Kobe Medical Industry City to Host Joint Event "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit" to Foster Innovation
Key facts
- Kobe Medical Industry City to Host Joint Event "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit" to Foster Innovation
- iPark Institute Inc. will co-host the "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit" with Kobe City, the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, Kobe University, and RIKEN. This summit is a key initiative under the "Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City" signed on January 20, 2026, aiming to promote innovation in R&D processes using AI and robotics.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 12, 2026
Direct answer
iPark Institute Inc. will co-host the "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit" with Kobe City, the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, Kobe University, and RIKEN. This summit is a key initiative under the "Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City" signed on January 20, 2026, aiming to promote innovation in R&D processes using AI and robotics.
- Citation
- Kobe Medical Industry City to Host Joint Event "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit" to Foster Innovation (June 12, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 12, 2026
iPark Institute Inc. will co-host the "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit" with Kobe City, the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, Kobe University, and RIKEN. This summit is a key initiative under the "Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City" signed on January 20, 2026, aiming to promote innovation in R&D processes using AI and robotics.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 12, 2026 at 14:21
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 16:51 (2h 30m after Collected)
iPark Institute Inc. (Headquarters: Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Toshio Fujimoto, hereinafter "iPark Institute") will co-host the "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit" on July 15th this year with Kobe City, the Organization for Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, Kobe University, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (RIKEN).
The seven parties, including the five co-hosts of this summit, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development, signed the "Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City" (*1) on January 20, 2026. The purpose is to build an ecosystem that promotes exchange and collaboration among related organizations and companies in research, and fosters innovation within the "Kobe Medical Industry City," one of Japan's largest biomedical clusters. This summit, held with the gathering of global players in the AI for Science and Lab Automation fields, looking ahead to the opening of iPark Kobe (*2) at the end of 2027, is positioned as one of the important initiatives of this agreement.
(*1) [Press Release] Announcement of the Signing of the "Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City"
(*2) [Press Release] Development of "iPark Kobe (tentative name)" as a Research and Development Hub in Kobe Medical Industry City
Under the main theme of "Towards New Implementation of R&D Processes with AI x Robotics," this summit will cover discussions across three layers: theory, implementation, and infrastructure, from the evolution of computational resources and infrastructure to the latest status of AI models and data platforms.
By bringing together stakeholders from information science (Dry) and life science (Wet) in Kobe, we aim to promote the formation of an ecosystem foundation in Kobe and deepen discussions on the current state and future implementation of next-generation R&D processes through panel discussions and other formats.
Event Overview
[Date and Time]
Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 13:00 - 17:40 (Networking Reception: 17:50 - 19:30)
[Venue]
Kobe University Research Organization for Advanced Science and Technology, Convention Hall
(7-1-48 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047)
*The networking reception will be held from 17:50 at the following venue:
Creative Lab KOBE (CLIK) 2F Innovation Park
(6-3-7 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047)
[Program Content]
(1) Opening Remarks
(2) Keynote Speech ① (13:20 - 13:50)
Title: Horizons of Computational Science "Next-Generation Computing and AI for Science Foundations Driving Scientific Paradigm Shifts"
Speaker: Satoshi Matsuoka, Director, RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS)
Keynote Speech ② (13:50 - 14:10)
Title: Implementation in Biomanufacturing
"Data-Driven Biomanufacturing: The Forefront of Smart Cell Development with AI and Autonomous Robots"
Speaker: Masahisa Hasunuma, Director, Advanced Engineering Center, Kobe University
(3) Keynote Speech ③ (14:10 - 14:30)
Title: Implementation in Medical Fields
"AI and Robotics Realizing Future Medicine: Fusion with Smart Operating Rooms and New Medical Device Development using hinotori™"
Speaker: Yoshihiro Muragaki, Professor, Department of Medical Innovation, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
(4) Corporate Speech ① (14:40 - 15:10)
Title: Generative AI and Autonomous Lab Platforms Accelerating Drug Discovery and Longevity Research
--From Development to Clinical Validation and International Collaboration
Speaker: Insilico Medicine
(5) Corporate Speech ② (15:10 - 15:40)
Title: Domestic Cutting-Edge Implementation "Technical Implementation and Evolution of Research Environments Through Mahol-A-Ba Development"
Speaker: Kazuhito Ikimame, Principal Scientist, Innovation Lab, Astellas Pharma Inc.
(6) Corporate Speech ③ (15:40 - 16:10)
Title: (Details to be announced later)
Speaker: Lila Sciences
(7) Fireside Chat (16:10 - 17:25)
Theme: "Automation and AI Transforming R&D and Democratizing/Accelerating Bio/Medical Fields"
[Moderator]
Koichi Takahashi, Team Director, Bio-computing Research Team, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)
[Panelists]
Insilico Medicine
Kazuhito Ikimame (Astellas Pharma Inc.)
Lila Sciences
Mitsu Morimoto, Team Director, Respiratory Formation Research Team, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)
(8) Introduction to iPark Kobe & Closing
(9) Networking Reception
[How to Apply]
General Public: Please apply from the URL below (Capacity: 300 on-site attendees, first-come, first-served basis)
https://kobe-ai.peatix.com
*Media wishing to cover the event, please contact us by July 10 (Friday) at:
iPi.PR@shonan-ipark.com
[Participation Fee] Free (Networking reception is charged)
[Organizers] Kobe City, Organization for Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, RIKEN, Kobe University, iPark Institute Inc.
[Special Sponsorship] Mitsubishi Corporation
About iPark Institute Inc.
iPark Institute Inc. was established in April 2023 with major shareholders including Industrial Innovation Investment Corporation (IIF), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and Mitsubishi Corporation. In 2023, it took over the business of operating Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark) (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture), which had been managed by Takeda since 2018. In addition to facility operation and management, the company engages in activities to build and revitalize the life science ecosystem, such as promoting innovation and facilitating technological exchange and research collaboration. For more detailed information about our company, please click here.
About Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)
Shonan iPark, launched in April 2018 when Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited opened its research facilities to the outside, is Japan's first science park originating from a pharmaceutical company. Currently operated by iPark Institute Inc., independent from Takeda, it aims to be a place that accelerates health innovation by bringing together industry, government, and academia from a wide range of industries and scales. Approximately 220 companies and organizations in pharmaceuticals, next-generation medicine, cellular agriculture, AI, and government are currently gathered, forming a life science ecosystem with about 3,500 people (as of June 2026).
Official HP: https://www.shonan-ipark.com
Latest tenants/member companies and organizations at Shonan iPark: Click here
Official SNS: YouTube / Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / LinkedIn
The seven parties, including the five co-hosts of this summit, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development, signed the "Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City" (*1) on January 20, 2026. The purpose is to build an ecosystem that promotes exchange and collaboration among related organizations and companies in research, and fosters innovation within the "Kobe Medical Industry City," one of Japan's largest biomedical clusters. This summit, held with the gathering of global players in the AI for Science and Lab Automation fields, looking ahead to the opening of iPark Kobe (*2) at the end of 2027, is positioned as one of the important initiatives of this agreement.
(*1) [Press Release] Announcement of the Signing of the "Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City"
(*2) [Press Release] Development of "iPark Kobe (tentative name)" as a Research and Development Hub in Kobe Medical Industry City
Under the main theme of "Towards New Implementation of R&D Processes with AI x Robotics," this summit will cover discussions across three layers: theory, implementation, and infrastructure, from the evolution of computational resources and infrastructure to the latest status of AI models and data platforms.
By bringing together stakeholders from information science (Dry) and life science (Wet) in Kobe, we aim to promote the formation of an ecosystem foundation in Kobe and deepen discussions on the current state and future implementation of next-generation R&D processes through panel discussions and other formats.
Event Overview
[Date and Time]
Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 13:00 - 17:40 (Networking Reception: 17:50 - 19:30)
[Venue]
Kobe University Research Organization for Advanced Science and Technology, Convention Hall
(7-1-48 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047)
*The networking reception will be held from 17:50 at the following venue:
Creative Lab KOBE (CLIK) 2F Innovation Park
(6-3-7 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047)
[Program Content]
(1) Opening Remarks
(2) Keynote Speech ① (13:20 - 13:50)
Title: Horizons of Computational Science "Next-Generation Computing and AI for Science Foundations Driving Scientific Paradigm Shifts"
Speaker: Satoshi Matsuoka, Director, RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS)
Keynote Speech ② (13:50 - 14:10)
Title: Implementation in Biomanufacturing
"Data-Driven Biomanufacturing: The Forefront of Smart Cell Development with AI and Autonomous Robots"
Speaker: Masahisa Hasunuma, Director, Advanced Engineering Center, Kobe University
(3) Keynote Speech ③ (14:10 - 14:30)
Title: Implementation in Medical Fields
"AI and Robotics Realizing Future Medicine: Fusion with Smart Operating Rooms and New Medical Device Development using hinotori™"
Speaker: Yoshihiro Muragaki, Professor, Department of Medical Innovation, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
(4) Corporate Speech ① (14:40 - 15:10)
Title: Generative AI and Autonomous Lab Platforms Accelerating Drug Discovery and Longevity Research
--From Development to Clinical Validation and International Collaboration
Speaker: Insilico Medicine
(5) Corporate Speech ② (15:10 - 15:40)
Title: Domestic Cutting-Edge Implementation "Technical Implementation and Evolution of Research Environments Through Mahol-A-Ba Development"
Speaker: Kazuhito Ikimame, Principal Scientist, Innovation Lab, Astellas Pharma Inc.
(6) Corporate Speech ③ (15:40 - 16:10)
Title: (Details to be announced later)
Speaker: Lila Sciences
(7) Fireside Chat (16:10 - 17:25)
Theme: "Automation and AI Transforming R&D and Democratizing/Accelerating Bio/Medical Fields"
[Moderator]
Koichi Takahashi, Team Director, Bio-computing Research Team, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)
[Panelists]
Insilico Medicine
Kazuhito Ikimame (Astellas Pharma Inc.)
Lila Sciences
Mitsu Morimoto, Team Director, Respiratory Formation Research Team, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)
(8) Introduction to iPark Kobe & Closing
(9) Networking Reception
[How to Apply]
General Public: Please apply from the URL below (Capacity: 300 on-site attendees, first-come, first-served basis)
https://kobe-ai.peatix.com
*Media wishing to cover the event, please contact us by July 10 (Friday) at:
iPi.PR@shonan-ipark.com
[Participation Fee] Free (Networking reception is charged)
[Organizers] Kobe City, Organization for Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, RIKEN, Kobe University, iPark Institute Inc.
[Special Sponsorship] Mitsubishi Corporation
About iPark Institute Inc.
iPark Institute Inc. was established in April 2023 with major shareholders including Industrial Innovation Investment Corporation (IIF), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and Mitsubishi Corporation. In 2023, it took over the business of operating Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark) (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture), which had been managed by Takeda since 2018. In addition to facility operation and management, the company engages in activities to build and revitalize the life science ecosystem, such as promoting innovation and facilitating technological exchange and research collaboration. For more detailed information about our company, please click here.
About Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)
Shonan iPark, launched in April 2018 when Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited opened its research facilities to the outside, is Japan's first science park originating from a pharmaceutical company. Currently operated by iPark Institute Inc., independent from Takeda, it aims to be a place that accelerates health innovation by bringing together industry, government, and academia from a wide range of industries and scales. Approximately 220 companies and organizations in pharmaceuticals, next-generation medicine, cellular agriculture, AI, and government are currently gathered, forming a life science ecosystem with about 3,500 people (as of June 2026).
Official HP: https://www.shonan-ipark.com
Latest tenants/member companies and organizations at Shonan iPark: Click here
Official SNS: YouTube / Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / LinkedIn
FAQ
What is the purpose of the "AI for Science & Lab Automation Summit"?
To promote new implementations in R&D processes using AI and robotics, and to foster innovation through collaboration among industry, government, and academia.
What kind of experts will participate in the event?
Researchers and industry professionals from information science (Dry) and life science (Wet) fields, as well as global players in AI and robotics.
What kind of discussions will take place at the event?
Discussions will cover computational resources, infrastructure, the latest status of AI models/data platforms, and the theory, implementation, and infrastructure of R&D using AI x robotics.
What is the collaboration agreement in the Kobe Medical Industry City?
It is an agreement signed to promote exchange and collaboration among related organizations and companies, and to build an ecosystem for innovation creation.
What is iPark Kobe?
It is a planned R&D hub facility within the Kobe Medical Industry City, aiming for opening at the end of 2027.