Japan - U.S.
2021 Innovation Awards Symposium
Combining the best of Japanese creativity and American entrepreneurial skill to create unimagined opportunities
Part A: Thursday, July 8 (U.S.) / Friday, July 9 (Japan) Part B: Thursday, July 15 (U.S.) / Friday, July 16 (Japan) 
Zoom
4:30 – 7:30 pm PDT / 8:30 – 11:30 am JST
Combining Japanese Creativity and American Entrepreneurship
The Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium is the signature event of the Innovation Awards Program, organized by the Japan Society of Northern California in cooperation with the US – Asia Technology Management Center of Stanford University.
Each year, two companies (one each from Japan and the U.S.) receive the SunBridge Emerging Leader award for technological innovations deemed to be disrupting their markets.
2021 Keynote Speaker
July 15, 2021 (US) / July 16, 2021 (Japan)
Tomoko Namba | Founder & Executive Chairman, DeNA Co., Ltd.
南場 智子 | 株式会社ディー・エヌ・エー 代表取締役会長
Tomoko Namba founded DeNA Co. Ltd. in Tokyo in 1999 and, as CEO, built the firm into one of Japan’s most prominent technology conglomerates. She stepped down from the position in 2011 while remaining an active board member and a key executive leader at the company. Namba became DeNA’s Chair in June 2015. She also recently co-founded Delight Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, and serves as one of the Managing Partners.
Namba has been part of the Growth Strategy Conference, an advisory body to the Japanese Cabinet, and promotes entrepreneurship in the country. This year, Namba again made history when she became the first-ever woman named to be a Vice-Chair of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) in the 75-year history of the nation’s most influential business association.
1986年マッキンゼー・アンド・カンパニーに入社。1990年ハーバード・ビジネス・スクールにてMBAを取得し、
1996年にマッキンゼーでパートナー（役員）に就任。1999年に株式会社ディー・エヌ・エーを設立し、
現在は代表取締役会長を務める。2015年より横浜DeNAベイスターズオーナー。著書に「不格好経営」。
Prior Winner Report
Date: July 8, 2021 (US) / July 9, 2021 (Japan)
Michael Tso | CEO & Co-Founder, Cloudian
マイケル・ツォ | CEO兼共同創業者、クラウディアン
Michael holds 36 patents and has been a technology trailblazer for over 25 years. Prior to Cloudian, Michael co-founded Gemini Mobile Technologies, a leader in telco messaging systems. At Inktomi, he developed an e-commerce search engine and the world’s first wireless data congestion control protocol. At Intel, Michael invented Narrowband Sockets, starting the ringtone download industry. Michael’s data synchronization patents propelled IntelliSync into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. At Xerox PARC, he developed the first wireless, location aware, wearable touch tablet. Michael graduated from MIT with MS and BS degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and a minor in Economics.
マイケルは36の特許を保有し、25年以上にわたってテクノロジーの先駆者であり続けています。クラウディアンの創業前は、通信事業者向けメッセージングシステムのリーダー Gemini Mobile Technologies を共同設立、Inktomiでは、Eコマース検索エンジンと世界初のワイヤレスデータ輻輳制御プロトコルを開発しました。Intelでは、Narrowband Socketsの発明や、着メロのダウンロード業界を立ち上げに貢献しました。また、データ同期に関する特許を取得し、IntelliSync を数十億ドル規模の企業に成長させています。Xerox PARCでは、世界初のワイヤレスで位置情報を認識するウェアラブルなタッチタブレットを開発しました。MITでコンピュータサイエンスと電気工学の修士号と学士号を取得し、副専攻は経済学。
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