[Fukui Prefecture, Sakai City] Space Suit Concepts and Transport Drone Flights Also Featured
Sakai City's new industry co-creation project 'SAKAI WEAVE' announces results from five businesses.
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- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 01:56
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56
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Local Research Institutions Also Provide Advice, High Expectations for Unique Developments
The first-year results presentation meeting for Sakai City's 'New Industry Co-creation Project,' which aims to create new industries by matching local companies with excellent technical capabilities in Fukui with startups and aspiring researchers from outside the prefecture possessing innovative ideas and R&D capabilities, was held on March 17th at the base facility 'SAKAI WEAVE' in Harue Town, Sakai City. ReGACY Innovation Group (headquarters: Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as ReGACY), the partner company for this project in Sakai City, reported on the demonstration experiments, prototypes, and concepts that the five participating entities—three companies and two universities from outside the prefecture recruited nationwide—have been working on for approximately seven months since last summer.
The research and development themes undertaken by the five entities were 'textiles' and 'drones.' Two companies and one university presented their work on textiles, while one company and one university presented their work on drones. Although it has only been about seven months since the project began, it was evident that the five entities were actively exchanging opinions and conducting hearings with research institutions, including local companies, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the Prefectural Industrial Technology Center, and the University of Fukui. Reports also included flight experiments using drones at Fukui Airport (Harue Town, Sakai City), the creation of prototype T-shirts and underwear using 'Mokuiito' (wood thread) derived from thinned wood, and collaborations with the University of Fukui and local companies on microbial cellulose, which is expected to have future potential as a new textile material. Approximately 80 people, including Mayor Sadataka Ikeda and the presenters, gathered at the venue, listening with keen interest to how the collaboration between startups and local companies and the progress of the projects would unfold.
★Business and Research Overviews of the 5 Startups and Researchers Selected for Sakai City in FY2025★
【Selected Entities (Prefecture): Business/Research Overview】
■Business/Research Theme = Textiles
(1) HIRAXIS (Fukuoka Prefecture): Development of the natural fiber 'Mokuiito' using thinned wood as raw material, and products made from unique natural materials.
(2) Hokkaido University (Hokkaido): Production of microbial nanocellulose from agricultural by-products, with applications in reinforcing materials for fiber-reinforced plastics and apparel fibers.
(3) Amateras Space (Tokyo): Research and development, social implementation of in-ship and extra-vehicular space suits, and practical application of a biological information platform in space.
■Business/Research Theme = Drones
(4) Sa
FAQ
What is the 'SAKAI WEAVE' project?
'SAKAI WEAVE' is a new industry co-creation project initiated by Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. Its goal is to foster new industries by matching local companies with strong technical capabilities with startups and researchers from outside the prefecture who possess innovative ideas and R&D strengths.
What were the main themes of the research and development in the first year?
The main themes were 'textiles' and 'drones'. For textiles, projects involved developing natural fibers from thinned wood ('Mokuiito'), creating microfibers from microbial cellulose, and exploring applications for microbial nanocellulose. For drones, flight experiments were conducted.
Which entities participated in the project?
In the first year, five entities participated: HIRAXIS (Fukuoka), Hokkaido University, Amateras Space (Tokyo), and two other entities focusing on drones (one company and one university, details for the latter are cut off in the provided text).
What kind of developments were reported?
Developments included prototypes of T-shirts and underwear made from 'Mokuiito', research into microbial cellulose for new textile materials, concepts for space suits, and flight experiments with drones.
Who is ReGACY Innovation Group?
ReGACY Innovation Group is the partner company for the 'SAKAI WEAVE' project in Sakai City. They are based in Tokyo and were responsible for recruiting and managing the participating startups and universities from outside the prefecture.