University Network for Innovation and Technology Transfer (Unitt), a trade association of Japan-based tech transfer offices (TTOs), has partnered Wellspring, a tech transfer software spinout from Carnegie Mellon University.
Their efforts will create a database of Japan’s university-linked startups, working from information from Unitt’s member institutions in addition to data published by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in March 2018.
Potential investors, customers and executives will also be able to scan the database through Wellspring’s global Flintbox.com portal of innovation projects from academic institutions.
Work on the project has already begun, with a launch planned for late autumn. Wellspring expects to preview the service at Unitt’s annual meeting this September.
Unitt seeks to harness growing momentum in Japanese tech transfer supported by the government’s policy of seeding more VC initiatives. These include a targeted $910m space-focused fund unveiled by the publicly-owned Development Bank of Japan in March 2018.
Akira Fujishima, president of Unitt, said: “We are excited and proud to partner with Wellspring to publicise the innovative Japanese university-based startups in order to market them broadly in Japan and beyond.”
Robert Lowe, chief executive of Wellspring, said: “Combining the strengths of Unitt’s academic community with Wellspring’s technology promises an unrivalled technology marketplace.”
