Kobe City, an UPDATE EARTH network partner, has embraced the vision of "Life-Tech KOBE", supporting startups with a focus on life sciences. By fostering collaboration among industries, government, and academia, Kobe City provides comprehensive support, including financial assistance, human resources, and community development. This initiative aims to harness innovative ideas and technologies from startups to create a city that enhances the quality of life for its residents.
Four-Phase Startup Support Program
Kobe City’s assistance adapts to the needs of startups at different growth stages:
- "Starting Up": Focused on the pre-seed stage.
- "Testing Hypotheses": Tailored for seed and early-stage startups.
- "Scaling Businesses": Designed for startups in seed to middle stages targeting new markets.
- "Achieving Practical Implementation in Life Sciences": Geared toward middle to later-stage startups aiming to bring their technologies to real-world application.
A critical component of this initiative is the Kobe Life Sciences Gap Fund Grant, which provides financial support to startups pursuing practical applications.
2024 Grant Recipients
- MEDEMIL: Developing eye-tracking technologies to assess driving capabilities in elderly individuals, advancing Proof of Concept (PoC) studies.
- B-Lab: A university-originated venture from Konan University working on the commercialization of highly absorbent polysaccharide nanocapsules.
- Cubec: Conducting validation of an AI system designed to support heart failure management for primary care physicians.
These projects are set to run through September 2025, driving advancements in life sciences and healthcare innovation.
For more information, visit Life-Tech KOBE:
Kobe City's initiative for startup support in life sciences.
