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Japan - U.S.
INNOVATION AWARDS
Recognizing the best of innovation and entrepreneurship
in Japan – U.S. business
Thursday, July 16th, 2026, 10:30 AM - 5:00 P.M.
We look forward to seeing you at this year's
Japan-U.S. Innovation Awards!
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center
10:30am – 5:00pm
2026 Keynote Speaker
Jim Adler | Founder and General Partner, Toyota Ventures
Jim Adler is the founder and general partner of Toyota Ventures, responsible for setting the strategic direction and leading the firm’s investment activities. In addition to serving on the board of directors for Toyota Ventures, he also serves as an executive advisor at Toyota Research Institute (TRI).
He is a member of the board of directors for several Toyota Ventures portfolio companies, including Intuition Robotics, Moodify, Revel, and SLAMcore. He is also a board observer for Burro and Joby Aviation.
2026 Special Presentation
To be announced soon!
What’s New
Five Breakthrough Japanese Startups Selected for the 2026 Japan–U.S. Innovation Awards Innovation Showcase
The Japan Society of Northern California announced five Japanese startups selected for the 2026 Innovation Showcase, chosen from a highly competitive field of 50 nominated companies representing some of Japan’s most promising emerging technologies.
The 2026 Innovation Showcase honorees are:
- HACARUS (Artificial Intelligence)
- I Peace, Inc. (Regenerative Medicine)
- KORTUC (Cancer Therapeutics)
- Ookuma Diamond Device (Advanced Semiconductors)
- Pale Blue (Space Technology)
Innovation Salon
Innovation Salon – Tokyo Event: シリコンバレー最前線・AIで変わる日本企業のビジネス戦略
The evolution of AI is no longer limited to a few IT companies, but is influencing a wide range of fields including retail, e-commerce, supply chain, and fintech, and is fundamentally changing the way business is conducted.
Through the networks and case studies in Silicon Valley, a resident and former resident of Silicon Valley will explain how large Japanese companies should embrace this trend of AI and establish a competitive advantage on a practical level.
