Discover the ambitions of individuals and creative startups focused on optical technology
Three startups in Shizuoka Prefecture (Hamamatsu Pulse Co., Ltd., Pi PHOTOTONICS Co., Ltd., and eZov International) received business plan awards.
Hamamatsu city Japan, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Photonics Challenge 2024 is a business contest that supports the expansion of the application of optical technology by venture companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country that seek to create new value for society.
Photonics Challenge 2024 winners
Photonics Challenge is an annual contest sponsored by the Graduate School of Photonics Industry. This year marks the fifth time this is the only business plan contest in Japan. Japan A company specializing in optical technology.9 finalists selected from applicants from all over the country JapanAt the final judging meeting held, business plans were presented that highlighted various aspects. February 29th After 4 months of instruction, at Entetsu Hall in Hamamatsu City. Four of the nine companies are based in Shizuoka Prefecture, and three of them, Hamamatsu Pulse Co., Ltd., Pi Phototonics Co., Ltd., and eZov International, presented their business plans and received awards.
Four awards were awarded by the chairman of the jury. Hiroyasu ItoPresident of the Photonics Industry Creation Graduate School.
- Best Business Award – Award 1 million yen – Awarded by HOLODESIGN Co., Ltd.
- Best Challenge Grand Prize 1 million yen prize awarded to Hamamatsu Pulse Co., Ltd.
- Received Shizuoka Prefecture Small and Medium Enterprise Excellence Award 300,000 yen ・This award is for a work based in Shizuoka Prefecture that was awarded by Pi Phototonics Co., Ltd.
- Observer Award – Prizes 300,000 yen – Awarded to eZov International.
Finalist profile
Best Business Award – Award 1 million yen Holodesign Co., Ltd. received the award
Holodesign Co., Ltd., which innovates in laser manufacturing, is a startup from Utsunomiya University in Tochigi Prefecture. We research, develop, design, manufacture, sell, and maintain holographic optical engines for laser processing. The holographic optical engine developed by HOLODESIGN simultaneously improves the precision and speed of laser processing, contributing to higher performance and lower costs of products.
Satoshi HasegawaPresident and CEO of HOLODESIGN Co., Ltd. said, “I am very happy to receive this prestigious award.I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the judges for their high evaluation.I would also like to express my gratitude to my mentor, a professor at the Graduate School of Photonics Industry Creation. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of you, including our partners, who have helped us improve our business plans and check our presentations. We will continue to expand our business further in the future.”
Best Challenge Grand Prize – Prizes 1 million yen To Hamamatsu Pulse Co., Ltd.
Hamamatsu Pulse Co., Ltd. developed Air Revive with an eye toward the future of agriculture. This commercial air purifier suppresses storage diseases such as mold, reduces spoilage and skin damage of agricultural products, and can be used in warehouses during container transportation and storage to maintain freshness. Air Revive protects the freshness of agricultural products, increases farmers' productivity, reduces waste, and aims for more sustainable agriculture.
Hamamatsu Pulse also participated in the 2023 Shizuoka Prefecture SDGs Business Awards, which recognizes environmental businesses, and won the Governor's Award, the highest award, for its presentation on “Reforming agriculture with photocatalysts.''
Aki FuruhashiThe Hamamatsu Pulse Planning and Development Department said, “We realized the wonders of photocatalyst technology and released a product last year.This is the first product of its kind, and one of our challenges is what to do with it, but we sincerely appreciate your support.'' We look forward to seeing you. Thank you.”
https://www.h-pulse.co.jp/
Received Shizuoka Prefecture Small and Medium Enterprise Excellence Award 300,000 yen Pi PHOTONICS, Inc. receives the award
Pi PHOTONICS was founded in 2006. Takahiro Ikeda, graduated from the Photonics Industry Creation Graduate School. The company's main product “HOLOLIGHT” is a special LED light that can form various light patterns that are highly visible even from a distance. Pi PHOTONICS products are widely used in factories for safety measures, such as displaying dangerous and restricted areas near overhead cranes and in the direction of travel of industrial vehicles such as forklifts. Contributes to the prevention of industrial accidents in workplaces and manufacturing plants where hearing-impaired people work.
Tomotaka NakataniPi PHOTONICS, Inc. International Sales Headquarters said, “We are very honored to receive such a wonderful award.One of the important points is that it is important to try as many things as possible as quickly as possible.'' That's true.'' We believe that it is even more important to further increase our presence overseas. Japan In the future, various technologies will continue to be disseminated from Shizuoka and Hamamatsu to overseas countries. Pi PHOTONICS, located in Hamamatsu City, will continue to lead the times and aim to become a global company. ”
https://www.piphotonics.com/ja/
Observer Award – Prizes 300,000 yen Awarded by eZov International
eZov International's business includes manufacturing eZov, a high-efficiency photocatalytic filter with nanostructured titanium dioxide on a metal mesh to efficiently remove viruses, bacteria, chemicals, and odors from air and water. It is included.
Yukiko SuzukiCEO of eZov International said, “We are very grateful to have received such a wonderful award.Our company has just started our business, and we would like to continue to promote our business in various ways. Thank you for your continued support.” very. “
https://ezov-i.com/
Other event highlights
In the keynote speech, Professor Fumiaki IkenoSenior Researcher stanford universitystated that although light is not a final product, it is a “Key Enabling Technology” that can create new developments in a wide range of industrial fields. The key to creating innovation is “manufacturing” (creating business) as well as “monozukuri” (pursuing excellence through pride, technology, innovation and improvement), and “developing human resources” is essential to realizing this. He emphasized that there is. .
One example is laser fusion, which is attracting attention as a potential new energy source. EX Fusion, Japanese We are the only startup in this field, with our research base in Hamamatsu City, and are working on the energy revolution and industry creation through joint research with the Graduate School of Photonics Industry Innovation.
There are also other startups working on research such as quantum computers and photocatalysts, aiming to solve various social issues. J-Startup Central's Happy Quality Inc. and his ANSeeN Inc. were also selected as finalists in previous Photonics Challenge competitions.
As a member of the Central Japan startup ecosystem, Hamamatsu City will continue to attract entrepreneurial talent from around the world and create new industries through startups.
Other participating startups
University of Tokyo Department of Physics, Faculty of Science
Business plan centered on fiber optic single photon light sources
https://quantum-optics.wixsite.com/photonlab
Quantum Data Co., Ltd.
The business plan focused on the development and dissemination of quantum cryptographic optical communication technology that utilizes quantum mechanical properties that cannot be deciphered even with the advent of quantum computers.
https://www.quantumdata.co.jp/
Evcare Co., Ltd.
The business plan focused on providing quantitative evaluation and analysis services for hair biomarkers faster and at lower cost than ever before.
https://evcare.co.jp/
Milde
A business plan focused on a drug discovery support platform using high-efficiency Raman scattering analysis.
Tri-Optics Japan Co., Ltd.
In our business plan, we focused on developing and commercializing a refractive index measuring device that does not require any processing and can easily determine lens characteristics.
https://www.trioptics.jp/
About the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem
In July 2020, Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya City, and Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture became one of the four “Startup Ecosystem International Hub Cities” groups nationwide designated by the Cabinet Office.
There are 371 startup companies central japan, 150 of which originate from universities.Estimation 18,615 billion yen (the current July 2022) is being funded, in addition to accelerator programs, financial support systems, and innovative university seeds. Cooperative partnership with Station F, INSEAD, BLOCK71, Paris &Co, Bpifrance, Venture Café, Plug and Play, Israel Innovation Agency, Tsinghua University, China Medical University, National University of Singapore, University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University, North Carolina State University , the 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/.
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