[May 12] Osaka Prefecture's 'NQ Global Startup Gateway' Project Nakanoshima Qross Innovation Challenge to be Held! 16 Life Science Startups Gather

MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Co., Ltd. (Location: Kita-ku, Osaka, Representative Director: Jun Miyakawa, hereinafter: MIRACLE SI), which promotes 'Open Well-being Innovation' based on science, will hold the 'Nakanoshima Qross Innovation Challenge' (hereinafter, NQ Innovation Challenge) on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Nakanoshima Qross, as part of the 'NQ Global Startup Gateway Joint Venture※1※2' commissioned by Osaka Prefecture ('NQ Global Startup Gateway (Nakanoshima Qross Global Startup Creation and Hub Promotion Project Consignment Business)').

This event is a selective pitch event where 16 promising startups aiming for global expansion in the life science field will present the results of their approximately six-month incubation program. Through the pitch selection, three companies will be chosen to advance to the next phase (Phase 2), and these selected companies will be offered opportunities to participate in the UK Immersion Program (detailed below), including executive mentoring and connection with the UK ecosystem. Additionally, a networking session with corporations, investors, and support organizations will be held to promote the creation of new collaborations and partnerships.

※1 NQ Global Startup Gateway Joint Venture

・MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Co., Ltd. (Representative Organization) (Kita-ku, Osaka, Representative Director & CEO Jun Miyakawa)

・AstraZeneca K.K. (Kita-ku, Osaka, Director, Innovation Partnerships & i2.JP, Insights & Business Excellence Division Lei Liu)

・MedTech Actuator LLC (Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan General Manager Junichi Higashi)

・ALLOY THERAPEUTICS Inc. (Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa, Representative Director Yoshihide Ishii)

・Deep Intelligent Pharma Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director Xing Li)

※2 NQ = Nakanoshima Qross

■ Positioning of This Event

The 'NQ Global Startup Gateway,' organized by Osaka Prefecture, is a project aiming to establish a startup ecosystem comparable to global standards and foster life science startups active worldwide. At 'Nakanoshima Qross,' Osaka's international hub for future medical innovation, we are promoting the concentration and development of startups that will be the driving force for further enhancing its function as an industrialization hub for future medicine, including regenerative medicine.

For startups in the life science field to commercialize their technologies, it is crucial to look towards overseas markets from an early stage and establish connections with global accelerators, investors, and corporations. This project supports the development of business strategies suitable for the global market and the formation of networks leading to overseas expansion through Nakanoshima Qross's unique incubation program. The NQ Innovation Challenge, to be held this time, is a significant milestone event that will showcase the results of these efforts and lead to the next growth opportunities.

■ Global Startup Creation Support Project (FY2025 & FY2026)
'NQ Health Accelerator Program'

The 'NQ Health Accelerator Program' aims to create globally active startups by providing a tailor-made startup support program and overseas travel support program. It is a program focused on overseas market expansion in collaboration with AstraZeneca and MedTech Actuator.

Approximately six months have passed since the kickoff event held in December. The 16 selected companies have each worked to step up to the next stage by leveraging the overwhelming global network, technical knowledge, and industry insights of the three collaborating companies. This was achieved through an educational program to acquire the latest information and skills necessary for international business development and a mentoring program to address individual challenges, enabling them to build and practice global-level business strategies.

Following this support, the NQ Innovation Challenge will feature pitch sessions by the 16 selected companies, from which three teams will advance to the next phase (Phase 2). The selected companies will receive further growth support and executive mentoring, followed by participation in the UK Immersion Program scheduled for September 2026, where they will work on collaborating with UK ecosystem players, understanding the local market, and forming partnerships.

■ Highlights of the Event

The main highlight of this event is the selective pitch competition where 16 life science startups, having completed approximately six months of incubation, will present their achievements and growth potential. It is not merely a presentation session but a 'challenge arena' to select promising startups from Osaka/Nakanoshima aiming for the global market and connect them to the next growth opportunities. A key feature is the evaluation based not only on technological uniqueness but also on global market expansion capability, business growth potential, and international co-creation possibilities.

Furthermore, a networking event involving corporations, investors, and support organizations will be held concurrently, providing startups with opportunities beyond selection, such as gaining new contacts for future collaborations, fundraising, and overseas expansion. It is also an opportunity to experience firsthand the function of Nakanoshima Qross as a hub for creating global startups in the future medical field.

In addition, Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University and CEO of AVITA Corporation, and Professor Yoshiki Sawai, Chairman of the General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Future Medical Care, will deliver keynote speeches. Through a dialogue between these two leading figures in different fields—Sawai, who has led the industrialization of regenerative medicine, and Ishiguro, who is advancing the social implementation of avatars and AI—perspectives relevant to the entire event will be presented on how to socially implement cutting-edge technologies and deploy them globally. This session is noteworthy for understanding the challenges presented in the pitches within the broader trend of future medicine and healthcare.

We invite you to cover and experience the functions of Nakanoshima Qross as a hub for the industrialization of future medicine, and a new model for creating startups from Osaka/Nakanoshima that challenge the global market.

■ About the UK Immersion Program

The three selected companies will participate in a one-week UK Immersion Program to deepen collaboration and network building with local ecosystem players in the UK and gain market understanding. This is a hands-on program where participants will stay in the UK, immerse themselves in the local ecosystem, explore the market, build partnerships, and forge new global opportunities.

■ Sponsorship by the British Consulate-General

This event is held under the auspices of the British Consulate-General. The UK possesses world-leading research infrastructure and industrial clusters in the life sciences sector, forming a mature ecosystem where universities, research institutions, medical institutions, startups, and investors collaborate closely. Particularly, clusters centered around Cambridge and London are globally leading the creation and commercialization of innovative medical technologies. This project positions connection with such advanced UK ecosystems as one of its key pillars, and the three selected companies will be offered opportunities for collaboration with local players and the UK Immersion Program to deepen their market understanding. The sponsorship by the British Consulate-General further strengthens UK-Japan collaboration in this initiative and supports the creation of highly effective global expansion opportunities for startups. Through connection with UK expertise and networks, startups originating from Osaka/Nakanoshima are expected to leap onto the global stage.

■ List of Selected Companies (16 Companies)

■ Event Overview

Date & Time: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM (including networking)

Location: Nakanoshima Qross 2F Qrossover Lounge Yume (4-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka)

Target Audience: Life Science Ecosystem Players
(Startups / University Researchers / Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Company Employees / Related Field Company Employees

/ VC, CVC, Investors, Financial Institutions / Medical Institution Personnel / Support Organizations, Local Governments / Media)

Language: Japanese/English (Simultaneous interpretation app available)

Participation Fee: Free

Organizer: Osaka Prefecture

Co-organizer: General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Future Medical Care

Sponsor: British Consulate-General

Operator: NQ Global Startup Gateway Joint Venture

Official Event Page: https://nqha-250512innovation-challenge.peatix.com/view

■ Program (Tentative):

1:00 PM Opening

1:10 PM Keynote Session

　　　　Speakers: Hiroshi Ishiguro, Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University; Representative Director, AVITA Corporation; Visiting Director, ATR Ishiguro Hiroshi Special Research Laboratory; Osaka Kansai Expo Theme Project Producer

　　　　Yoshiki Sawai, Chairman, General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Future Medical Care

1:50 PM Talk Session

"From Nakanoshima Qross to the World: The Potential of Future Medical Startups and the UK Ecosystem"

　　　　Speakers: Buzz Palmer — CEO, MedTech Actuator

　　　　Vikram Chand — Executive Officer, Head of R&D, AstraZeneca K.K.

　　　　Yu Moriguchi — Assistant Chairman, General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Future Medical Care

　　　　Others

2:30 PM Startup Pitch

5:20 PM Introduction & Tour of Osaka Life Science Nexus (O-Nexus)

6:00 PM Networking Reception

■ Media Coverage

If you wish to cover this event, please send an email to the contact below by 5:00 PM on Friday, May 8th, including:

1. Your Company Name

2. Contact Person's Name

3. Number of Attendees

4. Contact Phone Number

5. Email Address

6. Whether you plan to bring TV cameras (Yes/No)

【Contact Information】a.sakita@miracle-science-innovation.jp

NQ Global Startup Gateway Joint Venture

Representative Organization: MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Asuka Sakita

■ MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Co., Ltd.

Company Name: MIRACLE SCIENCE INNOVATION Co., Ltd.

Establishment Date: March 15, 2024

Representative: Jun Miyakawa, Representative Director & CEO

Location: Nakanoshima Qross Future Medical R&D Center, Mitsui Link Lab Nakanoshima, 4-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka

Business Activities: Human resource development, incubation, PHR business, planning, development, and operation management of living labs, etc.