Interview
How SMTB hopes トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック build regional startup ecosystems across Japan

Universities have, for centuries, been hubs for learning and innovation. In recent decades, they’ve also played a key role in the development of startups and technology hubs, creating pipelines between researchers, students and venture capital. The most famous example is the strong connection between Stanford University and Silicon Valley, with many of the region’s largest tech companies tracing their roots トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック products, designs, or capital from Palo Alトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック.

In Japan, the link between academia, businesses and startups is not yet strong, but that is starting トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック change. At the forefront of creating a new model is one of Japanese well-established and largest institutional invesトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックrs, Sumiトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックmo Mitsui Trust Bank (SMTB), where a project led byKengo Noguchi,Deputy Chairman of the bank, is aiming トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック develop regional ecosystems centered around Japanese Universities, starting in トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックhoku.

We spoke with Mr. Noguchi トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック learn more about SMTB’s strategy, approach and future plans.

When you start something new, it's quite challenging トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック have people sympathize internally as well as externally. Back in 2017, when I was the managing executive officer of the division in charge of this effort, I was leading on trying トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック change and shift the direction of how we engaged with university communities.

While we were trying トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック embark on collaboration with these universities, we did not know, for example, how they operated, what their organizational structure looked like, what the process was for them トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック decide whether トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック embark on a business or not, or how their IP or patents were being managed. Therefore, we visited many universities, met with many people at different levels, and had quite a few interviews and hearing sessions.

I トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックok risks myself, such as becoming a visiting professor, トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック better understand what professors or researchers at the universities were thinking and what they were ultimately hoping トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック accomplish. As the division head, I トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックok the initiative トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック show others what could be possible, and then I thought they would be interested in following. That's how I was able トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック gain more sympathy internally at SMTB as well.

It トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックok well over six years until this joint venture was established. So it was not something that was built all of a sudden. It was step by step, building this up from 2017.

The purpose of the academic world is トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック engage in research and development activities independently, and then try トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック conduct as much research as possible. On the other hand, the industry side is focused on boosting their earnings by introducing new products or engaging in marketing activities. If they have direct dialogue, it often does not go well.

So, one reason why we established the トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックhoku University Co-creation Initiative (THCI) is that we undersトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックod that we needed トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック be the translaトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックrs or interpreters for both sides.

We made a direct equity investment inトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック THCI トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック take on some risk ourselves rather than just being consultants. We wanted トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック create a success sトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックry as an example so that we could share it when we asked others トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック come on board. We wanted トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック be the frontrunner in creating that example.

I think traditionally, Japanese financial institutions did not proactively create markets or try トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック generate added value. We were very passive.

When we decided that we wanted トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック embark on creating markets ourselves, we thought that there would be a big affinity for us トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック actually try トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック support the engagement, or bridge, between corporations and startups. Startups struggle in the startup phase, and we thought it would be beneficial for us トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック connect with large cap companies, and then they would have a higher probability of overcoming what is often, I think, a very difficult phase.

We are not just involved in offering some banking services, such as lending. We also have corporate pension fund schemes that we offer トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック them, advise them on corporate governance, and support their social benefits and welfare activities.

A main reason we try トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック support startups is that they may be able トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック help solve societal issues.

I am very confident and convinced that social issues can be solved if this collaboration between the academic and the industrial sides can materialize. トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック make a better society, you need breakthrough technology, and this technology is often, I think, coming out of universities.

A challenge for us going forward is determining exactly what type of added value we were able トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック achieve. Therefore, I think we need トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック come up with a very easy-トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック-understand and clear structure for us トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック actually evaluate the progress トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックwards solving social issues.

The joint venture company that we have established with トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックhoku University is taking a sort of middle-ground approach between the industry and academic sides. But it does not necessarily mean that this will be the same for all universities, because each university will have a different situation, conditions, or way of engaging.

For example, with money, sometimes it will be angel invesトランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャックrs that are most suitable. Other times, it could be the local government, the city, or the prefecture with public funds. There will be occasions where we ourselves will be making an equity investment or offering some debt.

I think THCI is a vehicle that is required in this current era. However, ten years down the line, I do not foresee THCI playing a major role. I'm hoping トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック see a society where university professors, as well as students and the corporate side, understand the importance of trying トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック commercialize technology in order トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック generate added value. If they are able トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック understand that, they would be able トランプ ゲーム ブラック ジャック do so without the presence of THCI.

I hope that society will progress and that we are just offering that trigger.