Overview
We are launchpad for the next generation of
medical and biotech startups.
Since 2018, the University of Tsukuba, in collaboration with partner universities, has implemented a university-based program dedicated to supporting early-stage medical startups. Research Studio serves as the core platform for this initiative, focusing on identifying and accelerating high-potential medical startups that emerge from academic research. The program provides hands-on support in various areas, including business planning, market research, team development, and pre-seed research funding—bridging the gap before private investment is secured. To ensure that promising medical research translates into new treatments, Research Studio collaborates closely with medical R&D and commercialization experts in the field, helping bring new drugs, medical devices, and technologies to the bedside. Our mission is to build a sustainable, university-driven ecosystem for continuous support of medical startups.
What we offer
Professional advice to turn your research into a business idea.
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical devices
- Regenerative medicine products
- Digital Health
Target Product Profile
- Intellectual Property Strategies
- Non-clinical proof of concept
- Value Proposition
- Competitive analysis
- Insurance reimbursement
- Development Strategy
Business Acceleration
- Business Model Creation
- Commercial Plan
- Fundraising
- Market analysis and validation
- Pitch Training
Global Expansion Support
- Global market research
- US market expansion
- Interview with customers
- Partner matchmaking
- Exit strategies
Collaboration with
overseas programs
Ideal Participants
Researchers
We are seeking applicants with innovative medical ideas who are driven to turn them into real-world solutions. We welcome graduate students, academic researchers and corporate researchers in Japan. If you are considering or have recently launched a startup, we especially encourage you to apply.
Business leaders
People with business experience in the life sciences sector.
Clinicians
Professionals with experience in patient-care, clinical trials or drug development interested in starting a business.
Three Features
Get access to our professional network here in Japan and overseas.
Our pool of multidisciplinary experts and mentors will guide and support your business decisions.
Joint Programs with US universities
We have partnered with Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to offer cutting-edge international programs and provide the groundwork for future overseas expansion.
R&D and Business Strategies
Our bootcamps, workshops, mentoring sessions and consulting services are focused on building winning strategies.
What's Spark Approach?
SPARK is a hands-on training program in translational research designed to assist academics in filling the discovery pipeline gap.
The program aims to address unmet medical needs through a combination of lectures, group work, pitch training, and educational sessions. This approach seeks to advance research findings from the bench to the bedside.
Founded in 2006 by Stanford Professor Daria Mochly-Rosen, the initiative has grown to include more than 40 research institutions worldwide that have implemented their own SPARK programs with support from Stanford University.
※SPARK Global（URL: https://sparkglobal.io）
