration.

For more information: Tokyo Co-inNovators

About CoA Nexus

CoA Nexus is on a mission to revolutionize research and development, aiming for a brighter future through innovation. With a vision to unearth untapped talent in the stagnant R&D sector, CoA Nexus offers unique AI-driven insights to clients. The company is also focused on expanding its client base in the U.S. and is working diligently to grow its partnerships with deep-tech ventures globally.

CoA Researcher: A Specialized AI Matching Platform

"CoA Researcher" is the largest AI-based platform dedicated to matching capable R&D talent with job opportunities. It caters not only to domestic researchers but also to those located abroad in both academic and corporate sectors. By supporting the recruitment of skilled talent in hard-to-match areas, CoA Nexus contributes to improving the working conditions for researchers and enhancing the R&D capabilities of companies.

Researcher site: CoA Researcher
Business site: CoA Researcher for Companies

For inquiries about this initiative, please contact:
CoA Nexus, Public Relations: Harashima and Inoue.
Email: info@coanexus.com