March 29, 2026 National University Corporation Okayama University

https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/

◆Overview

National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City, President: Yasuyuki Hibino) is participating in the Chugoku-Shikoku Startup Ecosystem "Peace & Science Innovation Ecosystem (PSI)" (Lead institution: Hiroshima University) and is working to foster entrepreneurial human resources responsible for creating university-launched startups. Three students from our university have been selected as participants in the "2025 PSI Doctoral Program Dispatch Type (Asia Region) NUS GRIP" implemented by PSI, out of a total of five selected for the entire PSI program. They commenced their on-site training in Singapore on February 23, 2026.

This program provides doctoral students and others aspiring to start businesses with practical entrepreneurship education, including lectures and workshops, in an advanced overseas educational environment, assuming the commercialization of their research seeds.

This time, based on the "GRIP" deep tech startup creation program at the National University of Singapore (NUS), a curriculum is planned to progressively learn about fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, problem-solving thinking, business design and market understanding, and pitching to investors. The on-site training will be conducted from February 23 to March 13, with a stay of 20 days (approximately 3 weeks).

The participants from our university are WANGANUTTARA THAMONWAN, a third-year doctoral student in the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences; DOSSOU KPONGAN, a second-year doctoral student in the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences; and Hiromu Nakajima, a first-year student in the same program.

Okayama University will continue to promote the social implementation of research results and the development of next-generation entrepreneurial human resources in collaboration with regional and international networks, including PSI. We look forward to your continued support for the initiatives of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university.

This information was released by Okayama University on March 2, 2026.

Scenes from the training

Group photo of participants

◆Reference

・University-launched Startup Creation Platform "Peace & Science Innovation Ecosystem (PSI)"

https://psi-ecosystem.net/

・2025 PSI Doctoral Program Dispatch Type (Asia Region) NUS GRIP

https://venture.okayama-u.ac.jp/topics/2224/

・National University of Singapore (NUS) Deep Tech Startup Creation Program "GRIP"

https://www.nus.edu.sg/grip/programme/

・Okayama University Organization for Research and Innovation

https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/

・Okayama University Organization for Research and Innovation, Startup and Venture Creation Headquarters

https://venture.okayama-u.ac.jp/

・Okayama University "Okayama University Venture Support Terrace V-Story" Entrepreneurship Consultation Desk

https://venture.okayama-u.ac.jp/consultation/

◆Reference Information

・[Okayama University] Ikumi Kamata, a graduate student from our university, received an award at the "2nd PSI Student Idea Pitch in Tokushima" gathering nine universities from the Chugoku-Shikoku region!

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003864.000072793.html

・[Okayama University] Passionate challenges for future co-creation! Okayama University researchers present at PSI GAP Fund Step 1 "DemoDay2025"

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003106.000072793.html

・[Okayama University] Associate Professor Junpei Uchiyama of Okayama University's Academic Research Cluster for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences selected for "PSI GAP Fund Step 2" - Towards the creation of new veterinary drugs using antibacterial enzymes -

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003085.000072793.html

・[Okayama University] Okayama University students receive awards at the PSI Student Idea Pitch involving six universities from the Chugoku-Shikoku region

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000002963.000072793.html

・[Okayama University] Held a seminar on entrepreneurship in drug discovery: "Aiming for Startup Success ~Startup Cases and Introduction to the GAP Fund~"

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000002177.000072793.html

・[Okayama University] "Peace & Science Innovation Ecosystem," in which Okayama University participates, selected for JST's "Startup Ecosystem Co-creation Program" under the "University-Origin New Industry Creation Fund Project"

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001971.000072793.html

Okayama University Tsushima Campus (Kita-ku, Okayama City)

◆Contact for Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Startup and Venture Creation Headquarters, Organization for Research and Innovation, Okayama University

1st Floor, Main Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8530 E-mail: start-up1◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp *Please replace ◎ with @.

https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/news/news_id15124.html

＜Regarding collaboration with Okayama University Hospital, etc. (for pharmaceutical and medical device company representatives)＞ Center for Advanced Medical Research and Development, Okayama University Hospital 2-5-1 Shikada-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8558 Please inquire about relevant matters via the URL below. http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/ph_company/

＜Regarding collaboration with Okayama University Hospital, etc. (for medical professionals and researchers)＞ Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Office, Research Promotion Division, Okayama University Hospital 2-5-1 Shikada-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8558 TEL: 086-235-7983 E-mail: ouh-csnw◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp *Please replace ◎ with @. http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/medical/

＜Contact for inquiries regarding industry-academia collaboration, etc. at Okayama University＞ Industry-Academia Collaboration Headquarters, Organization for Research and Innovation, Okayama University 1st Floor, Main Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8530 TEL: 086-251-8463 E-mail: sangaku◎okayama-u.ac.jp *Please replace ◎ with @. https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/

＜Contact for inquiries regarding shared research equipment (core facilities), etc. at Okayama University＞ Task Force for Strengthening and Promoting the System for Sharing Research Equipment at Okayama University (Abbreviation: Team Kyoyo) 1st Floor, Main Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8530 TEL: 086-251-8705 FAX: 086-251-7114 E-mail: cfp◎okayama-u.ac.jp *Please replace ◎ with @. https://corefacility-potal.fsp.okayama-u.ac.jp/

＜Contact for inquiries regarding startups and ventures at Okayama University＞

Startup and Venture Creation Headquarters, Organization for Research and Innovation, Okayama University

1st Floor, Main Building, Okayama University Tsushima Campus, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, 700-8530 E-mail: start-up1◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp *Please replace ◎ with @.

https://venture.okayama-u.ac.jp/

Okayama University Media "OTD" (App): https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000011.000072793.html Okayama University Media "OTD" (Web): https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000215.000072793.html

Okayama University Original Goods Online Shop: https://okadaigoods.official.ec/

Okayama University Integrated Report 2025: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003715.000072793.html Okayama University SDGs Website: https://sdgs.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Okayama University SDGs ~Thinking about the Sustainability of Regional Society~ (YouTube): https://youtu.be/Qdqjy4mw4ik Okayama University Image Movie (YouTube): https://youtu.be/pKMHm4XJLtw

Okayama University "Regional Core and Distinctive Research University Enhancement Promotion Project (J-PEAKS)": https://j-peaks.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/

Industry-Academia Co-creation Activity "Okayama University Open Innovation Challenge" Partner Recruitment for January 2026 Period: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003714.000072793.html

Research Equipment Rental/Lease with No Installation, Maintenance, Repair, or Removal Costs "SX Platform"

https://sxplatform.jp/

National University Corporation Okayama University supports the United Nations' "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" and received a Special Prize at the first "Japan SDGs Award." We look forward to Okayama University's continued efforts in co-education and co-creation as a regional core and distinctive research university.

・ Okayama University Selected for MEXT's "Regional Core and Distinctive Research University Enhancement Promotion Project (J-PEAKS)" - Accelerating the realization of Okayama University as a research university that co-creates the future of regions and the globe and becomes a core of global innovation, while building a mountain range of world-class research universities in Japan.

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001935.000072793.html

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  • Source: PR TIMES
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