Signed MOU with National Taiwan University's Bio-Pharma Industry Promotion Center: Promoting Researcher/Student Exchange and Entrepreneurship Training Between Japan and Taiwan

2026/06/08

Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. (Representative: Shinichiro Takahashi) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University (Director: Dr. Chi-Te Liu), located in Taipei, Taiwan. The purpose of this MOU is to strengthen the science and technology ecosystem between Japan and Taiwan and to foster entrepreneurship. The signing ceremony was held during the "Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference Taiwan 2026 (HIC Taiwan 2026)" at National Taiwan University on April 24, 2026.

Details about HIC Taiwan 2026 can be found here:https://hic.lne.st/schedule/tw2026/

The implementation report is here:[Implementation Report] The Interdisciplinary Congress Taiwan (HIC Taiwan 2026) is held for the first time at National Taiwan University, creating a platform for co-creation through Japan-Taiwan collaboration.

This MOU aims to connect the research ecosystems of Japan and Taiwan, fostering collaboration among young researchers and nurturing entrepreneurship.

Main Collaboration Details

The two organizations will cooperate and undertake specific activities in the following areas.

Promotion of mutual exchange programs and joint research between researchers and students in Japan and Taiwan
Jointly develop and implement an entrepreneurship training program for students at National Taiwan University

Shuichiro Takahashi, Representative Director, Realize Corporation

Lignis's activities in Taiwan

Our substantive contact with Taiwan began with the deep tech venture incubation program "TECH PLANTER Taiwan." From 2014 to 2017, we developed the deep tech venture discovery and incubation ecosystem "TECH PLANTER in Taiwan" in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, discovering a total of 92 teams of researchers and venture companies. Simultaneously, through connections with the Kyushu and Kumamoto regions and inviting Taiwanese teams to Japan, we have been building the foundation for research and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Japan and Taiwan.

In 2025, Harbor Angel Group, a network of Taiwanese entrepreneurs and investors, visited Leave a Nest's Tokyo headquarters. Subsequently, collaborations were built, including an invitation to deliver a keynote speech at InnoVEX in Taiwan, speaking and presenting poster awards at a next-generation invention event, and giving lectures during the group's business training visit to Japan. Starting from this, the connection between Japanese and Taiwanese venture companies and researcher networks truly began, leading to the inaugural HIC Taiwan 2026 in April 2026.

Background of this MOU conclusion

The Institute of Biotechnology at National Taiwan University (NTU) is a biotechnology research hub established within National Taiwan University (NTU), Taiwan's leading research university.

This organization serves as a core institution in Taiwan for research, talent development, and industry-academia collaboration in biotechnology. It focuses on a broad range of research areas, including life sciences, microbiology, fermentation, bioprocesses, and molecular biology, driving both fundamental research and industrial applications. The organization has strengths in areas such as microbial ecology, biomanufacturing, fermentation technology, food and health, and the environment and sustainability. It is also actively engaged in the creation of university spin-offs from Taiwan University and international collaborative research.

National Taiwan University and Leave a Nest have built a cooperative relationship for discovering entrepreneurs and supporting university-launched ventures through TECH PLANTER in Taiwan, which was launched in 2014. Furthermore, the hosting of HIC Taiwan 2026, with National Taiwan University serving as the venue and the conference being operated in collaboration with current students, has further strengthened our partnership with National Taiwan University.

This MOU will accelerate joint research projects between Japan and Taiwan, student development, and business creation in the deep tech domain by leveraging the excellent research resources of the National Taiwan University's Biotechnology Center and Leave-a-Nest's expertise in building global research ecosystems.

Going forward, the Realize Group aims to build a long-term cooperative relationship between East Asia, including Taiwan, and Japan, through human resource development based on science and technology, research collaboration, and business creation support activities.

—–Inquiries regarding this matter

LIVERNESS Corporation

Strategy Development Division Akinaga[email protected]

Nami Akinaga

Strategy Development Division. Completed Master's degree at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo. Master of Sustainability Science. Leveraging experience in an interdisciplinary program with a focus on international students for his master's studies, he is involved in numerous new business initiatives in Japan and Southeast Asia at our company. He has 13 years of experience in establishing and managing local subsidiaries (as a board director), providing management support, expanding a startup support program to six Southeast Asian countries, and supporting the overseas expansion of domestic regional companies and startups. He also facilitates investment and partnership with startups in Southeast Asia and supports their expansion into Japan. His SBL theme is "Maximizing the Value of Diversity."

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