Event Report: HOSTEC and TeSH Joint Event Held in Fukui Prefecture
Accelerating Industry–Government–Academia–Finance Collaboration to Foster Global Startups from Hokuriku

Tech Startup HOKURIKU (TeSH) held a joint event with the Hokuriku Startup Ecosystem Consortium (HOSTEC) on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Hotel Fujita Fukui in Fukui City.
The event brought together 215 participants from educational institutions, private companies, financial institutions, venture capital firms, and local governments across the three Hokuriku prefectures. The event was attended by Fukui Governor Ishida and President Terano of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), who serve as representatives of HOSTEC and TeSH, respectively.
TeSH will continue to build on its strong partnership with HOSTEC to foster closer collaboration among industry, government, academia, and financial institutions across the three Hokuriku prefectures. Through initiatives such as the Interdisciplinary Fes., TeSH will further develop and expand distinctive, locally rooted programs that contribute to the growth of the Hokuriku startup ecosystem.

Event Overview

Date & Time	Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 1:00–5:10 p.m.
Networking Reception	5:20–6:30 p.m.
Venue	Hotel Fujita Fukui, 3F “Tenzan-no-Ma”
Organizers	Hokuriku Startup Ecosystem Consortium (HOSTEC), Tech Startup HOKURIKU (TeSH)
Supported by	NINEJP (National Network Development Support Program)
In Collaboration with	University of Fukui, Fukui Prefectural University, Fukui University of Technology, National Institute of Technology, Fukui College
Number of Participants	215 (Private companies, financial institutions, VCs, etc.: 56 / Prefectural and local government officials: 56 / Educational institutions: 93 / Other: 10)

Program Highlights

Part 1: Opening Remarks and Introductions to Each Organization’s Initiatives

The event opened with remarks from Takato Ishida, Governor of Fukui Prefecture and Representative of the Hokuriku Startup Ecosystem Consortium (HOSTEC), and Minoru Terano, President of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and Representative of Tech Startup HOKURIKU (TeSH). Following remarks from guests representing the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), representatives from the three Hokuriku prefectures, including the Departments of Commerce and Labor of Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures, as well as the presidents of three universities and one National Institute of Technology in Fukui Prefecture, were introduced. Presentations were then given on HOSTEC's initiatives, Fukui Prefecture's startup support programs, including Fukui Venture Pitch, and TeSH's activities. TeSH also outlined a concrete plan to collaborate with Fukui Prefecture's entrepreneur discovery and development program, Promotors 2026.

Part 2: Special Lectures

Special Lecture 1:
　“The Future of Japan Lies in the Regions: Key Considerations for Launching a Business and Winning in Regional Markets”

Speaker: Go Fujita, Representative Director, MTG Ventures Co., Ltd.
Mr. Fujita shared practical insights into launching and growing businesses in regional areas, drawing on his experience as a venture capitalist and examples from his home prefecture of Akita.

Special Lecture 2:
“Business and Intellectual Property Strategies of Fukui’s Global Niche Top Companies”

Speaker: Takahiro Inatsugi, Director, NICCA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
Mr. Inatsugi discussed the company’s business development and global expansion, leveraging Fukui as its home base. He also introduced the company’s advanced intellectual property strategies, including those related to water-based polyurethane for artificial leather and fluorine-free water-repellent agents.

Part 3: GAP Fund Case Studies & “20 Next-Generation Academia Seeds” Pitches

Four projects selected under the TeSH GAP Fund program in Fukui Prefecture were presented as case studies. This was followed by “20 Next-Generation Academia Seeds,” featuring three-minute pitches on 20 research seeds from universities and the National Institute of Technology in Fukui Prefecture.

The event concluded with remarks from Mr. Tanaka, Director-General of the Fukui Prefecture Department of Industry, Labor, and Tourism, representing HOSTEC, and Kinuya, Trustee of Kanazawa University and TeSH Program Representative.

Networking Reception and “Best Seeds” Awards Ceremony

Following the joint event, a networking reception was held, during which five outstanding presenters were selected from the 20 research seeds featured in Part 3 and recognized with the “Best Seeds” Award. Certificates of recognition were presented by Minoru Terano, President of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and representative of TeSH.

Best Seeds Award Recipients

• Yoshinaga Okumura, Assistant Professor, University of Fukui
  Recommended by: Hokuriku Economic Federation
• Hana Yonezu, master’s Student (M1), University of Fukui
  Recommended by: Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and QR Investment
• Takanori Matsui, Associate Professor, Fukui Prefectural University
  Recommended by: MTG Ventures
• Yasuhiro Murata, Professor, Fukui University of Technology
  Recommended by: Fukui Capital Partners
• Masahiro Furutani, Professor, National Institute of Technology, Fukui College
  Recommended by: NICCA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.