Industry-Government-Academia-Finance Co-Creation Event Aimed at Fostering Academic Startups in Toyama Prefecture "TOYAMA Interdisciplinary Fes. 2025" organized by TeSH

Date and Time: Friday, September 26, 2025, 1:00 PM-5:00 PM, Networking: 5:00PM-6:00PM
Venue: ANA Crowne Plaza Toyama “OHTORI” (3rd Floor), Networking: “ASUKA”
Organizers: Tech Startup HOKURIKU (TeSH), University of Toyama, Toyama Prefectural University, National Institute of Technology, Toyama College

In February 2024, TeSH was selected as one of the nine platforms for the JST’s “Startup Ecosystem Co-Creation Program for the New Industry Creation Fund for University Startups.”
Our mission is to dramatically improve both the quality and quantity of academic startups in the Hokuriku region. Now, a year and a half since our launch, we have begun implementing initiatives to deepen regionally rooted collaboration among industry, government, academia, and finance—engaging local governments, startup support organizations, local businesses, financial institutions, and alumni throughout the Hokuriku area. As the first of these initiatives, we held the FUKUI Interdisciplinary Fes. 2025 (FIF2025) in August. This time, as the second initiative, we held the TOYAMA Interdisciplinary Fes. 2025 (TIF2025).

The event attracted a total of 150 participants, including 44 from private companies, 15 from prefectural and municipal governments, 15 from financial institutions and venture capital firms, 67 from academic institutions, and nine from the media and others.
After opening remarks from the presidents of two universities and one technical college and an explanation of the purpose of TIF2025 by the TeSH program head of directors, President Mizuguchi Katsuhito from TATEYAMA KAGAKU CO., LTD., delivered a special lecture titled “How to Foster Startups from the Hokuriku Region.”
President Mizuguchi stated that overseas, there are startup hub cities in each region, with universities always at their core, and he expressed his determination that companies in Toyama will also become involved with TeSH going forward. Additionally, as an overseas example, he introduced “SLUSH100,” the largest tech conference event for Nordic startups in Finland. He concluded that to foster startups in the Hokuriku region, an environment conducive to creating and nurturing startups is essential. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among industry, academia, and government to “create an environment where young professionals and students can easily take on challenges” and to “cultivate a regional culture that supports such endeavors.”

In the second half of the event, the cooperating organizations—Toyama Prefecture, JETRO, and Hokuhoku Capital Co., Ltd.—presented their activities. Following this, the program co-directors from the two universities and one technical college introduced their startup support initiatives. The achievements of Associate Professor Yamamoto (University of Toyama), Associate Professor Uta (University of Toyama), Lecturer Kamakura (Toyama Prefectural University), and Professor Touyama (Toyama Prefectural University), who were selected for the TeSH Gap Fund Program, were also highlighted.
The final session featured five seeds recommended by the two universities and one technical college, presented through a total of 15 three-minute pitches. All 15 presenters were prospective applicants for the upcoming Gap Fund. Despite it being their first experience with a three-minute pitch, each of them delivered clear, enthusiastic presentations within the time limit.

At the networking held from 5:00 p.m. following the conclusion of TIF2025, four outstanding presenters from the 15 pitches were recognized with awards. The certificates were presented by President Saito of the University of Toyama, President Ogasawara of the Toyama Prefectural University, and Principal Kunieda of the Toyama College.

At the closing of the event, Trustee Nakamura, Program Co-Director of TeSH at Kanazawa University, concluded:
“August in Fukui, September 22nd in Tokyo, and today in Toyama—events in Hokuriku follow one after another, generating significant attention. As the region's challenges and collaboration draw attention, and expectations grow for startup creation and regional revitalization, Hokuriku will move forward as one toward the future.”

TeSH will continue to organize industry-government-academia-finance co-creation events in rotation across the three Hokuriku prefectures to leverage its strength as a regional platform.