The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen mutual cooperation with the aim of enhancing Japan's capabilities in technological innovation and international competitiveness.
The signing ceremony was held on October 28 at the OIST campus. Attending from ATR was Hiroyuki Suzuki, Senior Executive Vice President, and from OIST was Lauren Ha, Associate Vice President for Technology Development and Innovation.
ATR is a research institute established in the Keihanna Science City to promote fundamental and innovative research in the field of telecommunications. In collaboration with universities, research institutions, and companies in Japan and abroad, ATR conducts research in areas such as speech information processing, brain information science, assistive robotics, and wireless communications.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to promote innovation by leveraging the respective strengths and networks of both institutions through research and development, industry-academia collaboration, and support for startups. OIST and ATR plan to advance a variety of cooperative activities, including creating opportunities for joint research, facilitating exchanges of researchers and engineers, and supporting collaborations with industry.
"OIST and ATR share the same vision of advancing innovation through interdisciplinary science and entrepreneurship. Our collaboration will strengthen Japan's innovation landscape and enable new synergies between research excellence and real-world application," remarked Ha. "By connecting Okinawa's growing innovation ecosystem with the Keihanna Science City and broader Kansai area, we can promote a regional partnership whose combined strengths will generate greater impact than either could achieve alone."
Suzuki added "We are very pleased and honored to have signed MoU with OIST today. Through the complementary collaboration between OIST's program supporting early-stage startups and entrepreneurs and ATR's acceleration program "KGAP+," which facilitates matching with companies and supports proof-of-concept (PoC) implementation, we will further strengthen and accelerate our support for startups with innovative technologies that address global challenges."
About the KGAP+ acceleration program
KGAP+, operated by ATR, is a three-month acceleration program based in Keihanna Science City. It aims to facilitate proof-of-concept (PoC) and pilot tests with Japanese companies and medical institutions. To date, 210 startups from 25 countries around the world have participated in the program.
Following the signing of the memorandum, the ceremony marked the first collaborative opportunity under the partnership, during which four OIST startups competed for the chance to participate in the KGAP+ program. As a result, Tlaloc Blue, which addresses challenges related to organic waste such as food waste through an AI-driven vertically integrated ecosystem, was selected. This collaboration is expected to further expand OIST's startup network and increase opportunities to test and implement products and technologies in society.
