Associate Professor at the Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University. His research focuses on surface science and catalyst design, particularly platinum-free carbon catalysts for oxygen reduction. He is advancing these technologies from fundamental mechanistic studies to fuel-cell demonstration and commercialization.

We develop durable, low-cost fuel cells using proprietary platinum-free nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts. Biomass-derived carbon from Jikan Tech is also utilized as a feedstock. Our first target is DMFC backup power, followed by expansion of the catalyst platform to hydrogen fuel cells and other applications.

Building on Shinshu University’s ultra‑low‑pressure, high‑permeability RO membranes, we develop next‑generation water treatment solutions that address water pollution and drinking‑water scarcity. With technology and mass‑production capability suited for both emerging and advanced markets, we also advance commercialization of FO and other next‑generation membrane technologies.

・Production and commercialization of Shinshu University–origin SULP RO membranes featuring ultra‑low‑pressure operation and high water permeability

・Development and supply of RO membrane modules for industrial water treatment, seawater desalination, and diverse purification needs

・Co‑development and rollout of next‑generation, electricity‑free water purification devices tailored for emerging markets

・Advanced water treatment solutions leveraging high‑removal‑efficiency membranes to address PFAS, nitrate‑nitrogen, and other contaminants

・R&D and future commercialization of forward osmosis (FO) membrane technologies, planned for 2030

Ph.D. in Engineering (Hiroshima University). After serving as Lecturer and Associate Professor at National Institute of Technology, Niihama College, and as a research fellow at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), he joined Nagaoka University of Technology in 2015 and has held his current position since 2019. Specializing in plant biotechnology and applied microbiology, his research covers biostimulants and seedling production technology. He is currently developing and commercializing functional additives for aquaculture derived from unused biomass.

Aquaculture is increasingly damaged by poor growth and mortality caused by both high and low water temperatures. We are developing a feed additive that combines a proprietary  from unused biomass with a high-performance Bacillus formulation. It boosts feeding and survival at low cost, shortening the time to shipment from 2.5 years to 1.5 years, while also improving flesh quality and suppressing pathogens. We aim to expand into aquaculture markets in Japan and overseas.

Ph.D. in Engineering, Nara Institute of Science and Technology. Assistant Professor, Institute of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, where he leads the Computational Imaging & Graphics Lab. His research focuses on computational imaging using a range of imaging devices, with an emphasis on automating the visual inspection of objects that have long been difficult to inspect, such as glossy and transparent surfaces. He aims to bring this technology to manufacturing, beginning with the automotive industry.

We are building a "visual system for manufacturing": a computational imaging technology that combines an event camera with a modulated light source to enable visual inspection of glossy and transparent objects. Building on demonstrated feasibility and validated market demand, we are moving toward deployment on the factory floor through a benchtop inspection unit. Our goal is to address the shortage of skilled inspectors and build a venture that delivers fully automated visual inspection.

Specializing in nanometrology, nanotribology, and micro/nanodevices, he investigates physical phenomena in confined spaces and applies his findings to device engineering. He is currently developing micro- and nanofluidic devices for DNA analysis and data storage, with the goal of realizing ultra-high-density, long-term data preservation.

The rapid growth of generative AI is driving an unprecedented increase in digital data and data-center energy consumption. This research aims to develop a DNA-based storage device that harnesses DNA’s exceptional density and long-term stability to preserve vast amounts of cold data in a compact, energy-efficient format while enabling reliable data retrieval.

Project Assistant Professor at Kobe University specializing in bacterial genomics, applied microbiology, and bioproduction. She leads the R&D, scale-up, and commercialization of uLtra-PGA produced using Bacillus subtilis.

We developed an engineerable GRAS Bacillus subtilis platform for producing L-PGA above 20 MDa using a lower-cost medium and high productivity. The first product is a biodegradable B2B cosmetic ingredient targeting hydration, film performance and low tack, followed by medical materials, absorbents and bioplastics.

Professor Emeritus and Specially Appointed Professor at The University of Osaka. His research focuses on plant metabolic engineering, genome editing, and synthetic biology, with an emphasis on the biosynthesis of valuable plant-derived compounds. Using licorice and potato as model systems, he is developing “Industrial Plants” by integrating genome editing and tissue culture technologies for sustainable biomanufacturing and real-world applications.

Genome editing and plant tissue culture are integrated to develop a “Programmable Industrial Plant Platform” that transforms plants into high-performance production platforms. The technology has been demonstrated for the production of valuable natural products in licorice and potato and is being expanded to diverse industrial plants. The goal is to enable sustainable biomanufacturing and commercialization of ingredients for cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, and other applications.

He received his PhD in 2006. He has long been working on the development of synthetic hemoglobin compound hemoCD that could be potentially used for carbon monoxide antidote.

A synthetic hemoglobin, hemoCD, is potentially used for an injectable antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning because of its high CO binding ability and rapid excretion in urine.  With a CO poisoning antidote as our top-priority pipeline, we are currently advancing research and business development.

Driven by an interest in decarbonization and sustainable energy production, I have long studied the mechanisms of photosynthetic energy conversion. In the course of this research, I discovered the remarkable ability of certain microorganisms to remove environmental pollutants, and built on this to develop a wastewater treatment technology. I am currently conducting validation studies with real industrial wastewater while working toward commercialization and real-world deployment. My goal is to contribute to a circular economy and a carbon-neutral society.

Industrial wastewater containing heavy metals must be treated before discharge under environmental regulations, yet conventional methods require large amounts of chemicals and energy, generating CO2 emissions and secondary pollution. We are commercializing a wastewater treatment technology that uses heat-tolerant photosynthetic microbes with high heavy-metal uptake capacity to remove and recover metals while absorbing CO2. Our goal is to build a circular economy through resource recovery from wastewater.