Three companies with outstanding optical
technology –
Beyond Optical Medical
Technologies, Ectobrain Devices and Catana Corporation –
presented
groundbreaking ideas and are awarded for their business
plans
HAMAMATSU, Japan,
March 5,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Central Japan Startup
Ecosystem Consortium is pleased to announce that Photonics
Challenge 2025, a business contest that supports the expansion of
optical technology applications by startups and small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) nationwide that seek to create new
value in society, was successfully held in Hamamatsu City.
The Central Japan Startup Ecosystem is comprised of Aichi
prefecture, Nagoya City and
Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka-prefecture and provides everything a
startup needs – from highly trained workers in many specialized
fields to opportunities to conduct feasibility studies with leading
companies. There are also accelerator programs, financial support
systems, innovative university seeds, and collaborative
partnerships with ecosystems outside of Japan and also attract a wide range of
entrepreneurs to this region.
Against this backdrop, Photonics Challenge is an annual
competition sponsored by the Graduate University School for the
Creation of New Photonics Industries. This year marked its sixth
year and is the only business plan contest in Japan that specializes in optical technology.
Seven finalists, selected from among applicants from all over
Japan, presented their business
plans at the final judging held on February
27 at Entetsu Hall in Hamamatsu City, after months of
mentoring. Beyond Optical Medical Technologies, Ectobrain
Devices and Catana Corporation successfully presented their
groundbreaking ideas and were awarded for their respective business
plans.
The awards were presented by the Chairman of the Judging
Committee, Hiroyasu Ito, President
of Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics
Industries.
For the 2025 Photonics Challenge, a new category was established
for "Best Idea", and applicable to individuals who have a
passionate vision and business idea, including college or technical
school students. Three individuals presented their ideas, and the
winner will be provided opportunities to hone their
entrepreneurship skills.
The 2025 Photonics Challenge winners are as follows:
1. Best Business Award – prize of one million yen – Awarded to Beyond Optical
Medical Technologies
2. Best Challenge Award - prize of 800,000 yen – Awarded to Ectobrain Devices
3. Shizuoka SME Excellence Award - prize of 300,000 yen - This award is for applicants whose
base of operations is in Shizuoka Prefecture and was awarded to
Catana Corporation
4. Observer Award – prize of 300,000 yen - Awarded to HarvestX
5. Best Idea Award – prize of 200,000 yen – Awarded to ASA-e
Profile of Award Winners
Best Business Award – Beyond Optical Medical
Technologies
Beyond Optical Medical Technologies is developing a new surgical
platform that uses near-infrared spectroscopic imaging to see deep
inside the body during surgery. This allows surgeons to visualize
tissues and structures that are normally invisible, reducing the
risk of complications. Nariaki
Okamoto of Beyond Optical Medical Technologies said,
"Surgery today faces many complications, and fewer young people are
pursuing it as a career. I believe collaboration between medicine
and engineering is key to advancing surgical techniques, and I hope
to create a future where surgeries are safer and more reassuring
for everyone."
Best Challenge Award - Ectobrain Devices
Ectobrain Devices is developing smart glasses to help
Parkinson's patients walk more easily and avoid falls. Parkinson's
patients often suffer from walking difficulties (gait disturbances)
that are not effectively treated by existing medications. These
glasses will automatically adjust to the patient's needs, providing
real-time assistance. Yu Nagashima
of Ectobrain Devices said, "We are planning to launch as a startup
from Hamamatsu University School of Medicine and will be
registering the company next week, so I am very encouraged to
receive this award."
Shizuoka SME Excellence Award - Catana Corporation
Catana Corporation is pursuing international standardization
(ISO/IEC) for their real-time lossless data compression technology,
which is designed to reduce storage, bandwidth, and power
consumption in industries like automotive, manufacturing,
healthcare, and infrastructure. While already used in Japan, global adoption, particularly in the
automotive sector with the goal of "installation in all
commercially available vehicles," requires meeting international
standards demanded by overseas manufacturers. Nobuo Fujita, CEO & CTO of Catana
Corporation said, "This is the first time we have participated in a
business contest, so I'm very pleased to have won. I'm truly glad I
participated because I received ideas and comments on the plan we
presented."
https://www.catana.co.jp/en/
Observer Award – HarvestX
HarvestX developed a system that uses multispectral cameras and
AI to monitor strawberry growth, combined with a robot that
automatically pollinates the plants. HarvestX plans to expand the
technology to other crops. Yuki
Ichikawa, Representative Director and CEO from HarvestX
said, "I was actually just networking with other companies and had
just entered the room when the award announcement was made. That
just goes to show how passionate the other companies are, and this
is a great opportunity to quickly find potential
collaborators."
https://harvestx.jp/en/
Best Idea Award – ASA-e
Yoshihiro Asada is a 1st year
graduate student at Toyohashi University of Technology in Aichi
Prefecture. Inspired by his grandfather who was diagnosed with
diabetes, Yoshihiro is working to control soybeans without raising
sugar levels so those suffering from the same condition can enjoy
them. By controlling the components of soybeans using sensor data,
ASA-e increases the sweetness of soybeans without raising blood
sugar levels. Yoshihiro Asada said,
"I will make further efforts to become a successful entrepreneur,
and I would appreciate your continued support."
Other Participating Finalists
(Business Category)
Deep Sensing
Deep Sensing is building robots that use AI to automatically
scan underground structures without digging. These robots use radar
to see inside, helping to identify missing persons during natural
disasters or improve aging infrastructure.
SEtech
SEtech is developing a new type of sensor that reduces the
burden on AI systems by processing information directly on the
sensor itself. This "Anti-Imaging" approach reduces power
consumption and data volume with a suite of sensors.
https://setech.co.jp/
Three-labs Inc.
Three-labs is a startup from Nagoya Institute of Technology
using a new "Pulse Laser Grinding" (PLG) technology to re-sharpen
cutting tools. Their laser-based method is more precise than
traditional grinding wheels, allowing them to re-sharpen tools that
couldn't be re-sharpened before, saving manufacturer's cost and
reducing waste.
https://three-labs.com/
(Idea Category)
Mirai Iryo Innovators
Working towards a future without nerve damage during surgery
through the use of Raman spectroscopy, which is based on the
interaction of light with the chemical bonds of a substance.
Ryo Igarashi
Designing glasses for people who suffer from light sensitivity
that act as sunglasses but without the dark lenses.
Other event highlights
During the final deliberations, six of the past Photonics
Challenge finalists each presented their business, introduced their
current situation, and how far they have come since winning. These
companies included:
WIZRAY
https://wizray.jp/
Photon-Labo
http://photon-labo.jp/
Archilys
https://www.archilys.com/ArchilysCorp/ArchilysCorporation.html
Astech
https://www.astechk.co.jp/
Miibio
https://www.mii-bio.com/
Pi Photonics
https://www.piphotonics.com/en/
About the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem
In July 2020, Aichi prefecture,
Nagoya City and Hamamatsu City in
Shizuoka-prefecture became one of the four regional Startup
Ecosystem Global Base Cities groups designated nationwide by the
Japanese Cabinet Office.
There are 848 startups in Central
Japan, of which 209 are university-launched. An estimated
100.8 billion yen (from 2020 to 2024)
of funds have been raised, in addition to accelerator programs,
financial support systems, and innovative university
seeds.
Collaborative partnerships with Station F, INSEAD, BLOCK71,
Paris &Co, Bpifrance, Venture
Café, Plug and Play, Israel Innovation Authority, Tsinghua
University, China Medical University, National
University of Singapore, the University
of Texas at Austin, Stanford
University, North Carolina State
University, University of
Nebraska and the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
attract a diverse range of entrepreneurs to the region.
For more information, please visit
https://central-startup.jp/en/
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