HOKKAIDO SPACE SUMMIT, SAPPORO LINK 2026: 12 Speakers Including Interstellar Technologies and Iwatani Giken Announced
SPACE COTAN Inc. and the STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee have announced the program and 12 speakers for the "HOKKAIDO SPACE SUMMIT, SAPPORO LINK 2026," to be held on June 2, 2026, in Sapporo. The summit aims to create new business opportunities through keynotes, sessions on the forefront of space business, a startup pitch, and a networking event.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 15:09 (37 min after Collected)
SPACE COTAN Inc. (Headquarters: Taiki-cho, Hiroo-gun, Hokkaido; Representative Director, President & CEO: Yoshinori Odagiri) and the STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee (Location: Sapporo City, Hokkaido; Secretary-General: Kyohei Fujima) are pleased to announce the program and 12 speakers for the "HOKKAIDO SPACE SUMMIT, SAPPORO LINK 2026," to be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at New Otani Inn Sapporo in Chuo-ku, Sapporo.
This summit will feature keynote speeches conveying the forefront of space business and practical sessions. Furthermore, the SPECIAL PITCH, which connects startups with companies and investors, will introduce the space initiatives of startup companies, providing opportunities for business expansion and entry into fields ranging from space transport to satellite data utilization.
Diverse Programs for Creating New Business Opportunities Centered on Space
This summit will be held for the first time in Sapporo, the economic center of Hokkaido, as a "starting point for accelerating industrial collaboration," connecting to the "Hokkaido Space Summit" held annually in Obihiro. This time, in addition to keynote speeches, sessions will be held on the themes of "Realization of Space Transport" and "Economic Utilization of Space and its Peripheral Industries." By sharing concrete initiatives and deepening discussions among Hokkaido players beyond regional boundaries, the summit will provide opportunities for participation in space business.
Additionally, during breaks between sessions, startup companies will present in the SPECIAL PITCH, seeking possibilities for business collaboration and co-creation with regional businesses. Furthermore, a networking event "MEETUP" will be held as a venue to share the latest industry trends and case studies, and to connect directly with new business partners.
Speaker List
■ Organizer's Greeting
Yoshinori Odagiri, Representative Director, President & CEO, SPACE COTAN Inc.
■ Keynote Speech
Hideyuki Urata, Director, Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
■ Session 01: Space Transport Session
Shota Kotani, Production Technology Section Manager, Development Department, Interstellar Technologies Inc.
Takehiro Suzuki, Manager, Rocket Business Promotion Office, Toyota Motor Hokkaido Corporation
Soichiro Ueno, Founder & CEO, IDDK Inc.
Kyohei Fujima, Secretary-General, STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee: Moderator
■ SPECIAL PITCH
Norimitsu Uemori, Representative Director, President, HIREC Inc.
Rin Sato, Representative Director, CEO, Kick Space Technologies Inc.
■ Session 02: Space Utilization and Peripheral Industries Session
Keisuke Iwatani, Representative Director, Inventor, Iwatani Giken Inc.
Makoto Higashijima, Group Leader, Space Group, Business Development Department, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
Kenichi Sato, Space Business Development Group, JTB Tourism Business Headquarters Inc.
Kenta Takahashi, Area Manager (Space), STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee: Moderator
Sponsors
Hokkaido Broadcasting Co., Ltd., SOC Inc., NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation,
Kuribayashi Shokai Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc., Regions Co., Ltd.
Event Overview
Title: HOKKAIDO SPACE SUMMIT, SAPPORO LINK 2026
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 14:30-19:30 (Reception: 14:00)
Venue: New Otani Inn Sapporo (1-1-1 Kita 2-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0002)
Program: Keynote speech, Talk sessions, SPECIAL PITCH (from 14:30), MEETUP (from 18:00)
Format: In-person event
Number of Participants: Keynote speech, Talk sessions: 300 people, MEETUP (networking event): 150 people
Participation Fee: Keynote speech, Talk sessions: Free, MEETUP (networking event): 10,000 JPY/person
Website: https://hokkaidospaceport.com/sapporolink/
To register for this summit, please apply via the following URL (Peatix).
Dedicated application URL (Peatix): https://hokkaidospacesummit-sapporolink.peatix.com
*Registration may close once the capacity is reached, so please register early.
Organizer
SPACE COTAN Inc.
Co-organizer
STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee (Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, etc.)
Endorsed by
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Hokkaido Bureau of Telecommunications, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Taiki Town, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Hokkaido Economic Federation, Hokkaido Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation, Hokuyo Bank, Ltd., Hokkaido Bank, Ltd., Space Port Japan Association
This summit will feature keynote speeches conveying the forefront of space business and practical sessions. Furthermore, the SPECIAL PITCH, which connects startups with companies and investors, will introduce the space initiatives of startup companies, providing opportunities for business expansion and entry into fields ranging from space transport to satellite data utilization.
Diverse Programs for Creating New Business Opportunities Centered on Space
This summit will be held for the first time in Sapporo, the economic center of Hokkaido, as a "starting point for accelerating industrial collaboration," connecting to the "Hokkaido Space Summit" held annually in Obihiro. This time, in addition to keynote speeches, sessions will be held on the themes of "Realization of Space Transport" and "Economic Utilization of Space and its Peripheral Industries." By sharing concrete initiatives and deepening discussions among Hokkaido players beyond regional boundaries, the summit will provide opportunities for participation in space business.
Additionally, during breaks between sessions, startup companies will present in the SPECIAL PITCH, seeking possibilities for business collaboration and co-creation with regional businesses. Furthermore, a networking event "MEETUP" will be held as a venue to share the latest industry trends and case studies, and to connect directly with new business partners.
Speaker List
■ Organizer's Greeting
Yoshinori Odagiri, Representative Director, President & CEO, SPACE COTAN Inc.
■ Keynote Speech
Hideyuki Urata, Director, Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
■ Session 01: Space Transport Session
Shota Kotani, Production Technology Section Manager, Development Department, Interstellar Technologies Inc.
Takehiro Suzuki, Manager, Rocket Business Promotion Office, Toyota Motor Hokkaido Corporation
Soichiro Ueno, Founder & CEO, IDDK Inc.
Kyohei Fujima, Secretary-General, STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee: Moderator
■ SPECIAL PITCH
Norimitsu Uemori, Representative Director, President, HIREC Inc.
Rin Sato, Representative Director, CEO, Kick Space Technologies Inc.
■ Session 02: Space Utilization and Peripheral Industries Session
Keisuke Iwatani, Representative Director, Inventor, Iwatani Giken Inc.
Makoto Higashijima, Group Leader, Space Group, Business Development Department, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
Kenichi Sato, Space Business Development Group, JTB Tourism Business Headquarters Inc.
Kenta Takahashi, Area Manager (Space), STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee: Moderator
Sponsors
Hokkaido Broadcasting Co., Ltd., SOC Inc., NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation,
Kuribayashi Shokai Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc., Regions Co., Ltd.
Event Overview
Title: HOKKAIDO SPACE SUMMIT, SAPPORO LINK 2026
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 14:30-19:30 (Reception: 14:00)
Venue: New Otani Inn Sapporo (1-1-1 Kita 2-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0002)
Program: Keynote speech, Talk sessions, SPECIAL PITCH (from 14:30), MEETUP (from 18:00)
Format: In-person event
Number of Participants: Keynote speech, Talk sessions: 300 people, MEETUP (networking event): 150 people
Participation Fee: Keynote speech, Talk sessions: Free, MEETUP (networking event): 10,000 JPY/person
Website: https://hokkaidospaceport.com/sapporolink/
To register for this summit, please apply via the following URL (Peatix).
Dedicated application URL (Peatix): https://hokkaidospacesummit-sapporolink.peatix.com
*Registration may close once the capacity is reached, so please register early.
Organizer
SPACE COTAN Inc.
Co-organizer
STARTUP HOKKAIDO Executive Committee (Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, etc.)
Endorsed by
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Hokkaido Bureau of Telecommunications, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Taiki Town, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Hokkaido Economic Federation, Hokkaido Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation, Hokuyo Bank, Ltd., Hokkaido Bank, Ltd., Space Port Japan Association