Top leaders from industry, academia, and government, along with global players, gathered, and the Mayor of Osaka delivered a speech.
CIC Japan held the event “O-Nexus: Osaka Life Science Nexus – The Showcase” on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at “Osaka Life Science Nexus (hereinafter, O-Nexus)” located within “Nakanoshima Qross,” an international hub for future medical care in Nakanoshima, Osaka.
On the day of the event, participants from government agencies, healthcare providers, universities, investors, startups, and large corporations—all leading figures in the life sciences field both domestically and internationally—gathered together. The event was hosted to showcase the participation of global players in the new center, and to demonstrate O-Nexus’s role as a hub that connects Kansai with the world in a tangible way, generating new collaborations, business opportunities, and value creation, both domestically and internationally.
At the start of the event, Mr. Yoshiki Sawa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Future Medical Promotion Foundation, gave the opening address, and Mr. Hideyuki Yokoyama, Mayor of Osaka, gave a toast in English.
Greeting from Dr. Yoshiki Sawa, President, Organization of Future Medicine
“Today, so many of you have gathered here, and I feel the great expectations for O-Nexus. Two years have passed since Nakanoshima Qross was launched, and with Nippon Life Insurance Company firmly shaping it and CIC managing the space, it is truly the ultimate combination. I believe that education, startup incubation, and, ultimately, the funding mechanisms that lead to them are important, and I hope that together with all of you, from a business and global perspective, we can realize these things and that incredible businesses will come to fruition in this lively and enjoyable atmosphere.”
Toast speech by Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama
“Osaka and the Kansai region have long been a hub of innovation, boasting an excellent business environment, rich culture, and convenient access to Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Through the partnership between Nippon Life and CIC, we are taking an important step in connecting Osaka with the world. We are truly excited to see O-Nexus take shape here, serving as a bridge for new ideas, new partnerships, and new breakthroughs that will improve the lives of people around the world.”
Session 1: “Kansai Life Science Ecosystem Connecting with the World”
In the subsequent session, Shinobu Suzuki from Kyoto University’s Growth Strategy Headquarters, Haruhiko Koike from the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, and Lei Liu from AstraZeneca K.K. took the stage to exchange opinions under the moderation of Ayano Kagami from CIC Catalyst APAC. The discussion focused on the possibilities of co-creation among universities, research institutions, companies, and government agencies, and explored the unique strengths of the region and a vision for a globally connected future, under the theme of “Why Kansai?”
“Kansai boasts world-class research institutions, such as Kyoto University and Osaka University, a long history as a pharmaceutical hub, and a concentration of major corporations. In recent years, there has been a surge in activity among everyone considering the ecosystem. As a university, we want to create a solid economic foundation to enhance our research capabilities, and together with everyone, we want to build a system that allows universities to fully participate in this ecosystem.” – Ms Shinobu Suzuki,Ph.D., Head of Growth Strategy, Kyoto University
“As Professor Sawa mentioned, Kansai already has a strong foundation of academic resources, and now a platform has been created there to attract more people. I feel that we are now moving towards a step where money circulates more freely and businesses run smoothly. Our company is also committed to taking that next step.” – Mr. Lei Liu, Ph.D. AstraZeneca K.K.
“I work closely with companies and startups in Kobe on a daily basis. I have a particular focus on fundraising, and support activities that enable Japanese startups to grow globally through investment and assistance.” – Haruhiko Koike, Ph.D., Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster Promotion Organization (a public interest incorporated foundation)
Session 2: “A Gateway to Global Innovation”
In the second half, Michelle Ottey, President of CIC Campuses and Labs, and Timon Rupp, Managing Director of CIC Berlin, took the stage for a session moderated by Shino Tsuchiya, Global Partner of CIC Catalyst APAC. They discussed how O-Nexus connects with major innovation cities around the world and what opportunities may arise from that connection.
“CIC is more than just a space provider; it’s a gateway to innovation and a global ecosystem. Our Philadelphia lab hub provides a research lab environment that allows startups to make the most of their limited funds for longer periods and continue R&D with low risk. By utilizing CIC’s lab facilities, startups can reduce their initial investment, extend their working capital 3 to 5 years, and focus on R&D. This lowers barriers to entry and accelerates business growth. We encourage all O-Nexus tenants to make the most of CIC.” – President, Campuses and Labs at CIC: Michelle Ottey
“In Berlin, by developing the necessary infrastructure and involving the government in legal reforms, we grew a remote-control startup that began with just three people into a successful company in the United States. What we value most is that even if everything seems like a coincidence, it’s actually a collision that was intentionally designed. In fact, a project that started with a meeting at an aerospace breakfast evolved into a technology combining hydrogen drones and VR simulators, and ultimately led to a demonstration experiment program at Yokohama Port in Japan. Through this chain of intentional coincidences, we connect Berlin, O-Nexus, and Japan.” – Timon Rup, Managing Director, CIC Berlin
With this event marking its official launch, O-Nexus will accelerate innovation creation, connecting Osaka to the rest of Japan and the world. As a gateway to show the potential of the life sciences field, a strength of the Kansai region, to the world, we will continue to promote community building through various programs and events.
O-Nexus Concept
Osaka Life Science Nexus by Nippon Life and CIC (O-Nexus) is a hub where technologies, services, and knowledge that contribute to extending people’s healthy lifespans, centered on life sciences, are gathered and implemented in society. Osaka’s Nakanoshima area has a long history, beginning with the spread of Western medicine by Dr. Ogata Koan, the founder of the Tekijuku academy at the end of the Edo period. Since the modern era, it has been a cornerstone of Japan’s rapid economic growth, with a concentration of social infrastructure functions such as finance, research, medicine, and academia, playing a role in connecting industry and technology to society. It has supported research and development and manufacturing sites, and, as a place where decision-making and knowledge intersect, it has underpinned Japan’s modernization and industrial development.
O-Nexus aims to inherit the “soil where people, knowledge, and capital intersect” that Nakanoshima has cultivated, and become a leading hub for life sciences in Japan, driving Japan’s next growth, and a center for connecting challenges from within Japan and around the world to the global stage.
Researchers, startups, large corporations, universities, medical institutions, investors, and government officials come together across different sectors, fostering serendipitous encounters and practical collaboration that give rise to new technologies and services. O-Nexus is designed not as a closed research facility, but as an “open space” connecting society and industry. Its mission is to update Nakanoshima’s role in social implementation with the modern life sciences, connecting the technologies and values that support Japan’s future to the world.
Facility Overview (3,100 square meters)
- Private offices: 123 private rooms (1 to 15 people) *Some offices can be connected to adjacent rooms.
- Coworking space: 25 seats
- 14 meeting rooms
- 13 phone booths (including 1 wheelchair-accessible booth)
