Public Call for 'BRIDGE' and 'LAUNCH UK' Starts Under 'Go Abroad To Scale (GATS)', Operated by Hakuhodo and UTokyo IPC
Hakuhodo and UTokyo IPC have opened applications for 'BRIDGE' and 'LAUNCH UK' under their deep-tech startup program 'GATS'. The programs partner with top US and European ecosystems (Activate, Imperial College London) to accelerate global commercialization. An online briefing is on April 22, 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 23:01
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 16:47
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 07:38 (470h 50m after Collected)
Hakuhodo Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenji Nagura; hereinafter 'Hakuhodo') and University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Kosuke Ueda) announce the start of public applications for two commercialization support programs, 'BRIDGE' and 'LAUNCH UK', which link with top-tier ecosystems in the US and Europe under 'Go Abroad To Scale (GATS)'. GATS is a program designed to accelerate the commercialization of deep-tech startups originating from Japan. An online briefing session will also be held on April 22, 2026.
## Aiming to Build a New System Connecting Research Stages to International Expertise, Talent, and Capital
While the number of deep-tech startups and investment amounts in Japan are growing, outcomes such as the creation of companies globally competitive or large-scale M&As remain limited. Behind this lies a structural challenge spanning capital, talent, and institutional design, in addition to technological capabilities. In particular, compared to overseas, Japan falls short in both the mechanisms to integrally support everything from the research stage to commercialization, funding, and international expansion, and the cultivation of entrepreneurial and investment talent to lead these efforts.
Recognizing these challenges, UTokyo IPC and Hakuhodo are promoting the integrated program 'Go Abroad To Scale (GATS)' to support the creation and growth of Japanese deep-tech startups through both commercialization support and talent development, in collaboration with top overseas players. This is an advanced initiative of the Cabinet Office's 'Global Startup Campus (GSC) Concept'. We are pleased to announce the opening of public applications for two programs in the commercialization support area.
## Program 1 'BRIDGE': Fully Utilizing the Expertise and Support of a Top US NPO to Verify and Refine Business Idea Feasibility
This is a practical program that partners with 'Activate', a leading NPO driving the US deep-tech entrepreneurial ecosystem, to seriously engage in creating startups based on research outcomes. Activate has a world-leading track record, having created over 230 deep-tech startups with cumulative funding exceeding $5 billion for its supported companies.
Over approximately nine months, this program will not only provide training to enhance decision-making and business-building skills as an entrepreneur but also multi-dimensionally verify technology market fit and commercialization strategies. Furthermore, by connecting with a robust network of US mega-corporations, investors, government agencies, and philanthropists, it drives business building from the research stage with the global market as a premise. It aims to reduce the uncertainties of the early phases of deep-tech entrepreneurship and accelerate the creation of startups equipped with international competitiveness.
Details on the public call: https://gats-web.jp/program2/bridge
## Program 2 'LAUNCH UK': Connecting with the European Ecosystem Leading Commercialization in Climate Tech and Physical AI/Robotics to Gain Implementation Capabilities
This program aims to directly connect with the commercialization processes of deep-tech in the UK and Europe, building commercialization capabilities directly linked to global market expansion. With Imperial College London (ICL) as the core partner, it will be conducted in collaboration with the university's ecosystem, which has led the commercialization of research outcomes in fields such as Climate Tech, AI, and Physical AI/Robotics. Through entrepreneurial support programs like SuperConnector, ICL has built a practical business creation platform connecting researchers, industry, and investors, consistently producing prominent startups.
This program comprehensively supports business hypothesis validation, team formation, industrial collaboration, and fundraising preparation, advancing commercialization while deepening the understanding of market opportunities and regulatory environments in Europe. Especially in Europe, decarbonization...
## Aiming to Build a New System Connecting Research Stages to International Expertise, Talent, and Capital
While the number of deep-tech startups and investment amounts in Japan are growing, outcomes such as the creation of companies globally competitive or large-scale M&As remain limited. Behind this lies a structural challenge spanning capital, talent, and institutional design, in addition to technological capabilities. In particular, compared to overseas, Japan falls short in both the mechanisms to integrally support everything from the research stage to commercialization, funding, and international expansion, and the cultivation of entrepreneurial and investment talent to lead these efforts.
Recognizing these challenges, UTokyo IPC and Hakuhodo are promoting the integrated program 'Go Abroad To Scale (GATS)' to support the creation and growth of Japanese deep-tech startups through both commercialization support and talent development, in collaboration with top overseas players. This is an advanced initiative of the Cabinet Office's 'Global Startup Campus (GSC) Concept'. We are pleased to announce the opening of public applications for two programs in the commercialization support area.
## Program 1 'BRIDGE': Fully Utilizing the Expertise and Support of a Top US NPO to Verify and Refine Business Idea Feasibility
This is a practical program that partners with 'Activate', a leading NPO driving the US deep-tech entrepreneurial ecosystem, to seriously engage in creating startups based on research outcomes. Activate has a world-leading track record, having created over 230 deep-tech startups with cumulative funding exceeding $5 billion for its supported companies.
Over approximately nine months, this program will not only provide training to enhance decision-making and business-building skills as an entrepreneur but also multi-dimensionally verify technology market fit and commercialization strategies. Furthermore, by connecting with a robust network of US mega-corporations, investors, government agencies, and philanthropists, it drives business building from the research stage with the global market as a premise. It aims to reduce the uncertainties of the early phases of deep-tech entrepreneurship and accelerate the creation of startups equipped with international competitiveness.
Details on the public call: https://gats-web.jp/program2/bridge
## Program 2 'LAUNCH UK': Connecting with the European Ecosystem Leading Commercialization in Climate Tech and Physical AI/Robotics to Gain Implementation Capabilities
This program aims to directly connect with the commercialization processes of deep-tech in the UK and Europe, building commercialization capabilities directly linked to global market expansion. With Imperial College London (ICL) as the core partner, it will be conducted in collaboration with the university's ecosystem, which has led the commercialization of research outcomes in fields such as Climate Tech, AI, and Physical AI/Robotics. Through entrepreneurial support programs like SuperConnector, ICL has built a practical business creation platform connecting researchers, industry, and investors, consistently producing prominent startups.
This program comprehensively supports business hypothesis validation, team formation, industrial collaboration, and fundraising preparation, advancing commercialization while deepening the understanding of market opportunities and regulatory environments in Europe. Especially in Europe, decarbonization...