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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

Posted on by USJInnovate

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

*Japanese Program in Tokyo

AIの進化は、もはや一部のIT企業だけでなく、リテール、EC、サプライチェーン、フィンテックなど幅広い分野に影響を与え、ビジネスの在り方を根本から変えつつあります。

​シリコンバレーでのネットワークや事例を通じて、日本の大企業がどのようにこうしたAIの潮流を取り込み、競争優位性を確立していくべきか、シリコンバレー在住者、元駐在員が実務レベルで解説します。

▼Event Details

対面イベント (オンライン配信は予定しておりません）
日時: 2025年5月19日（月）1:30PM – 3:00PM (1:00PM 受付開始）

会場: Tokyo Venture Capital Hub
東京都港区虎ノ門五丁目 9 番 1　麻布台ヒルズ ガーデンプラザB　5階  Lounge1

アクセス: https://www.azabudai-hills.com/assets/files/tokyo_vc_hub/tvch_access_map.pdf

プログラム

1:00-1:30 　受付 & ネットワーキング
1:30-1:35 　開会のご挨拶 Tatsuo Nakamura | President, and Founder, VALUENEX, Inc.
1:35-1:45 　 日本企業がシリコンバレーの最先端AIスタートアップを取り込む戦略 Jiyoung Choi | Chief
Operating Officer, VALUENEX
1:45-1:55 　AIによるリテール革命 Richard (Rickie) Koo | Principal, DNX Ventures
1:55-2:05　 化学素材業から見るシリコンバレー/AIの活用　Taku Sasaki | Senior Manager – Corporate R&D Center, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO.,LTD.
2:05-2:25 　パネルディスカッション・Q&A Moderator, Tetsuji Madarame | Principal Fellow, Management Headquarters, Japan Freight Railway Company
2:25-2:30      閉会のご挨拶 Michi Kaifu | CEO, Enotech Consulting & Co-Chair, Programming Committee of Japan Society of Northern California
2:30-3:00      ネットワーキング

Our Amazing Speaker

Jiyoung Choi | Chief Operating Officer, VALUENEX

Jiyoung Choi は、VALUENEX, Inc.の最高執行責任者（COO）として、シリコンバレーを拠点に日本の大企業によるシリコンバレーでのイノベーション探索活動を支援し、現地ビジネスおよび組織の拡大をリードしています。東京大学大学院化学生命工学研究科修士課程修了後、モルガン・スタンレー証券債券統括本部ポートフォリオ戦略部にて、機関投資家や事業会社向けの投資ポートフォリオ戦略構築業務に従事。Vice Presidentを歴任しました。その後、2016年にイェール大学でMBAを取得し、VALUENEXの米国連結子会社であるVALUENEX, Inc.に参画。2018年よりCOOに就任し、シリコンバレーにおけるイノベーション領域でのネットワーク構築と、日本企業の現地での事業機会創出支援に取り組んでいます。

Richard (Rickie) Koo | Principal, DNX Ventures

Richard (Rickie) Koo は、DNX Venturesのプリンシパルとして、リテールテック、マーケットプレイス、Eコマース、フィンテック、サプライチェーン分野のスタートアップへの投資を担当しています。これまでに、LEAP、AgVend、Airhouse、Whym、Catch、Prime Roots、Zūmなど数多くの注目企業への投資実績を持ちます。DNX Venturesに参画する以前は、Deloitteにてコンサルタントとして、金融、テクノロジー、サプライチェーン、通信、メディア業界のフォーチュン100企業に対しアドバイザリー業務を行っていました。学歴は、ペンシルベニア大学ウォートン・スクールでMBAを取得し、ジョージタウン大学外交学部で学士号を取得。現在は、米国および欧州のスタートアップが日本市場へ進出する際の支援も積極的に行っており、日米のテック業界をつなぐ役割も担っています。

Taku Sasaki | Senior Manager – Corporate R&D Center, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO.,LTD.

佐々木 拓氏は積水化学工業のコーポレートR&D担当部長として新規開発プロジェクトの事業化・R&Dの将来戦略策定などに従事しています。積水化学工業に入社後、一貫してエレクトロニクスやエネルギー分野、ナノテクノロジー関連といった研究開発や技術戦略策定に携わり、その途中でPrinceton UniversityにVisiting Scholarとして2年間出向しました。2019年からはシリコンバレーに経営企画所属：駐在員第一世代として5年間駐在。Vice Presidentとして現地オープンイノベーション活動拠点の立上げ、複数のStartUP投資（CVC投資）、新規事業創出を行ってきました。Deep-tech、Climate-tech領域に特に造詣を深め活動しており、また本業である素材・化学系のコンソーシアムをシリコンバレー現地で立ち上げた実績もあります

パネルディスカッション・Q&A Moderator – Tetsuji Madarame | Principal Fellow, Management Headquarters, Japan Freight Railway Company

日本郵船でコンテナ船/物流/貨物航空事業、企画/渉外、IT/デジタルイノベーションを担当した後、昨年秋より日本貨物鉄道（JR貨物）経営統括本部 技術企画部 プリンシパル フェロー。　加えて、4社の米国/イスラエルのVC/スタートアップに助言中。　スタンフォード大学　経営大学院修了（MBA)

Innovation Salon – Sustainability and Open Innovation: Honda’s Approach to Realigning Global Manufacturing

Posted on by Sarina Noma

INNOVATION SALON

*Hybrid Event

The US-Asia Technology Management Center (US-ATMC) is pleased to announce that this program has been designated as an “Innovation Salon” in the Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program, which is jointly produced by the US-ATMC and the Japan Society of Northern California.

For the closing keynote of the US-ATMC’s Autumn 2024 series of weekly seminars, we are very happy to welcome Ryan Harty, Division Lead of Sustainability and Business Development at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Ryan will share insights into Honda’s efforts toward clean energy, carbon neutrality, and resource circularity, focusing on how the company is driving innovation across manufacturing and supply chains in Asia.

The talk will highlight Honda’s collaborations with startups and research institutions to address environmental challenges while navigating the realignment of global manufacturing toward resilience and sustainability. Find out more on how Honda is positioning itself at the forefront of the energy transition and the future of sustainable innovation.

The US-ATMC’s 2024 Autumn seminar series on “Topics in International Technology Management | Innovations in Supply Chains and Manufacturing in Asia: Opportunities and Challenges in Realignment” begins September 2024 and continues weekly until December 3, 2024. Seminars will be held most Tuesdays, 4:30 PM – 5:50 PM.

– – –

Innovation Salons are events in the Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program, an initiative developed through a joint effort between the US-Asia Technology Management Center and the Japan Society of Northern California. As part of this initiative, the salons focus on specific topics that complement the annual Japan-U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium at which the awards are presented. The Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program is the longest running program in the Bay Area that highlights innovation and entrepreneurship links between Silicon Valley and Japan. For more information, see <https://www.usjinnovate.org>.

▼Event Details

Date & Time:
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 @ 4:30 – 5:50 PM PST

Venue:
Stanford University, Bishop Auditorium, 518 Memorial Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]

Price:
FREE!

Parking options:

  • Memorial Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
  • Lasuen St. and Roth Way, Stanford, CA 94305 [Google Map]
    • Please check parking signs carefully to ensure that permitted parking (A or C) and metered spaces are free after 4:00 PM. Paid parking is enforced around The Oval until 6:00 PM.

Agenda:
4:30 – 5:50 PM   Discussion

Our Amazing Speaker

Ryan Harty, P.Eng (AB) | Division Lead, Sustainability and Business Development BU, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Ryan Harty is Assistant Vice President of the Sustainability & Business Development business unit at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM). He is responsible for the strategy and business execution for the Honda “Triple Action to Zero” initiatives in the U.S., striving to achieve zero environmental impact by 2050.

Harty joined Honda R&D in 2001 as a body design engineer responsible for designing automotive body parts for Honda and Acura vehicles.

In May 2005, he joined the Zero Emission Vehicle testing team in Los Angeles where he helped develop hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles, solving technical, business, and policy barriers toward market success of zero emission vehicles.

In August 2011, he joined the newly formed American Honda Environmental Business Development Office as assistant manager, where he oversaw the development of energy and sustainability business initiatives.

In April 2013, Harty took on the role as a manager for Environmental Business Development and Engineering, responsible for the product, business, and policy planning of environmental business strategy for American Honda.

In April 2021, he was promoted to senior manager of the Connected, Automated, Shared, Electrified (CASE) & Energy division within the Auto Strategy business unit. In this role, he was responsible for Honda’s North American telematics and connected businesses, including HondaLink and AcuraLink app development. He also led development of product proposals, business models, and policy proposals in support of the Honda “Triple Action to Zero” environmental initiatives, which aim to achieve 100% carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, utilization of 100% clean energy, and 100% resource circulation by 2050.

In April 2023, Harty became senior manager of the Sustainability & Business Development business unit when the CASE & Energy business unit evolved to sharpen its focus around its energy and new business development responsibilities.

In February 2024, he was promoted to his current position as assistant vice president.

Harty holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Co-op) from the University of Alberta and a graduate certificate in Business Leadership from The Ohio State University.

In Partnership with

Japan-US Innovation Awards Program Announces 2024 Guest Speakers: Shilpa Kolhatkar of NVIDIA and Renee Chou of Uber

Posted on by USJInnovate

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, July 15, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program (https://www.usjinnovate.org/) proudly announces Shilpa Kolhatkar of NVIDIA as the keynote speaker, and Renee Chou of Uber as a special guest speaker, at the Awards Symposium on July 18, 2024.

Shilpa Kolhatkar is the Global Head of AI Nations at NVIDIA, who will be sharing fascinating insights on the AI partnership forged by President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida between the United States and Japan. Our special presentation topic is Uber’s Entry into the Japan Market. Renee Chou, Work and Economic Policy Manager at Uber, will be speaking on this timely matter.

Shilpa Kolhatkar is the Global Head of NVIDIA’s AI Nations, a worldwide program that helps government leaders and stakeholders develop plans to implement AI to advance national priorities and drive economic growth. She is focused on building strategic partnerships and a rich ecosystem, facilitating the adoption and growth of NVIDIA’s AI solutions and platforms across the public sector.

Prior to her work at NVIDIA, Shilpa was involved in Business Development for Cisco’s IoT solutions across major industry verticals, including: Manufacturing, Transportation, Energy, and the Public Sector. Shilpa holds a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelors in Computer Science from SJSU California.

Renee Chou is Uber’s Work and Economic Policy Manager, based in San Francisco. She is focused on promoting safety, health, well-being, and open access to work for millions of drivers and couriers on the Uber platform, with a particular interest in the APAC region. Prior to this role, Renee was the Head of Public Policy at Uber Taiwan, where she facilitated regulatory changes in the taxi and food delivery industries.

In 2017, she co-founded Taiwan’s first Digital Economy Association (DEAT) and has served as Secretary-general for 4 years. Before joining Uber, Renee led Greenpeace East Asia’s communications team. She holds a BA degree in sociology from the University of California, San Diego.

The 14th annual Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium will take place at Stanford University’s Arrillaga Alumni Center. It will include the presentation of the SunBridge-John Thomas Emerging Leader Awards to two late-stage growth companies that are transforming an industry or value chain, and the Innovation Showcase featuring five Japanese startup companies of interest to Silicon Valley and world audiences.

The U.S. winner is Joby Aviation (https://www.jobyaviation.com/), the developer of an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft intended to serve as a ridesharing service for the skies, while the Japan award goes to ispace Inc. (https://ispace-inc.com/), creators of robotic spacecraft and other technology built to map, discover, and utilize natural resources on the moon. The Showcase awardees are: AI Medical Service, Citadel AI Inc., EdgeCortix, Helical Fusion Co., Ltd., and Synspective Inc.

The Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program, the longest running annual Bay Area program celebrating the links between Silicon Valley and Japan innovation, is produced by the Japan Society of Northern California (https://www.usajapan.org/) in cooperation with the Stanford University U.S.-Asia Technology Management Center (https://asia.stanford.edu/).

Organizers:

Japan Society of Northern California (https://www.usajapan.org/)
Since its founding in 1905, the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) has advanced U.S. – Japan mutual understanding in a global context. The Society offers an array of programs and networking opportunities for people and organizations in the Bay Area with a strong interest in Japan. It is the go-to place for U.S. – Japan insights, opportunities, collaboration, and networking. The Society is a dynamic link connecting the world-renowned innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem of San Francisco/Silicon Valley to a resurgent Japan.

Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center (https://asia.stanford.edu/)
The US-Asia Technology Management Center (US-ATMC) is an industry-funded center in Stanford University under the Stanford Global Studies initiative. Established in 1992, the US-ATMC conducts education and research into innovation and emerging business trends in technology-intensive industries. Its courses and public programs provide Stanford students and the Silicon Valley community with knowledge and analytical capabilities that are important to global success in high-tech fields in the 21st century.

Registration and additional information are available at https://www.usjinnovate.org.

2024 Japan-U.S. Innovation Awards Nominations Now CLOSED

Posted on by USJInnovate

Nominations are closed for 2024. Thank you for your submissions!

Welcome! We are currently inviting anyone who would like to nominate companies for the Emerging Leader and Innovation Showcase Awards for the 2023 Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards!

The Innovation Initiative, begun in 2011, highlights an increasingly important area of cooperation between Japan and the U.S. – in particular with Northern California. Through this effort JSNC seeks to encourage productive Japan – U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship, to provide role models for future innovators and to spotlight Japanese creativity and vitality often overlooked by U.S. media. This Initiative complements U.S. – Japan government–to– government dialogue and other efforts that promote innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.

Emerging Leader Awards will be presented to a later stage Japanese and a U.S. company that demonstrates fast growth, unique, disruptive technology and a capacity to disrupt and transform an industry or value chain.

The Innovation Showcase will select up to five exciting Japanese start-up companies that exhibit noteworthy potential.

This form will allow you to nominate an American or Japanese company for recognition in one of our three award categories. Please refer to the text below for the selection criteria.

 

Selection Criteria – Emerging Leader Awards

The following five criteria will be used in identifying candidates and selecting the winners of the Emerging Leader U.S. Award and Emerging Leader Japan Award. We invite all interested parties to nominate an exciting company that fulfills most of these criteria, even if it does not match all of them.

  1. Impact of the company’s innovation. Is the company’s innovation causing a significant disruption or change in the demographics of a market or value chain? Evidence may include displacement of some earlier product or service, etc.

  2. Uniqueness. How unique is the company’s innovation for which it is being considered (i.e. a new product or service, business model, business strategy, or organizational structure)?

  3. Market validation. Objective measures of volume and growth in sales or profits, cash flows, market capitalization, and other demonstrable impacts will be considered in selecting each winner. For business model innovations, has the new business model been validated by the market?

  4. Future promise. What is the likelihood that the company will continue to grow rapidly in the future, achieve significant, sustainable long-term success, and be a leader in its industry?

  5. US – Japan business relevance. For U.S. companies, Japan should play a role in their business development strategy. For Japanese companies, the company should have a global strategy that includes the U.S. Evidence of prior U.S.-Japan interest is a plus.

 

Selection Criteria – Innovation Showcase Awards

  • Potential impact of the company’s innovation. To be highlighted as an Innovation Showcase Company, a start-up company must be incubating an innovation that is potentially disruptive or transformative. It must have an exciting idea, not just a good idea for doing profitable business.
  • Quality of the company team: Backgrounds and track records of founders, employees, advisors, and investors. Does the team include interesting or exceptional people who will be great to highlight in the Innovation Awards Symposium?
  • Likelihood of success. This criterion includes the quality of the company’s business plan and factors, such as whether the team has worked together in the past.
  • Potential relevance to Silicon Valley / U.S. business. Will the company’s innovation likely lead to closer U.S. – Japan business ties?  How and why will attendees at the Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium be interested to learn about this company?
  • Degree to which company has already received recognition in the U.S. This is usually a negative factor.  The Innovation Showcase aims to recognize innovative Japanese start-up companies that are not yet very well-known in the general Silicon Valley / U.S. business communities.  Close ties with the Japanese community of Silicon Valley are not necessarily a disadvantage.

 

Figma and Treasure Data to Receive SunBridge Emerging Leader Awards at 2023 Japan – US Innovation Awards Symposium

Posted on by Miho Greenberg

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, June 28, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — The Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program has announced that Figma from the U.S. and Treasure Data of Japan have been selected as the winners of the SunBridge Emerging Leader Award for 2023. Each year, the Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards selects one innovative high-growth company from Japan and one from the U.S. that are already beginning to transform a major industry or value chain.

The 2023 SunBridge Emerging Leader Award – U.S. winner is Figma, a web-based platform for teams that brainstorm, design and build digital products together, while the SunBridge Emerging Leader Award – Japan goes to Treasure Data, a data cloud with powerful and user-friendly tools that unite data, analytics, and business users to improve efficiency and drive growth.

The Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program, the longest running annual program in the Bay Area celebrating the links between Silicon Valley and Japan innovation, is produced by the Japan Society of Northern California in cooperation with the Stanford University U.S.-Asia Technology Management Center.

Figma Chief Product Officer Yuhki Yamashita and Treasure Data CEO and Co-Founder Kazuki Ohta will accept their awards at the 2023 Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium on July 20, 2023, which will also include a panel discussion on innovation by top executives of the two firms. The Symposium will be held in-person at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center on the Stanford University campus.

Awarded every year since 2011, prior U.S. winners of the Emerging Leader Award include: Tesla Motors (2011), Square (2012), Zoom Video Communications (2019), and Databricks (2022). Prior Japan winners include SanBio (2011), which later had Japan’s largest IPO, Line Corporation (2014), Preferred Networks (2017), which became Japan’s first unicorn, and TIER IV (2022).

The Emerging Leader Awards are sponsored by SunBridge Corporation, the premier partner and investment firm for leading enterprise IT companies to enter the Japan market. SunBridge Founder and Chairman Allen Miner helped create the Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Program 13 years ago and served as the first Chair of the Awards Program Steering Committee.

For more information about the Symposium, including speakers and participants, and to register, please visit: https://www.usjinnovate.org/

Figma
Figma is a design platform for teams who build products together. Born on the Web, Figma helps teams brainstorm, design, and build better products—from start to finish. Whether it’s consolidating tools, simplifying workflows, or collaborating across teams and time zones, Figma makes the design process faster, more efficient, and fun while keeping everyone on the same page.

Treasure Data
Treasure Data helps enterprises use their customer data to improve campaign performance, achieve operational efficiency, and drive business value with connected customer experiences. The Customer Data Cloud, Treasure Data’s suite of customer data platform solutions, integrates customer data, connects identities in unified customer profiles, applies privacy, and makes insights and predictions available for Marketing, Service, Sales and Operations to drive personalized engagement and improve customer acquisition, sales, and retention.

Organizers:

Japan Society of Northern California
Since its founding in 1905, the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) has advanced U.S.-Japan mutual understanding in a global context. The Society offers an array of programs and networking opportunities for people and organizations in the Bay Area with a strong interest in Japan. It is the go-to place for U.S.-Japan insights, opportunities, collaboration, and networking. The Society is a dynamic link connecting the world-renowned innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem of San Francisco/Silicon Valley to a resurgent Japan.

Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center
The US-Asia Technology Management Center (US-ATMC) is an industry-funded center in Stanford University under the Stanford Global Studies initiative. Established in 1992, the US-ATMC conducts education and research into innovation and emerging business trends in technology-intensive industries. Its courses and public programs provide Stanford students and the Silicon Valley community with knowledge and analytical capabilities that are important to global success in high-tech fields in the 21st century.

Registration and additional information are available on our website.

Five Japanese Startup Companies to be Featured in Innovation Showcase of 2023 Japan–US Innovation Awards Program

Posted on by USJInnovate

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, June 15, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — The Japan–U.S. Innovation Awards Program (https://www.usjinnovate.org) is excited to announce the five 2023 Innovation Showcase honorees which will be featured at the 13th Annual Japan–U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium on July 20, 2023 at Stanford University. The 2023 Innovation Showcase companies are: Final Aim, Elephantech, LegalOn Technologies, RECOTECH, and SkyDrive.

Each year, the Innovation Showcase recognizes up to five exceptional Japanese startup companies built around new technologies and innovative business ideas that have the potential for major worldwide impact. Showcase companies are selected from a pool of over 100 nominees through stringent review, discussion, and voting by the Innovation Advisory Council, a distinguished committee of venture investors, entrepreneurs, company executives, and academic experts in the U.S. and Japan (for member list, please visit: https://www.usjinnovate.org/innovation-awards-council-members/).

“We are thrilled to honor these exciting startups for their innovative leadership,” said Prof. Richard Dasher of Stanford University, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Awards Program. “These remarkable companies embody the spirit of entrepreneurship that transcends cultural differences, and they hold the promise of having a lasting impact on both Japan and the U.S. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at our Innovation Awards Program this year.”

At the Symposium on July 20, the SunBridge Emerging Leader Awards will be presented to one U.S. and one Japanese later stage high-growth firms that are beginning to transform a major industry or value chain. The program also includes timely keynote addresses on innovation topics of relevance to the U.S. and Japan. Details will follow in later press releases.

2023 Innovation Showcase Honorees:

Elephantech Inc. 
Elephantech has developed an innovative electronics manufacturing method utilizing metal inkjet printing technology that is both sustainable and cost-effective. Elephantech has raised approximately 9 billion yen in total and achieved the world’s first mass production of inkjet-printed circuit boards with a reduction in carbon footprint by 75%, in copper usage by 70%, and water consumption by 95%.

Final Aim
Final Aim, headquartered in Delaware, uses Web3 technology for its platform that allows companies to manage and execute contracts for industrial design and manufacturing. Its platform reduces cost and IP risks by providing tools that automate time-consuming processes, allow traceability of IP, and reduce tampering.

LegalOn Technologies 
LegalOn Technologies is the global leader in contract review AI. Lawyers and legal professionals at over 3,000 companies and firms globally use LegalOn to review and negotiate contracts faster and more accurately. Founded in 2017 by two corporate lawyers, the company has raised over $130M.

RECOTECH Inc. 
RECOTECH is a “ResourceTech” company that seeks to create a society without the concept of waste. Its proprietary “Material Pool System” helps manufacturers to collect, integrate and visualize waste data from their supply chain and thereby create circular supply chains that reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

SkyDrive Inc. 
SkyDrive is a leader in the field of “electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)” vehicles (flying cars). It succeeded in the first crewed flight test in Japan in 2019 and its eVTOL “SD-05” is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau certification. Its vision is to create a world in which everyone has access to eVOTLs for their daily transportation needs.

Organizers:

Japan Society of Northern California
Since its founding in 1905, the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) has advanced U.S.-Japan mutual understanding in a global context. The Society offers an array of programs and networking opportunities for people and organizations in the Bay Area with a strong interest in Japan. It is the go-to place for U.S.-Japan insights, opportunities, collaboration, and networking. The Society is a dynamic link connecting the world-renowned innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem of San Francisco/Silicon Valley to a resurgent Japan.

Stanford University US-Asia Technology Management Center
The US-Asia Technology Management Center (US-ATMC) is an industry-funded center in Stanford University under the Stanford Global Studies initiative. Established in 1992, the US-ATMC conducts education and research into innovation and emerging business trends in technology-intensive industries. Its courses and public programs provide Stanford students and the Silicon Valley community with knowledge and analytical capabilities that are important to global success in high-tech fields in the 21st century.

Registration and additional information are available on our website.

Robots Won’t Save Japan – An interview with author James Wright

Posted on by USJInnovate

Innovation Salon Event

**Online program**

In 2014, Japan’s METI estimated that Japanese nursing care robots would grow to ¥391 billion by 2025. That same year, SoftBank introduced Pepper, the world’s first humanoid robot able to recognize human faces and basic emotions, and Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced the Robot Revolution Initiative. It seemed apparent that Japan would lead the charge in creating robots for care. But have robots lived up to their promise in helping Japan face the dual challenge of an increasing aging population and staffing shortages?

Japan is not alone in dealing with the trials that come with an aging population. Many countries around the world face three major issues associated with their aging societies: a declining population, an increasing proportion of seniors, and an increasing number of single-person households. Here in California, for instance, the government issued a Master Aging Plan in 2020 to help direct resources as California’s senior population increases.

In February 2023, author and researcher James Wright published Robots Won’t Save Japan: An Ethnography of Eldercare Automation, drawing on his ethnographic research in senior living facilities in Japan. Wright joins us June 21 for a special discussion of the research behind his book, and his conclusions about the limitations of robots in caregiving settings.

英語プログラム
日本は官民あげて、高齢者介護をロボットに手伝わせようとしてきた結果、何が起こってきているでしょうか？『Robots Won’t Save Japan: An Ethnography of Eldercare Automation』（『ロボットは日本を救わない：高齢者介護自動化のエスノグラフィー』）という刺激的タイトルの本を最近出版した、James Wright によるオンラインセミナーです。

Innovation Salon – Robotics, Space Lasers, and the Information Super Highway: US-Japan Partnerships in the Space SectorRobots Won’t Save Japan – An Interview with Author James Wright

Posted on by Miho Greenberg

In the space sector, partnerships and collaboration between the US and Japan remain critically important for economic growth and national security. Both nations have enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship in many different economic sectors, beyond just space. As these national economies become more global, effective and productive partnerships become even more important. Navigating the challenges of cultural differences, language barriers, and national policy all must be considered when executing a joint partnership. 

In 2022, the global space economy was estimated at over 460 billion dollars. Much of this growth is taking place in the commercial space sector as governments, including the US and Japan, turn to commercial service providers to fill both civil and security needs. In the US and Japan, this is leading companies to seek partnerships to work together to address the bilateral opportunity.

Please join us as we consider US-Japan partnership challenges and opportunities, with a focus on the space marketplace. Mr. Michael Fletcher of MJF Consulting, LLC will moderate a panel with Mr. Sho Nakanose, CEO of the US (formerly Japanese) space robotics company GITAI, Mr. Campbell Marshall, the COO of the space based optical data network company, Skyloom Global, and Mr. Yohei Yamamoto, the VP of Strategy for Space Compass, a joint venture between the Japanese satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT and the Japanese telecommunications company NTT. Each panelist brings a unique perspective on working together between the US and Japan. Join us as they share those experiences and answer audience questions.

Innovation Salon: Living With CFIUS – How Japanese companies can navigate US regulations governing foreign investment in US technology firms

Posted on by Miho Greenberg

In 2018 the US Congress passed new legislation which significantly increased scrutiny of foreign direct investment by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The new law and a subsequent executive order have particularly serious implications for foreign investments in Silicon Valley start-ups because they lower the threshold of investments that can trigger CFIUS jurisdiction, and also expand the range of business activities that can result in CFIUS review – in particular, production of “critical technology,” involvement in “critical infrastructure,” and maintaining “sensitive personal data.” In addition, under the new law some CFIUS filings are now mandatory, with civil penalties for not making required filings.

To learn more about the implementation of the new law now in its fifth year and its implications for Japanese investors in Bay Area companies, please join the Japan Society of Northern California for a hybrid in-person and online presentation on March 14 (Tuesday) in the US and March 15 (Wednesday) in Japan. We have a great panel of experts who will share perspectives of government regulators, attorneys, and investors with our audience.

This program will cover:

  • The impact of CFIUS regulations on Japanese, Chinese and other foreign investors in Silicon Valley companies
  • How to know if an investment will be subject to review
  • Timelines and processes for successfully completing a review
  • How investors can adapt their portfolio strategy in light of CFIUS
  • Examples of how specific companies have navigated the process with technology startups in the Bay Area

We are delighted to introduce David Plotinsky and Toshi Otani as our two fantastic speakers. David Plotinsky from Morgan Lewis is the former acting chief of the US Department of Justice’s Foreign Investment Review Section, who led DOJ’s work on some of the most sensitive and complex CFIUS cases, and who now represents venture capital and private equity investors and global technology companies in CFIUS and other national security issues. Toshi Otani is a Japanese venture capital investor who has been investing in Bay Area start-ups for many decades.

Event Details:

Date/Time: March 14, 2023, 3:30pm

Venue: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP | 1 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Entrance 55 Spear St

Agenda
3:30-4:00 Registration
4:00-4:08  Larry Greenwood | Board Chair, Japan Society of Northern California – Welcome, Context and Introduction of speakers
4:08-4:18  David Plotinsky | Partner, Morgan Lewis – What is CFIUS, FIRRMA, recent trends
4:18-4:50  Moderated discussion
4:50-5:10  Q&A 
5:10-6:00  Networking
 

 

2023 Japan-U.S. Innovation Awards Nominations Now CLOSED

Posted on by Miho Greenberg

Nominations are closed for 2023. Thank you for your submissions!

Welcome! We are currently inviting anyone who would like to nominate companies for the Emerging Leader and Innovation Showcase Awards for the 2023 Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards!

The Innovation Initiative, begun in 2011, highlights an increasingly important area of cooperation between Japan and the U.S. – in particular with Northern California. Through this effort JSNC seeks to encourage productive Japan – U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship, to provide role models for future innovators and to spotlight Japanese creativity and vitality often overlooked by U.S. media. This Initiative complements U.S. – Japan government–to– government dialogue and other efforts that promote innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.

Emerging Leader Awards will be presented to a later stage Japanese and a U.S. company that demonstrates fast growth, unique, disruptive technology and a capacity to disrupt and transform an industry or value chain.

The Innovation Showcase will select up to five exciting Japanese start-up companies that exhibit noteworthy potential.

This form will allow you to nominate an American or Japanese company for recognition in one of our three award categories. Please refer to the text below for the selection criteria.