In recent years, Taiwan and Japan have seen closer business exchanges, with numerous forums, summits, and business matchmaking events taking place, highlighting the strong expectations and proactive efforts of both governments and peoples for bilateral industry cooperation. This year, with AI technology continuously disrupting the boundaries of various industries, an increasing number of Taiwanese companies are actively participating in international exhibitions and competitions in Japan, hoping to find opportunities and expand their business quickly in the face of a changing environment.
Recently, Taiwan’s startup CancerFree Biotech received two prestigious awards at the Asian Entrepreneurship Award (AEA), namely the Life Science Award and the Audience Award. This marks the fourth time the company has won an international award in Japan this year. Following its previous wins at competitions like SusHi Tech, KOZAROCKS, and RAMEN TECH, the company’s “Avatar Medicine” technology, which assists cancer patients with drug testing, has once again attracted significant international attention.
Promoting the Development of the Asian Innovation Ecosystem: The First In-Person Event in Five Years
The Asian Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) this year was held in Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, also known as the Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City, developed and jointly operated by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. The event continues to promote research institutions, university clusters, renewable energy, smart grids, and information and communication technologies (ICT), aiming to achieve three major goals: “new industry creation,” “health and longevity,” and “environmental symbiosis.”
The event was hosted by the AEA Steering Committee and co-organized by prominent organizations such as The University of Tokyo, Mitsui Fudosan, TX Entrepreneur Partners, Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs (JASVE), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the Kashiwa City Government. It has gained considerable influence in the region.
The AEA Steering Committee Chairman, Shigeo Kagami, President of JASVE and a professor at The University of Tokyo, played a key role in this year’s event. The AEA has been held annually since 2012 to promote the development of innovation ecosystems in Asian countries and optimize international entrepreneurial exchanges. This year marks the first in-person event in five years. To date, 295 startups from 16 countries and regions have participated, with past participants such as EDP Corporation and Cyfuse Biomedical K.K. successfully listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Growth Market, and Axelspace raising ¥1.43 billion.
Stepping onto the International Stage Again: Avatar MedicineShows Promise
This year’s competition was completely by recommendation, with eligible participants required to be nominated by leaders of public, private, or academic institution accelerators or incubators. CancerFree Biotech was recommended by JETRO to participate. A total of 64 companies from 13 countries submitted applications, and six were selected for the finals. During the finals, CancerFree Biotech’s CEO, Po Chen, presented the company’s vision of putting patients first and showcased the company’s rich experience in using its exclusive technology to assist cancer patients in fighting cancer. The company has already helped over 1,500 cancer patients and received high international recognition. CancerFree Biotech was awarded the Life Science Award by LINK-J (Life Science Innovation Network Japan), the only award in the event related to life sciences, marking a significant breakthrough in the field.
LINK-J focuses on medical care, personalized medicine, drug development, and other related fields, regularly holding seminars, networking events, and accelerator programs. Its international partners include BIOCOM, UC San Diego, and Eurobiomed, aiming to promote cross-border collaboration and open innovation.
CancerFree Biotech’s Core Technology: Cancer Avatar Technology
One of CancerFree Biotech’s core technologies, “Avatar Medicine” is a form of precision cancer medicine. It uses tumor organoids derived from patients as “avatars” for drug response testing, enabling the precise screening of the most suitable treatment options for patients and reducing the risks they face during treatment. This technology has sparked global interest and has become a focal point in top academic journals and international exhibitions.
Building a Symbiotic Ecosystem, Boosting Startup Momentum
This year has been a fruitful year for Taiwan-Japan business exchanges, with many Taiwanese and Japanese companies and institutions establishing close cooperation, laying the foundation for long-term development. In recent years, bilateral business cooperation has created a friendly environment for exchange and has supported the new generation of talent to fully unleash their creativity. The future industrial momentum is promising.
The Asian Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) was held in Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. Pictured here is Kazumi Ota, the Mayor of Kashiwa City.
CancerFree Biotech won the Life Science Award from LINK-J, the only award related to life sciences in this event. Pictured are Akihiko Soyama, CEO of LINK-J, and Po Chen, CEO of CancerFree Biotech.
The Asian Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) aims to promote the development of innovation ecosystems across Asia and optimize international entrepreneurial exchanges. This year marks the first in-person event in five years.
