NEDO and Kawasaki City Establish New Support Center for Entrepreneurs
March 29, 2019
On March 18, 2019, NEDO and Kawasaki City established a new support facility for entrepreneurs called the Kawasaki-NEDO Innovation Center or K-NIC.
Targeting startups entering new business fields as well as entrepreneurs conducting R&D on unique technologies in growing fields who now seek to commercialize, K-NIC will provide necessary assistance to obtain information, financing, and staffing, as well as realize business partnerships. By accelerating commercialization and growth speed, K-NIC aims to contribute to the establishment of an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
At the opening ceremony, NEDO Chairman Hiroaki Ishizuka delivered remarks noting his hope that K-NIC would make Kawasaki City a mecca for entrepreneurs and open innovation and, together with NEDO, contribute to the creation of innovation and the strengthening of Japan’s industrial competitiveness.
After the opening ceremony, events open to the public were held which included a matching session on the “Kawasaki model” of intellectual property and a pitch session involving R&D-based startups based in Kawasaki as well as other startups which have previously participated in NEDO support programs.
In the future, K-NIC will organize events and seminars to promote exchanges of people and information with the involvement of entrepreneurs, companies, investors, and researchers.
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NEDO Chairman Hiroaki Ishizuka
delivering remarks -
Ribbon-cutting ceremony
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"Kawasaki model" intellectual property matching session
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Pitch session for R&D-based startups