Side Event List

This panel discussion will bring together leaders from academia, major corporations, and startups to discuss the opportunities and potential for creating new quantum business ventures in Osaka and the Kansai region.

Centered on the theme “Elevating Japan from Kansai!”, RISE KANSAI is a dynamic crossover event where the innovators, entrepreneurs, and creators shaping the next generation come together. Combining business, culture, and entertainment, it serves as a platform for driving economic growth and regional vitality from Kansai to the rest of Japan.

Join the Aichi–Osaka collaborative pitch contest themed “Deep Tech × Global”! Startups aspiring to become the next generation of unicorns will take the stage to deliver their most innovative and exciting pitches. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the energy firsthand through live viewing and networking on-site.

The event offers startups from Osaka and the Kansai region the opportunity to connect with potential business partners who can complement their technological capabilities and resource needs. At the same time, it provides domestic pharmaceutical companies and other businesses with a platform to identify and engage with promising international startups possessing innovative technologies and high-growth potential.

This event serves as the final showcase of an accelerator program designed to support early-stage startups. Through mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and collaboration opportunities with major corporations and venture capital firms, the program helps participants accelerate their business growth and development.

As part of the Expo legacy initiatives, Osaka will host the global finals of an international pitch competition dedicated to medtech innovation. Building on the success of its inaugural event in 2025, the competition returns for its second edition, bringing together leading startups and stakeholders from around the world.

This pitch competition brings together entrepreneurs and aspiring founders in the ICT sector to present their innovative business ideas. The event is recognized as the Kinki regional qualifier for the Entrepreneur Koshien and Entrepreneur Expo, national startup programs jointly organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT).

An event focused on AI startups, designed to complement the official GSE sessions. Startups, investors, and leading corporations from Japan and around the world will come together to share the latest industry trends and foster new collaborations and business opportunities.

Launched in 2025 to strengthen the think tank functions of Osaka Metropolitan University and foster deeper collaboration with fast-growing Asian economies, the Osaka Asia Roundtable returns this year in partnership with GSE. The event will bring together diverse stakeholders to discuss the implementation of AI in addressing urban challenges.

U-START UP KANSAI 2026 is an acceleration program based in the Kansai region that supports the commercialization and growth of university spin-offs and promising research seeds. Through mentoring, pitch opportunities, and connections with the startup ecosystem, the program helps participants transform innovative ideas into successful businesses.

A global conference dedicated to longevity, bringing together world-leading experts to share insights on cutting-edge technologies and medical innovations. The event will also explore pathways for real-world implementation and the development of sustainable longevity ecosystems.