Blab Tech
Tokyu Land and SRI International Launch Pilot to Connect Japan Deep-Tech Startups with Silicon Valley
On July 7, Tokyu Land Corp. and U.S. nonprofit research institute SRI International announced a pilot partnership under the Japanese Cabinet Office’s Global Startup Campus initiative, aiming to forge a continuous pipeline of Japan‑origin deep‑tech startups ready to compete worldwide.
The collaboration designates SRI as the operating‑support arm for the initiative’s international research and commercialization programs, while Tokyu Land supplies real‑estate assets in the Shibuya area and unlocks a network of more than 240 public, private, and academic institutions. Together, they intend to create a structured path that carries ideas from research labs to global markets.
Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, SRI boasts a 70‑year track record that includes Siri and the da Vinci surgical robot. The institute will design and run research and commercialization support programs that bridge Japan and Silicon Valley, offering Japanese researchers and budding entrepreneurs hands‑on mentoring modeled on Silicon Valley practices and direct access to global investor and corporate networks, including U.S.‑based boot camps.
Tokyu Land will enrich the Shibuya startup ecosystem by providing workplaces and community functions. The company plans to host SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA, a startup hub inside Shibuya Sakura Stage, and to offer accommodation for overseas participants when needed. Through its extensive network of universities, investors, and companies, Tokyu Land will connect program participants to Japan’s broader innovation ecosystem.
The partnership’s first public showcase occurred on March 18 at SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA, where about 50 participants from venture‑capital firms, universities, research institutions, and government bodies—both domestic and international—attended. A panel discussion explored the types of support Japanese deep‑tech startups need to expand globally.
Japan’s Cabinet Office is driving the Global Startup Campus initiative to establish flagship bases in Tokyo’s Shibuya and Meguro wards, strengthening collaboration among researchers, startups, and related organizations worldwide. The pilot’s activities include international research to attract scholars and investors, commercialization support, and talent development.
Tokyu Land, founded in 1953 and headquartered in Shibuya Ward, is a real‑estate developer with interests in urban development, housing, resorts, and renewable energy. SRI is located at 333 Ravenswood Avenue in Menlo Park. The two entities plan to partner with stakeholders on future events, deepen industry‑government‑academia networks, and activate innovation communities tied to the campus initiative.
The partnership fits into a broader Japanese government effort to accelerate deep‑tech innovation. By merging SRI’s commercialization expertise with Tokyu Land’s real‑estate assets and institutional network, the pilot seeks to provide a clear route for deep‑tech concepts to move from research to market, while inviting international investors and corporate partners into the Shibuya ecosystem and fostering a more globally connected startup environment.
The collaboration also aligns with the Cabinet Office’s strategy to attract foreign talent and investment. Leveraging SRI’s experience in technology licensing and startup incubation, Tokyu Land aims to develop a model that can be replicated in other Japanese regions.
Early indicators show that the pilot has already drawn interest from several U.S. venture firms, though formal commitments have yet to materialize.
At present, the pilot activities remain in the early stages. Planned next steps include expanding the number of participants, launching additional mentorship and investor‑access programs, and hosting further events that bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors from Japan and Silicon Valley. Success will be measured by the number of startups that secure funding, forge partnerships, and bring products to market. As the program evolves, the partnership will refine its support mechanisms and deepen ties between Japan’s deep‑tech community and the global innovation ecosystem.
The collaboration designates SRI as the operating‑support arm for the initiative’s international research and commercialization programs, while Tokyu Land supplies real‑estate assets in the Shibuya area and unlocks a network of more than 240 public, private, and academic institutions. Together, they intend to create a structured path that carries ideas from research labs to global markets.
Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, SRI boasts a 70‑year track record that includes Siri and the da Vinci surgical robot. The institute will design and run research and commercialization support programs that bridge Japan and Silicon Valley, offering Japanese researchers and budding entrepreneurs hands‑on mentoring modeled on Silicon Valley practices and direct access to global investor and corporate networks, including U.S.‑based boot camps.
Tokyu Land will enrich the Shibuya startup ecosystem by providing workplaces and community functions. The company plans to host SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA, a startup hub inside Shibuya Sakura Stage, and to offer accommodation for overseas participants when needed. Through its extensive network of universities, investors, and companies, Tokyu Land will connect program participants to Japan’s broader innovation ecosystem.
The partnership’s first public showcase occurred on March 18 at SAKURA DEEPTECH SHIBUYA, where about 50 participants from venture‑capital firms, universities, research institutions, and government bodies—both domestic and international—attended. A panel discussion explored the types of support Japanese deep‑tech startups need to expand globally.
Japan’s Cabinet Office is driving the Global Startup Campus initiative to establish flagship bases in Tokyo’s Shibuya and Meguro wards, strengthening collaboration among researchers, startups, and related organizations worldwide. The pilot’s activities include international research to attract scholars and investors, commercialization support, and talent development.
Tokyu Land, founded in 1953 and headquartered in Shibuya Ward, is a real‑estate developer with interests in urban development, housing, resorts, and renewable energy. SRI is located at 333 Ravenswood Avenue in Menlo Park. The two entities plan to partner with stakeholders on future events, deepen industry‑government‑academia networks, and activate innovation communities tied to the campus initiative.
The partnership fits into a broader Japanese government effort to accelerate deep‑tech innovation. By merging SRI’s commercialization expertise with Tokyu Land’s real‑estate assets and institutional network, the pilot seeks to provide a clear route for deep‑tech concepts to move from research to market, while inviting international investors and corporate partners into the Shibuya ecosystem and fostering a more globally connected startup environment.
The collaboration also aligns with the Cabinet Office’s strategy to attract foreign talent and investment. Leveraging SRI’s experience in technology licensing and startup incubation, Tokyu Land aims to develop a model that can be replicated in other Japanese regions.
Early indicators show that the pilot has already drawn interest from several U.S. venture firms, though formal commitments have yet to materialize.
At present, the pilot activities remain in the early stages. Planned next steps include expanding the number of participants, launching additional mentorship and investor‑access programs, and hosting further events that bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors from Japan and Silicon Valley. Success will be measured by the number of startups that secure funding, forge partnerships, and bring products to market. As the program evolves, the partnership will refine its support mechanisms and deepen ties between Japan’s deep‑tech community and the global innovation ecosystem.
