Friday, December 12, 2025,Global Bridge Conference 2025.and attracted 151 participants. Rivanes Inc,"Accelerating Globalization through Borderless Knowledge Bridging."Under the mission ofGlobal Bridge Program (GBP)The conference was held to provide an opportunity for companies, ventures, governments, and local governments with enthusiasm for global expansion to learn from each other's ideas and actions, and to initiate initiatives for the coming year and beyond. This conference was held to provide an opportunity for companies, ventures, governments, and municipalities with enthusiasm for global expansion to learn from each other's ideas and actions, and to initiate initiatives for the coming year and beyond.

Here is an overview of the day's events.
Please stay tuned for more details as we will be releasing content at a later date.

■Part 1: "What is the Global Strategy in the New Era of Knowledge Manufacturing?"

A global strategy in the new era of knowledge manufacturing is a strategy that companies need to survive.Specific experiences were shared from the standpoints of both large and regional core companies. One example is an initiative to start development close to the local market, rather than consolidating R&D functions in Japan. Another episode was shared in which a regional core company with a history of more than 100 years visited the United Kingdom and found a high degree of affinity with European venture companies, which emphasize a medium- to long-term perspective. He also mentioned the advantages of collaborating with venture companies in terms of being able to re-language their strengths and create new businesses with a sense of speed.

Speakers:

• Takeshi Kawakubo, Senior Manager, Health Science Division, Health Science Business Headquarters, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
• Toshiyuki Ikeo, Global Strategy, Business Planning Office, Advanced Technology Research Center, Technology Management Division, Ricoh Company, Ltd.
• Toyohisa Yamada, President and Representative Director, Yamada Shokai Holding Co.
• Mr. Seiji Sekine, President, Kanemasa Manufacturing Co.
• [Moderator] Yukihiro Maru, Group CEO and Representative Director, LIVERNESS Co.

■ Part 2: "Immediate Action! Practitioners focused on results"

First, a total of 11 companies, six from this year's Sendai Global Startup Hub "Sendai-Tohoku Expansion Program" and five from the Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project, gave pitches.

In the panel discussion that followed, venture companies that have achieved success in both projects took the stage to discuss the topic, "When should venture companies think about overseas expansion?" The panelists discussed the theme, "When should venture companies think about overseas expansion? Some of the panelists said, "I thought it was still too early, but we should go overseas even in the seed stage because we were able to accelerate from the point of thinking about the business plan," and "If you have a product, you should start overseas development immediately. If you have a product, you should start overseas development immediately. It would be a waste to lose an opportunity when there are people who want to use your product. From the perspective of the government and local governments, the importance of considering overseas expansion at an early stage in startup support and of being flexible and understanding that business hypotheses can change were also emphasized.

Speakers:

• Mr. Shoji Unno, Assistant Director, Trade Promotion Division, Trade Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Ken Matsui, CEO and Representative Director, UGO Corporation
• Mr. Hiroshi Kamakura, Startup Support Section, Innovation Promotion Department, Sendai City Economic Affairs Bureau
• Shohei Ashihara, Co-founder, amu Co.
• [Moderator] Takumi Kando, Research and Development Division, Liverness Co.

 

Part 3: "Making Japan a Center of Knowledge Manufacturing - Implementing the Inbound Globalization Concept

This time, venture companies from Southeast Asia who aim to expand their business in Japan visited Japan. Three companies from the "Go to Ibaraki - Southeast Asia startup Acceleration Program," a part of Ibaraki Prefecture's "Business Matching Program with Promising Foreign Companies," and three companies from KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD, promoted by KOBASHI ROBOTICS, We had a total of 6 companies pitch to us, 3 from "Go to Ibaraki - Southeast Asia startup Acceleration Program", 3 from "KOBASHI MONOZUKURI STANDARD" promoted by KOBASHI ROBOTICS.

In the panel discussion that followed, core regional companies, local governments, and the government discussed inbound strategies. The panelists exchanged opinions on how to revitalize regional companies from a global perspective, the strength of Japanese companies lies in their ability to produce reproducible products, and how to increase the number of companies trying out partnerships with overseas ventures, in addition to their own.

Speakers:

• Mr. Yu Aoyama, Group Leader, International Liaison Team, Sales Strategy Department, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Kazuya Inada, Specialist, Knowledge Manufacturing Department, KOBASHI ROBOTICS Co.
• Mr. Seio Shimazaki, Counselor, Policy Bureau, Financial Services Agency
• [Moderator] Shuhei Tsukada, Executive Officer, LIVERNESS Co.

 

Poster exchanges were also held at the venue, allowing speakers and audience members to exchange new ideas without boundaries.

Through real-life insights from the speakers and lively discussions in the poster exchange,We hope this event will provide you with an opportunity to gain hints for your future global strategy and business promotion.

Recommended for those who want to take the first step!
Recruitment of companies participating in the Deep Tech Tour is now underway.

In this program, startups and companies aiming to expand overseas travel together to visit a variety of players in the innovation ecosystem, including major local companies, incubators, and university researchers. At each destination, participating companies have the opportunity to introduce their technologies and strengths in English and discuss the possibility of business development in the local market.

Web:https://gbp.lne.st/dtt/

January-February Season

• Malaysia : Monday, January 19 - Wednesday, January 21, 2026
• Vietnam : Thursday, January 22 - Saturday, January 24, 2026
• Thailand : Thursday, January 29 - Saturday, January 31, 2026
• Indonesia: Thursday, February 5 - Saturday, February 7, 2026
• Singapore: Monday, February 9 - Wednesday, February 10, 2026

April-May Season

• United Kingdom : Wednesday, April 22 - Friday, April 24, 2026
• Malaysia : Thursday, May 14 - Saturday, May 16, 2026
• Singapore: Thursday, May 21 - Saturday, May 23, 2026
• Philippines : Thursday, May 28 - Saturday, May 30, 2026

Expenses:450,000 yen/person (excluding tax)

Deadline:

• January-February season: Friday, December 19, 2025
• April-May season: Friday, March 13, 2026

 

We look forward to your participation.

Inquiries regarding this matterStrategic Development Division: Akinaga