Saturday, August 9, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Science Education

Breaking ground: OIST starts construction on two new start-up incubator buildings

May 17, 2024
in Science Education
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Perspective image of the two new OIST start-up incubator buildings
66
SHARES
601
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

On the south-west corner of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) campus, in Onna Village on the West Coast of Okinawa Island, lies a flat area of land, spanning about 17,000 square meters. Here, an ongoing initiative is set to propel innovation and entrepreneurial partnerships in Okinawa and Japan.  

Perspective image of the two new OIST start-up incubator buildings

Credit: OIST

ADVERTISEMENT

On the south-west corner of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) campus, in Onna Village on the West Coast of Okinawa Island, lies a flat area of land, spanning about 17,000 square meters. Here, an ongoing initiative is set to propel innovation and entrepreneurial partnerships in Okinawa and Japan.  

On March 19, OIST held a groundbreaking ceremony, known as Kikoshiki in Japanese, to mark the official commencement of construction for two new start-up incubator buildings. This ceremony, steeped in Japanese tradition, precedes the start of construction and involves the purification of the land and prayers for the safety and prosperity of the project. The event also highlights the essential cooperation and teamwork among project stakeholders, construction personnel, and members of the local community.  

Since the inception of the OIST campus, the vision for this area was to create a research and development (R&D) zone where academia, industry experts, entrepreneurs, business professionals, government representatives, and investors could connect. 

“It’s a community space designed for innovation, where professionals can work together, exchange ideas, and find solutions. The spaces will be used for initial project testing, promising start-ups, and stimulating more innovation,” Gil Granot-Mayer, Executive Vice President for Technology Development and Innovation, stated. 

The new buildings will feature co-working spaces, wet and dry labs, conference rooms and more, and will be located opposite an existing, smaller incubation building, in operation since 2019. Together, these facilities will provide a nurturing environment for entrepreneurs to evaluate the potential of their start-ups and develop prototypes. 

 

From proof-of-concept to breaking new ground

 

OIST’s flagship OIST Innovation addresses the gap between basic research and real-world implementation. Often, promising ideas and early-stage projects struggle to bridge this gap. The division’s goal is to mitigate this challenge by focusing on targeted activities that elevate technology development to solve the world’s most urgent problems. Additionally, the division aims to work with stakeholders who can support and enhance the entire innovation process and establish strong public-private-university partnerships. 

“Currently we have a 500 m2 incubator building that has proved to be a successful proof-of-concept. It’s attracted many startups and served a lot of our own growing community of entrepreneurs, but now we need to expand to create a better space to encourage creativity. These new buildings will provide an additional 2200 m2 space for an innovation hub,” Granot-Mayer commented. 

OIST Innovation will support the new buildings’ occupants, which will include startups from Okinawa, Japan, and abroad. Currently, the existing smaller incubator hosts approximately 50 tenants, including local and domestic service providers and start-ups. 

“We wanted to boost innovation by creating a gathering space where different stakeholders come together, and the idea of an innovation playground was very attractive. We had a blank slate and didn’t have to duplicate what other universities do. Our vision was to create a cluster of innovation within the campus that includes external visitors and collaborators,” Lauren Ha, Associate Vice President for Technology Development and Innovation, explained. 

 

Contributing to OIST’s mission and strategic plan

 

Crucial to the success of this OIST Innovation initiative is the planned opening of OIST’s Core Facilities to external stakeholders that would like to partner with OIST and access the equipment and support services available on campus. Establishing fruitful connections with people outside of OIST through Core Facilities and OIST Innovation ties in strongly with OIST’s mission – to be a catalyst for an innovation hub in Okinawa. 

Lauren emphasized the importance of opening the new buildings to the public: “Currently, none of our lab buildings are accessible to the public. Our goal is to create a welcoming space in common areas to foster connections with the local community. We’d like to create a vibrant knowledge-exchange hub that draws people from the surrounding areas.” 

“Our expansion isn’t just about enlarging our physical space, it’s also about nurturing relationships. We’re considering how to connect people and places, with mobility being an important factor. While cars are a common mode of transport, we’re looking into innovative alternatives like self-driving electric shuttles to enhance sustainability. This initiative encourages dialogue and challenges us to think beyond the obvious,” she explained.  

Stay tuned for future breakthroughs in innovation at OIST! For more information on OIST Innovation startups and initiatives, please see here. 



Share26Tweet17
Previous Post

Charred stable remains from the Punic War period provide a glimpse into life in the Pyrenees in the Iron Age

Next Post

Anti-diabetic treatment associated with reduced risk of developing blood cancer

Related Posts

blank
Science Education

Assessing Equity in Public Health Research: India & Australia

August 8, 2025
blank
Science Education

Education Research Groups Applaud Progress in Enhancing Civil Rights Data Collection

August 7, 2025
blank
Science Education

Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination for U.S. Adults in 2023-2024

August 7, 2025
blank
Science Education

Technology can pinpoint the exact moments in videos when students are learning, according to a science magazine report.

August 7, 2025
blank
Science Education

Community Health Workers Boost Mental Care in Refugee Camps

August 7, 2025
blank
Science Education

Mount Sinai Researchers Create Innovative AI-Powered Surgical Training Model to Enhance Resident Education Quality

August 6, 2025
Next Post
Anti-diabetic treatment associated with reduced risk of developing blood cancer

Anti-diabetic treatment associated with reduced risk of developing blood cancer

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27531 shares
    Share 11009 Tweet 6881
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    943 shares
    Share 377 Tweet 236
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    641 shares
    Share 256 Tweet 160
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    507 shares
    Share 203 Tweet 127
  • Warm seawater speeding up melting of ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ scientists warn

    310 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Cholesterol Balance Drives Recovery After Revascularization
  • Circulating Hsp70 Signals Early Thoracic Cancer Spread
  • Integrating Rural Culture and Ecology: China’s Innovation
  • Evolving Plasmodium falciparum Drug Resistance in Uganda

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,860 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Discover more from Science

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading