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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
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PAST ACTIVITIES
IPHatch® Japan Seminar
28 July 2025, Monday15:00 - 16:00 (Japan Time)
Zoom WebinarFeatured Speakers
"The essence of IP strategy in business through the essence of successful open innovation"
Many universities, companies, and organisations have come together under the slogan of open innovation, but we have yet to hear of any groundbreaking businesses being born. On the other hand, general trading companies that own nothing themselves have no choice but to engage in open innovation when creating a business, and as a result have come to make profits of nearly 1 trillion yen.
This seminar will explore the secret to success in open innovation and the essence of intellectual property strategies for building successful businesses, while clearing up the misconception that intellectual property strategies in business are strategies based on intellectual property rights such as patents."IP Strategies for Startups- What can we see by analysing patent information?"
Patent rights are acquired at great expense in terms of people, materials, money, and time, and acquiring a patent can be said to be a business decision for a company. By analyzing the patents of competitors, it is possible to understand their strategies and business direction.
In this webinar, we will introduce specific examples of patent analysis using IP landscapes and AI in an easy-to-understand manner for startups.Yoshito Nakanishi
Patent Attorney
Piece Future
Yoshito Nakanishi
Patent Attorney
Piece Future
IPHatch® Japan Seminar
18 June 2025, Wednesday
15:00 - 16:00 (Japan Time)
Zoom WebinarFeatured Speakers
"Value of IP Viewed by VC Angle"
Ryoji Nishimura
Senior Director
Cool Japan Fund
Yoshito Nakanishi
Patent Attorney
Piece Future
"IP Strategy for you, Startups!"
Campus Meet UP, in Hiroshima
14 May 2025, Wednesday
17:30 - 19:00 (Japan Time)
Innovation Hub Hiroshima CampsJoin us at Camps Meet UP in Hiroshima, as we share how easy it is through our flagship programme, IPHatch®! IPHatch® Japan in Hiroshima is an open innovation and business creation initiative that begins with unused patents.
Learn More...
* This event is organised by Innovation Hub Hiroshima Camps and co-sponsored by Piece Future.
IPHatch® Japan Seminar
12 May2025, Monday
13:00 - 17:00 (Japan Time)FMI International Center, Multipurpose Hall, Hokkaido University, Kita 21 Nishi 11, Kita-ku, Sapporo
View location hereJoin us at Hokkaido University for an exclusive seminar "Creating Business with Unused Patents" and discover how unutilised intellectual Property (IP) can drive innovation and entrepreneurship.
Learn more...About this Event
[Part I]
Seminar: Lectures and Panel Discussions
13:00 : Opening Remarks
by Tsuyoshi Setoguchi, Executive Vice President | Hokkaido University
13:05 : Presentation
Growth of Startups: Strategic use of IP to accelerate
by Minoru Nakahata, Chief Patent Attorney | One IP Patent Attorney Corporation
13:25 : Presentation
The Best Rest While Standing: Connection with Open Patents
by Yuya Yamaguchi, Representative Director | Kouhaju Plywood Co., Ltd.
13:45 : Panel Discussion
Corporate Growth using Unused Patents in an Open Innovation Environment
Panelists -
Minoru Nakahata, Chief Patent Attorney | One IP Patent Attorney Corporation
Yuya Yamaguchi, Representative Director | Kouhaju Plywood Co., Ltd.
Official from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (tentative)
Moderator -
Hitoshi Amano, Director of the Satellite Office for Industry-Academia Collaboration and Specially Appointed Professor, Hokkaido University Organisation for Promotion of Industry-Academia-Community Collaboration[Part II]
IPHatch® Japan Kick-off
15:00 : Presentation
Hokkaido University's Global Intellectual Property Strategy
by Ikuro Terauchi, Vice President and Director of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Headquarters | Hokkaido University
15:20 : Presentation
IPHatch® activities to date and future expectations
by Akira Seki, Intellectual Property Division | Panasonic Holdings Co., Ltd.
15:40 : Presentation
Introduction to IPHatch®/Patent Portfolio
by Jason Loh, CEO & Founder | Piece Future Pte. Ltd.
(Japanese – English interpretation available)
16:30 : Closing Remarks
by Ikuo Terauchi, Vice President and Director of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Headquarters | Hokkaido University
After the seminar >> Networking Session
17:30 : End14:45 BREAK
IPHatch® Japan 2025 Seminar
18 June 2025, Wednesday
15:20 - 16:20 (Japan Time)
Seminar at Kitakyushu Work and Role
Organised by Kitakyushu City GovernmentAbout this Event
Venue: Kitakyushu International Conference Centre | Event Hall
3-9-30 Asano, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 802-0001
"WORK AND ROLE" has been held as an event originating from Kitakyushu City since 2023. The theme this time is "sustainability". There will be pitches by 26 companies (individuals) selected for a total of five programs, including startup support projects, talk sessions with special guests, and networking events. In addition, there will be exhibition booths, sponsored sessions, and exchange spaces. Experience the vitality of Kitakyushu City by interacting with startups and Generation Z.
"WORK AND ROLE" KITAKYUSHU25
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IPHatch® Japan 2025
>> Click here to download the IPHatch® e-leaflet
Presentation Session:
Topic: “Matching IP and Startups for a Stronger Future”
Focus: Overview of IPHatch® programme, selection criteria, and the benefits of IP transfer.
Presenting by: Jason Loh, Founder & CEO | Piece Future
~ 10-min presentation (incl. translation time)
Topic: "Open Innovation Activities at Hokkaido University"
Focus: Open Innovation Activities based on IP (patents) at Hokkaido University
Presenting by: Hitoshi Amano, Professor, Director, Patent Attorney, MBA, Satellite Office for Business Collaboration & University-Industry, Global Development Office, Institute for the Promotion of Business-Regional Collaboration | Hokkaido University
~ 8-min presentation
Topic: "Panasonic Holdings Open Innovation Activities"
Focus: Open innovation activities based on IP (patents) at Panasonic
Presenting by: Akira Seki, Patent Attorney and Registered SME management Consultant, in charge of Open Innovation | Panasonic Holdings
~ 8-min presentation
* Masao Sano, Japan Liaison from Piece Future will introduce each speaker before presentation.
Panel Discussion:
Topic: "Exploring How Robotics Startups can Leverage MNC Patents to Grow, Succeed, and Expand Globally" including Q&A
Panelists:
Piece Future - Jason Loh, Masao Sano
Hokkaido University - Hitoshi Amano
Panasonic Holdings - Akira Seki
~ 30-min discussion
"IP Strategy for you,
Startups!"Jason Loh
Piece Future
Featured Speakers
Akira Seki
Panasonic Holdings
Hitoshi Amano
Hokkaido University
Sendai Pitch Day
11 September 2025, Wednesday [Hybrid Style]
14:00 - 16:30 (Japan Time) NTT Urbannet Building Sendai - Meeting Room
4-4-19 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, MiyagiAbout this Event
Shortlisted startups will get the chance to pitch to our panel judges include
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IP Originators
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Funding Partners
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Incubator Partners
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Government Representatives
Judging Panel for this year
IP Originators:
Tohoku University
Naofumi Nishimura
Director, Intellectual Property Department
Seiji Morishima
Director, Startup Incubation Center
Dr. Yurie Lino
Assistant Director, Intellectual Property Department
Panasonic Holdings Corporation
Miura Shinji
General Manager, Panasonic IP Management
Seki Akira
Open Innovation, Panasonic Holdings
Judging Panel:
JETRO
Kayoko Sawada
Former Director, Startup Division
Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings
Etsushi Tsuru
Manager
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IPHatchathon® Sendai
8 August 2024, Tuesday
13:00 - 16:00 (Japan Time)
Zoom Meeting ; 3 hour 1-on-1 mentoring workshop
About This Event
Are you a tech entrepreneur wondering how to build a more robust and sustainable business strategy to attract funding and investment from an early stage?
We have just the right workshop for you!
Join our FREE virtual IPHatchathon®, a 3-hour 1-on-1 mentoring workshop where our seasoned mentor(s) will validate your business model and offer actionable advice on how you could integrate readily available patents / technologies we have to offer.
Why Attend?
-
Immerse yourself into engaging workshops led by multidisciplinary industry experts
-
Have your business ideas validated by seasoned multidisciplinary professionals
-
Interactive networking sessions
-
Exciting challenges to test your skills and creativity
-
Opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals and potential collaborators
Jason is an innovator dedicated to driving company growth through intellectual property. As an expert in brand and growth strategies, he integrates IP with business strategies. Jason is the Director of the International IP Commercialisation Council Singapore, Executive Adviser for Asia to the UK's Institute of Innovation Knowledge Exchange, and Managing Partner of i2P Ventures and True Vine Capital Partners.
Previously, he led IP group for Panasonic Singapore R&D Center for 16 years and founded Piece Future, an Asian IP investment bank. Jason created IPHatch®, the world’s first IP start-up incubation platform, which has invested in nearly 70 start-ups across Asia and UK since 2017.
Jason Loh
Founder
Piece Future
Featured Mentors
Raymond is Chief of Staff of Piece Future, and Advisor for Kyoto University Innovation Capital (Kyoto iCAP), the university's official VC arm. Prior to that, he was the Value Creation Lead for the Japan Portfolio at Pavilion Capital, a PEVC (private equity and venture capital) firm with a focus on East and Southeast Asia and fully-funded by Temasek Holdings. Before his PEVC career, he spent a decade in management consulting and financial advisory across different countries including Japan.
Raymond studied and worked in Japan for 13 years, and has had extensive experience in working with Japanese investors, corporations and government throughout his career and speaks Japanese fluently, alongside Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Cantonese. Raymond obtained a LLB (Bachelor of Laws) from Osaka University under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, and an MPA (Master of Public Administration) from Cornell University under the Fulbright Scholarship.
Raymond Woo
Chief of Staff
Piece Future
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Application Closing Date
20 August 2024, Tuesday
23:59 (Japan Time)
Online Submission ; IPHatch® Sendai Challenge
IPHatch® Sendai
What is the importance of IP for start-ups PART II
How can we make it stronger? Here are some points that even IP beginners can understand.
02 August 2024, Friday
15:00 - 16:00 (Japan Time)
Virtual WebinarThis seminar will be conducted in English
Featured Speaker
Yoshito Nakanishi
Kobe University Center for Advanced Medical Engineering Research & Development, Visiting Professor
Strategic Intellectual Property Services, Sorette, President and Japanese Patent Attorney
IPHatch® Seminar
Open Innovation Activities
11 July 2024, Thursday
14:00 - 15:00 (Japan Time)
Venue: Osaka Nishi-Sanso (Panasonic EX Lab)About this Event
Venue: Panasonic EX Lab
1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka 571-8508, Japan
Lecture agenda:
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Tohoku University's Open Innovation Activities
“IP Involvement toward Promoting the Creation of University Startups” | Naofumi Nishimura -
Introduction of Open Innovation activities by Panasonic Holdings Corporation | Akira Seki
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In which start-ups a VC shows its interest by QB Capital LLC | Tsuyoshi Sakamoto
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Overview of the IPHatch® Programme by Piece Future | Jason Loh
Upon request (15:30 - 16:00):
Tour of the Konosuke Matsushita History Museum
Featured Speakers
Naofumi Nishimura
Director of Intellectual Property Department
Tohoku University
Jason Loh
Founder
Piece Future
Tsuyoshi Sakamoto
General Partner
QB Capital LLC
Akira Seki
Patent Attorney,
Open InnovationPanasonic Holdings Corporation
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IPHatchathon® Sendai
3 hour 1-on-1 mentoring workshop
10 July 2024, Wednesday
13:30 - 16:30 (Japan Time)
Venue: Tokyo (GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB)Venue: GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB
3-2-1 Muromachi, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022
Nihobashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower 7F Conference Room
About this event
Are you a tech entrepreneur wondering how to build a more robust and sustainable business strategy to attract funding and investment from an early stage?
We have just the right workshop for you!
Join our FREE virtual IPHatchathon®, a 3-hour 1-on-1 mentoring workshop where our seasoned mentor(s) will validate your business model and offer actionable advice on how you could integrate readily available patents / technologies we have to offer.
Why Attend?
-
Immerse yourself into engaging workshops led by multidisciplinary industry experts
-
Have your business ideas validated by seasoned multidisciplinary professionals
-
Interactive networking sessions
-
Exciting challenges to test your skills and creativity
-
Opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals and potential collaborators
Featured Mentors
Jason is an innovator dedicated to driving company growth through intellectual property. As an expert in brand and growth strategies, he integrates IP with business strategies. Jason is the Director of the International IP Commercialisation Council Singapore, Executive Adviser for Asia to the UK's Institute of Innovation Knowledge Exchange, and Managing Partner of i2P Ventures and True Vine Capital Partners.
Previously, he led IP group for Panasonic Singapore R&D Center for 16 years and founded Piece Future, an Asian IP investment bank. Jason created IPHatch®, the world’s first IP start-up incubation platform, which has invested in nearly 70 start-ups across Asia and UK since 2017.
Jason Loh
Founder
Piece Future
Norishige Hayakawa is a B.A. in Economics at Waseda University, School of Political Science and Economics. He is the Representative Director at Hagamino Mori Co. and also specially appointed Professor at Graduate Institute for project design. Furthermore, he is also a councilor of Moonshot Project 5, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, and many other current positions.
He has served as a consultant for individual projects related to new businesses and M&A for leading Japanese companies such as Panasonic, Fuji Electric, Mitsubishi Estate, Asahi Kasei and Mitsui & Co. He also serves as an advisor to small and medium-sized venture companies and hospitals seeking IPOs to map out their growth strategies.
In the field of intellectual property, he established IP Bridge, an intellectual property fund, with the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), and helped launch the fund as its executive officer and chief strategy officer.
Norishige Hayakawa
CEO
Hagaminomori
Raymond is Chief of Staff of Piece Future, and Advisor for Kyoto University Innovation Capital (Kyoto iCAP), the university's official VC arm. Prior to that, he was the Value Creation Lead for the Japan Portfolio at Pavilion Capital, a PEVC (private equity and venture capital) firm with a focus on East and Southeast Asia and fully-funded by Temasek Holdings. Before his PEVC career, he spent a decade in management consulting and financial advisory across different countries including Japan.
Raymond studied and worked in Japan for 13 years, and has had extensive experience in working with Japanese investors, corporations and government throughout his career and speaks Japanese fluently, alongside Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Cantonese. Raymond obtained a LLB (Bachelor of Laws) from Osaka University under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, and an MPA (Master of Public Administration) from Cornell University under the Fulbright Scholarship.
Raymond Woo
Chief of Staff
Piece Future
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IPHatch® Seminar
Open Innovation Activities
10 July 2024, Wednesday
10:30 - 11:30 (Japan Time)
Venue: Tokyo (GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB)Venue: GLOBAL LIFESCIENCE HUB
3-2-1 Muromachi, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022
Nihobashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower 7F Conference Room
Lecture agenda:
-
Tohoku University's Open Innovation Activities
“IP Involvement toward Promoting the Creation of University Startups” | Naofumi Nishimura -
Introduction of Open Innovation activities by Panasonic Holdings Corporation | Akira Seki
-
Importance of Patents from an Investor's Perspective by Cool Japan Fund | Ryoji Nishimura
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Overview of the IPHatch® Programme by Piece Future | Jason Loh
About this Event
Featured Speakers
Naofumi Nishimura
Director of Intellectual Property Department
Tohoku University
Akira Seki
Patent Attorney,
Open InnovationPanasonic Holdings Corporation
Ryoji Nishimura
Senior Director
Cool Japan Fund
Jason Loh
Founder
Piece Future
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IPHatch® X PKP Webinar
What is the importance of IP for startups?
Explained with a case study.
27 June 2024, Thursday
15:00 - 16:00 (Japan Time)
Virtual SeminarThis seminar will be conducted in Japanese
Featured Speaker
Kazunari Nishihara
General Expert
Pasona Knowledge Partner
IPHatch® X Patentcloud Webinar
How Japanese Startups Can Use The IP Intelligence Tool Effectively for Patent Landscaping
17 May 2024, Friday
15:00 - 16:00 (Japan Time)
This seminar will be conducted in Japanese
About this Event
Featured speaker
This webinar aims to provide startups with a high-level overview of how IP intelligence tool can help them navigate the IP landscape, especially in the following areas:
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Due Diligence
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Patent Quality Insights
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SEP Declaration
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Design Search
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Patent Search
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Patent Vault
William Lee
Senior Consultant
ScienBiziP Group
William is a seasoned IP consultant at ScienBiziP Consulting, with extensive experience in the field of intellectual property. His previous roles include serving as an Account Project Manager at Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii) and a Field Application Engineer (FAE) at Tokyo Electron Taiwan (TEL). William holds a Master of Science degree from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and completed a one-year exchange at Waseda University GITS. He pursued his master's degree in law at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Law (NYCU Law) through the Multi-Discipline Management of Technology Program (MMOT).
William's certifications include Patent Prosecution Management from the Taiwan Intellectual Property Training Academy (TIPA), Certified Consultant for the Intellectual Property Management System (TIPS), and Level 3 certification from the Japan Intellectual Property Management Skills Test (IPMST). His strong educational background and professional experience make him a valuable asset in the field of intellectual property consulting.
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IPHatch® Panel Session on
How Intellectual Property (IP) Can Spice Up Your Funding Journey with VCs
12 April 2024, Friday
18:30 - 19:30 (Japan Time)About this Event
This session will focus on exploring IP's pivotal role in attracting and securing venture capital investment, where we will provide insights into the complexities of IP management, what investors look for, and strategies to enhance your company's valuation and appeal.
This is an ideal opportunity for start-up founders brainstorming an effective strategy for their round of fundraising or for established businesses considering expansion. We are hopeful that such knowledge sharing can equip startups with the fundamental understanding and tactics to leverage intellectual property effectively.
Featured speakers
Yoshinori Nakagawa
IP Senior Expert
Panasonic IP Management Co., Ltd
Jari Vaario
Head of Asia IPR Business Development
Nokia Technologies
This seminar will be conducted in English
Bryan Chung
Partner
True Vine Capital
Ee Jin
Lead of Innovation & Ecosystem Development
Piece Future