MassRobotics was thrilled to hitch Mitsubishi Property and metropolis officers from Yokohama for the grand opening of Tech Hub Yokohama on November 11, 2024. The occasion celebrated a brand new house designed to foster collaboration and innovation throughout the area, supported by Enterprise Cafe Tokyo and Yokohama Join. This launch marks the start of a big new chapter within the world tech ecosystem, connecting startups, companies, authorities entities, and traders to spark innovation and create synergies between Boston and Yokohama.
The launch occasion kicked off with remarks from the Mayor of Yokohama in addition to Tim Rowe (founder and CEO of CIC, and MassRobotics board member), and different distinguished leaders. The opening ceremony set the tone for the way forward for Tech Hub Yokohama as an integral a part of Yokohama’s burgeoning innovation panorama. The house goals to help entrepreneurs, foster world connections, and assist create a vibrant hub for collaboration throughout industries.
Bridging Innovation: Boston X Yokohama
MassRobotics has been proud to be a part of an ongoing effort to bridge innovation between Boston and Yokohama, strengthening ties between these two innovation world facilities. The partnership with Mitsubishi Property is one in every of a number of initiatives to attach the startup ecosystems of each cities. This initiative started earlier in 2024 with a collection of occasions designed to carry collectively robotics startups and innovators from either side of the world.
In Could 2024, MassRobotics and Mitsubishi Property hosted an occasion for robotics startups in Yokohama following the ICRA convention in Japan. Then, in June 2024, the momentum continued with a reciprocal occasion hosted at MassRobotics in Boston, the place we welcomed company from Yokohama. The Tech Hub Yokohama launched on November 11 and additional solidified this collaboration, which is able to proceed all through 2024 and past.
Unleashing Yokohama’s Potential
One of many highlights of the grand opening was a panel dialogue titled “Unleash: The potential of YOKOHAMA! – The probabilities of the Yokohama ecosystem and the route it ought to take.” This partaking session explored the strengths and challenges going through Yokohama because it seeks to turn into a globally related innovation hub.
Panelists, together with Joyce Sidopoulos, MassRobotics CoFounder and Chief of Operations, mentioned crucial questions surrounding the way forward for the Yokohama ecosystem, similar to:
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of Yokohama? The consensus was that town’s sturdy company presence, with main companies that may present perception and mentorship to startups, is a key energy. Nonetheless, to actually thrive as a worldwide hub, Yokohama should give attention to constructing a dense community of numerous corporations and entrepreneurs.
- What mindset is required for Yokohama to turn into a globally related ecosystem? Panelists emphasised that Yokohama should select its focus rigorously. It can not lead each vertical, however ought to think about key industries the place it has a aggressive benefit, similar to robotics, mobility, and assistive applied sciences.
- How can stakeholders collaborate and co-create in Yokohama? Facilitating ongoing dialogue and partnerships between universities, giant corporations, entrepreneurs, authorities companies, and traders was recognized as important for nurturing innovation. Common meet-ups and focused challenges—like fixing native points similar to transportation—can catalyze collaboration and assist join completely different sectors.
Innovation Occasions at Tech Hub Yokohama
Following the opening, MassRobotics hosted two afternoons of innovation occasions at Tech Hub Yokohama on November 12 and 13, persevering with the momentum of the Boston-X-Yokohama bridge. These occasions had been half of a bigger collection aimed toward creating significant cross-border connections between startups, companies, and authorities entities. In Could and June, we centered on robotics innovation; in November, we expanded our focus to Assistive & Age Tech, Mobility, and Local weather Expertise.
Assistive & Age Tech | November 12, 2024
The Assistive & Age Tech occasion centered on the position of robotics and AI in enhancing the standard of life for ageing populations. The session introduced collectively healthcare professionals, authorities representatives, and tech innovators to discover the challenges confronted by the aged and the potential of expertise to unravel these challenges.
Key Highlights:
- Presentation by Professor Ando Takatoshi, College of Setting and Data Sciences, Yokohama Nationwide College
- Improvements in robotics and AI which might be remodeling take care of the ageing and disabled inhabitants. Startup pitches included: Yukai Engineering, Xela Robotics, UnOrthoDOKS Applied sciences, Tatum Robotics, Glidance and Yokohama Metropolis College Faculty of Drugs
- Alternatives to community with professionals, startups, and traders enthusiastic about the way forward for assistive expertise.
The Way forward for Mobility session was devoted to exploring the newest developments in transportation applied sciences. From robotics to AI, this session featured displays from business leaders and startup innovators who’re pushing the boundaries of mobility options.
Okayey Highlights:
- Keynote audio system featured Mitsubishi Electrical and NAGOYA WORKS Open Innovation Dept.
- Startups introduced their options to rising mobility challenges, significantly round autonomous transport and related autos. Startup pitches included: Humatics, Code Steel, Opteran, Haply and ChinoGijutsu
- A networking session facilitated invaluable connections between mobility innovators, finish customers, and policymakers.
Local weather Expertise | November 13, 2024
We hosted a session on Local weather Expertise, with a particular give attention to the position of robotics and AI in addressing local weather challenges. The occasion introduced collectively environmental innovators, entrepreneurs, and authorities representatives to debate sustainable options for a altering world.
Key Highlights:
- Keynotes included Chihiro Ohhigashi, Chief Officer JETRO and J-Energy
- Modern local weather tech options being developed by startups to handle environmental challenges. Startup pitches included: Radmantis , Kitsuitech and Aladdin
- Networking alternatives allowed for collaborations between traders, entrepreneurs, and authorities companies.
Wanting Ahead
The Tech Hub Yokohama is just the start of a a lot bigger imaginative and prescient to foster collaboration between Japan and the USA, significantly within the fields of robotics, AI, mobility, and local weather expertise. Via occasions like these and partnerships with organizations like Enterprise Cafe and CIC, MassRobotics is dedicated to constructing bridges that join innovators from either side of the Pacific.
As we glance forward, MassRobotics will proceed to help startups, traders, and companies throughout the globe to construct the way forward for expertise.
Keep tuned for extra thrilling developments from Tech Hub Yokohama and MassRobotics as we proceed to work along with our companions to make the world a extra related and modern place!
Connecting with Enterprise Cafe and CIC
Along with the actions in Yokohama, MassRobotics additionally participated within the grand opening of CIC and Enterprise Cafe in Fukuoka, Japan on November seventh. The occasion featured quite a lot of tech classes and offered a novel alternative to attach with the Enterprise Cafe International staff and our pals at CIC Boston. We look ahead to constructing on these relationships as we proceed our efforts to help innovation throughout each areas.
This collaboration continued as we introduced a number of MassRobotics startups from the Tech Hub Yokohama launch to the Enterprise Cafe Tokyo occasion on Thursday, Nov 14 extending the attain of our shared mission to foster world innovation.
CIC Tokyo Enterprise Cafe offered a discussion board for an Worldwide Robotics Mixer The place a number of of our MassRobotics startups, in addition to Japanese robotics startups gave 3 minute pace pitches which was adopted by a night of networking.
Keep related with MassRobotics for extra updates and alternatives to interact with the modern tech ecosystem in each Japan and the United States!
