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News

2025.12.22

[International Research Program] Renaissance Philanthropy Opens Applications for BiTS (Venture Director Pre-Selection Program)

Message

Today, the world faces many social challenges, including climate change, environmental pollution, infections, and an aging society with a declining birthrate.

In order to solve these serious global challenges while elevating technologies as the engine of economic growth, the Global Startup Campus (GSC) Initiative aims at new startup creation by promoting deep tech research.


The most advanced innovation environment will be established in Shibuya and Meguro in Tokyo to create a practical stage where domestic and overseas innovation professionals of the next generation, such as outstanding researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors, can freely pursue their activities without being bound by traditional values and existing organizational rules.


In this environment, technologies will be developed seamlessly for social implementation through which startups from Japan will grow significantly and play an active role globally to create the future of Japan and the world.

Mission

To develop a hub for a world-
class innovation ecosystem, in
collaboration with domestic and
overseas organizations

To create startups that thrive
globally through environmental
improvement for promoting entrepreneurship, growth, and development by exploiting the results of R&D in the deep tech field

Mission Illustration

Social and Economic Impact by
Startup Creation

Solving social challenges

Accelerated efforts to address climate
change (clean energy etc.), healthcare (establishment of new therapies etc.),
labor shortages (humanoid robots etc.),
and others through business creation by exploiting new technologies

Innovation for economic growth

Contribution to GDP, stock markets, and major companies to promoting innovation

* Startups account for 44% of the total market capitalization of S&P 500 of the U.S., and 62% of
the amount of investments in R&D made by
U.S.-listed companies. [Ilya Strebulaev, “What It Takes to Build a Unicorn”]

* The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) announced a proposal about startups. ["Vision
for Startup Breakthrough," 2022]

Increase in wages

Contribution to increase in wages

* The average annual salary among the high-
growth startups exceeds that of listed
companies (Startups: 7.30 million yen, Listed companies: 6.33 million yen, 2023) [Nikkei
Shimbun, "NEXT Unicorn Survey"]

Economic security

Securing economic independence and competitive advantage, and strengthening supply chains through the utilization of advanced critical technologies.

* Domestic case: Terra Drone is a company that operates the business of in-house developed
drones for surveying and inspection and the traffic management system for them, and is adopted by the Key and Advanced Technology R&D through
the Cross Community Collaboration Program (K Program) for traffic management technology, including the one for small unmanned aircraft that would be usable at the time of disasters/
emergency situations.

Primary Activities

Support for applied R&D

・ Supporting applied R&D in the deep
tech field
・ Support, along with venture building, from the early stages of research,
including thorough market
feedback

Venture building

・ Implementing global-level venture building
(providing business management
know-how, market research,
acquisition of intellectual property rights, etc.)
・ Collaboration with domestic and overseas VC firms, and startup
support organizations

Talent development etc.

・ Fellowship programs are being implemented to cultivate key talent essential for ecosystem-building, including outstanding researchers, startup founders, and VCs.
・ Research and study on the domestic
and overseas trends in R&D related to
advanced technologies

Community development

・ Promoting interaction through events and others for the formation of
domestic and overseas networks.

Pilot Activities

Pilot activities are being conducted ahead of the facility opening and the establishment of the operating entity, serving as a catalyst to attract top talent and investment from around the world.

1

International
Research Programs
2

Venture Builder
Programs

3

Talent Development
(Fellowship) Programs

1

International Research Programs to attract researchers and Investors

Scale of the Programs:
Around 21 billion yen in total

International research is conducted in collaboration with foreign universities, etc.
under socially impactful innovative themes
in order to draw talents and funds globally.

Programs with the following features are being developed.

  • Innovative themes in the deep tech
    field that appeal to global researchers
    and companies are identified.
  • Venture Directors (VDs), who
    manage with a focus on commercialization, make swift decisions.
  • Industry Advisors, such as interested VCs and companies, are appointed to incorporate market feedback.
  • Mechanisms are introduced to gather breakthrough ideas from innovative young talent.
2

Venture Builder Programs

Scale of the Programs:
Around 3 billion yen

Targets include not only the outcomes of international research programs, but also research seeds and startups in the deep tech field originating from Japanese universities, research institutions, and hub cities, with a focus on global expansion.

Providing commercialization support (*) through partnerships with leading domestic and international organizations experienced in bringing university research to market.

For example, support measures may include providing business management know-how to researchers aiming to become entrepreneurs, mentoring, assistance in building communities, provision of gap funding, opportunities for networking between overseas VCs and startups, and establishing collaborative frameworks with domestic universities.

Characterized by the implementation of global-level programs utilizing proven commercialization support organizations (both domestic and overseas) as partner entities

3

Talent Development Program

Scale of the Programs:
Around 3 billion yen

Developing the talent needed for strengthening the ecosystem, such as the development of PhD-CEOs, by fostering outstanding young researchers (postdocs) and others

Talent development through long-term overseas OJT
Characterized by the implementation of the programs utilizing proven external
organizations domestically and overseas as partner entities

<Outline of the Program>

  • Overseas dispatch/acceptance of young researchers (postdocs) and others
  • Dispatching young researchers to overseas universities' labs that can produce startups
  • Promoting the formation of networks by accepting outstanding overseas researchers to pioneering labs in Japan
  • From one year to a maximum of three years

*As for Japanese organizations that accept young researchers, an open call will be issued separately.

Partner Organizations for Pilot Activities

Nexus EventsStart X
Renaissance PhilanthoropySRI
Link JChan Zuckerberg Initiative
ImperialThe Engine VenturesStellar Science Foundation
NUSActivate
Hakuhodo
Todai IPC

Case Studies

Case studies about activities of projects started or startups supported through the Global Startup Campus (GSC) Initiative will be posted.

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