Singapore’s National University of Singapore (NUS) is expanding its footprint in Japan by launching its second BLOCK71 office in Tokyo to propel deeptech innovation.
This follows the inauguration of its first Japanese location in Nagoya in November 2024.
NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of NUS, collaborates with key partners Central Japan Innovation Capital (CJIC), Kyoto University, and TIS Inc., a leading Japanese IT company, to support startups, researchers, and students while fostering investor connections. These strategic alliances align with Japan’s national agenda to accelerate the growth of its burgeoning startup ecosystem.
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Located at the TAKANAWA GATEWAY Link Scholars’ Hub, BLOCK71 Tokyo will serve as a crucial hub for Southeast Asian tech-driven startups seeking to expand into Japan. The initiative also aims to equip Japanese startups with the necessary resources to venture into Southeast Asia and beyond.
The strategic location within an urban development focused on environmental sustainability, mobility and robotics, and smart health provides a pertinent ecosystem for relevant startups.
Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President, emphasised Japan’s robust foundation in technology and research as an “ideal environment for startup growth”. He highlighted that Japan ranks among the top three globally for patent applications and invests over three per cent of its GDP in R&D.
“With BLOCK71 Tokyo located in the country’s latest innovation hub, we have a strategic platform to connect startups and drive cross-border collaboration,” Professor Tan stated. He further noted the partnerships with a leading Japanese university, a major corporation, and a prominent venture capital firm, all sharing a vision to cultivate deep tech innovation and establish a robust global ecosystem.
To deepen its impact, NUS has forged three new strategic partnerships. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CJIC, a subsidiary of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, CJIC will invest up to five per cent of its assets under management in NUS-affiliated deep tech startups. CJIC’s fund aims to raise approximately ¥5 billion (approximately US$32.5 million) by the end of its fundraising, expected in November 2025.
The collaboration with Kyoto University will enhance entrepreneurial support for deeptech startups. As a primary step, Kyoto University will send startups to participate in the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (NUS GRIP) and become the first overseas university partner in a localised version of the programme.
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NUS partnered with TIS to build a globally connected startup ecosystem through the Deep Tech Seed to A Growth Expansion Programme (Deep-SAGE). TIS will commit a total of ¥840 million (~US$5.46 million) to support Deep-SAGE over the next three years, with plans to invest a minimum of ¥55 million (~US$357,500) each in at least two startups per cohort.
Following the success of previous immersion programmes, BLOCK71 Japan will launch its third edition in Tokyo in May 2025, focusing on environmental sustainability, mobility and robotics, and smart health. This will provide Southeast Asian startups with opportunities to showcase their solutions and build connections with local partners.
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