Scientific Innovation Begins with Connections—SS-F Convening Brings Together Partners to Share Insights

On January 20, 2025, as I approached a sukiya-style residence nestled in a corner of a Japanese garden said to have a history of approximately 400 years, my eyes were drawn to the large blue noren hanging at the entrance, inscribed vertically with the words “Welcome” in Japanese. It seemed to embody the spirit of “omotenashi” (hospitality) extended to the new colleagues who had traveled all the way from the United States.

The “new colleagues” of SS-F refer to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). Founded in 2015 by Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta (formerly Facebook), and his wife Priscilla Chan, CZI is a philanthropy focused on science research to solve complex questions around biology and health.

On January 20, 2025, to commemorate the launch of the Global Science Scholars Program※1, jointly established by SS-F and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network (CZ Biohub Network※2), the “SS-F Symposium: Building Bridges in the Global Scientific Community in partnership with CZI” was held. The event took place at Happo-en, Hakuho-kan in Shirokanedai, Tokyo, bringing together researchers from Japan and the U.S., government officials, startup representatives, students, and postdoctoral researchers who are the target participants of the Global Science Scholars Program. Over 200 participants, including online attendees, joined the event.

※1  The Global Science Scholars Program is funded by the Cabinet Office and operated by SS-F on the Japanese side, while the U.S. side is funded and operated by CZI.

※2 The CZ Biohub Network is a nonprofit research institution established and operated by CZI.

Accelerating Innovation through the Global Startup Campus Initiative

In his opening remarks, SS-F co-founder Hodaka Kokeguchi emphasized that the future of science is shaped by people, communities, and collaboration. He reaffirmed SS-F’s mission to foster invention and innovation while building a human-centered scientific ecosystem.

SS-F aims to connect researchers across disciplines, facilitating knowledge sharing and groundbreaking research that impacts society. Through practical support, retreats, and various opportunities, SS-F fosters new avenues for collaboration. This symposium embodies that vision, serving as a platform to expand global scientific networks beyond borders.

Kokeguchi highlighted the importance of serendipitous encounters in driving scientific breakthroughs. He emphasized that this event was designed to create opportunities for Japanese and international researchers, policymakers, and startups to engage in direct dialogue and collectively shape a new future for innovation.

Following this, Yuji Kakizawa, Director at the Global Startup Campus Initiative Promotion Office, Cabinet Secretariat, took the stage. He provided an overview of the current state of Japan’s startup ecosystem, noting that while the number of startups and investment volume are increasing, they remain relatively small compared to the U.S., Singapore, and South Korea.

Kakizawa also highlighted key challenges, including the declining number of PhD graduates and the relatively low presence of PhD holders as startup CEOs. To address these issues, he introduced the Global Startup Campus Initiative, a national effort aimed at supporting deep-tech research and fostering talent development.

He emphasized that as a pilot project of this initiative, the Global Science Scholars Program, launched through the partnership between SS-F and CZI, plays a crucial role in advancing these goals.

How to Achieve the Treatment of All Diseases

In his keynote lecture, Dr. Stephen Quake, Head of Science at CZI and the Lee Otterson professor of bioengineering and applied physics at Stanford University, spoke on the future of scientific research in a talk titled “Accelerating Scientific Discovery at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.”Dr. Quake’s contributions to science are varied and include invention of the biological equivalent of the integrated circuit, development of whole organism cell atlases, and creation of diagnostics that have made medicine safer by replacing invasive biopsies such as amniocentesis with simple blood tests.

Dr. Quake explained that CZI’s mission is to cure, prevent, or manage all diseases by 2100—an ambitious goal that he acknowledged might seem “crazy and impossible.” To achieve this mission, CZI is focused on solving grand scientific challenges, including building an AI-based virtual cell model to predict and understand cellular behavior. CZI follows a three-pronged approach: “BUILD,” “FUND,” and “DO.”

CZI builds openly accessible tools to enhance scientific research efficiency. One major effort is the creation of the open source  CZ CELL by GENE,” which allows scientists to discover and explore more than 100M cells worth of data. CZI is also leveraging AI to transform “data into knowledge.” Dr. Quake emphasized accessibility, stating, “You don’t need to be a genetics expert. With just a web browser, you can access tools that help interpret cellular and gene expression data.”

By funding innovative research globally, CZI provides grants in over 34 countries. A key focus is long-term investment in basic science, as many major medical breakthroughs originate from fundamental research. Dr. Quake noted that many recently approved groundbreaking drugs stem from discoveries made more than 30 years ago.

CZI  established the CZ Biohub Network, a group of research institutes to do science that can’t be done in conventional environments. Dr. Quake stressed that collaborations beyond traditional academic boundaries are essential for tackling large-scale scientific challenges, including:

• Developing state-of-the-art imaging systems to observe living cells in action
• Instrumenting tissues to better understand inflammation, a key driver of many diseases
• Engineering and harnessing the immune system for early detection, prevention, and treatment of disease

Dr. Quake also highlighted CZI’s AI-driven “Virtual Cell” project, which aims to create computational models of cells for disease research and therapeutic development. He predicted that biology will become increasingly computation-driven, shifting from a predominantly experimental field to one where 90% of research is computation-based.

Finally, Dr. Quake expressed his expectations for Japan’s research ecosystem and his hopes for future collaborations. 

Unraveling the Mystery of Stem Cell Aging

The second keynote speaker, Emi Nishimura, M.D., Ph.D., Professor at the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, began her talk by addressing the urgent challenges of an aging and declining birthrate society. She warned that within the next 10 to 15 years, the demand for caregiving personnel will surpass supply, leading to a severe labor shortage. Expressing deep concern about the future of Tokyo and other developed nations, she introduced her research on stem cell aging and its application to healthy longevity.

Dr. Nishimura’s research focuses on skin aging, as external appearance serves as a key biomarker of aging. She referenced a Danish twin cohort study, which demonstrated a correlation between perceived age and life expectancy.

Her journey into stem cell research began during her PhD studies, where she investigated melanocyte development. Melanocytes are specialized cells that produce melanin pigment, which protects the body from UV radiation. These cells are found in the skin, hair, iris, and inner ear, but Dr. Nishimura discovered a previously unknown population of undifferentiated melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) in the bulge region of hair follicles. Her research revealed that these McSCs differentiate into mature melanocytes during the hair follicle growth phase, supplying pigment to the hair.

This breakthrough led her to develop a strong interest in stem cell fate determination, prompting her to investigate how stem cells lose function due to aging and how aged stem cells are selectively eliminated from tissues. In her keynote lecture, Dr. Nishimura presented various findings on the mechanisms of aging and concluded by emphasizing that international collaboration and partnerships with startups are essential for extending healthy lifespan.

From the Origins of Life to Dreaming Octopuses – The Challenges of Rising Star Researchers

The session then moved on to the Lightning Talks, featuring four rising star researchers who serve as host PIs for the Global Science Scholars Program. Each speaker had just five minutes to present their research, yet they conveyed their passion and groundbreaking discoveries concisely and powerfully.

The first speaker, Naoko Irie, Ph.D.,  Principal Investigator of the Metabolic Systems Laboratory, Bioimaging Center at the Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science (CIEM), is conducting research on stem cell-based human reproductive biology, with a particular focus on how germline cells are regulated. She explained the regulatory mechanisms of the germ cell lineage, which is considered an “immortal line”, and discussed her research on how stem cells differentiate into germ cells and the potential for oncogenesis in this process. She described this field as a “romantic study that connects the origins of life to the future of humanity.”

Next, Yu Hayashi, Ph.D., Professor at The University of Tokyo, took the stage to discuss his research on “Why do living organisms sleep?” His work explores the impact of sleep on brain development and aging, with a particular focus on the role of REM sleep. To uncover its functions, Dr. Hayashi is conducting research that examines the relationship between sleep and brain function from multiple perspectives.

The third speaker was Ayuko Hoshino, Ph.D., Professor at The University of Tokyo. Dr. Hoshino focuses on exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle, exploring their roles and potential applications as biomarkers or therapeutic tools for various diseases, including cancer, depression, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

She also shared her experience of culture shock during her time abroad as a postdoctoral researcher, emphasizing the importance of placing oneself in an environment with diverse perspectives and ways of thinking.

The fourth speaker, Sam Reiter, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), studies the neural basis of behavior in cephalopods, such as squid and octopuses found around Okinawa. His research particularly focuses on the complex sleep patterns of octopuses.

Dr. Reiter discovered that the changing skin patterns observed during octopus sleep resemble those seen during wakefulness, suggesting that octopuses may experience a sleep mode similar to REM sleep in mammals. This led to the intriguing hypothesis that octopuses might be dreaming. Since cephalopods diverged from vertebrates over 500 million years ago and evolved independently, the presence of a REM-like sleep state in octopuses suggests that this sleep pattern may represent a fundamental principle of brain function across the animal kingdom.

The Key to Overcoming Challenges: A Knowledge Network

Following networking sessions among participants during the break in the online broadcast, the final program of the SS-F Symposium featured a panel discussion titled “Accelerating Scientific Entrepreneurship and Global Innovation.”

The panelists included Amy E. Herr, Ph.D., Vice President of the CZ Biohub Network and Chancellor’s professor at the University of California, Berkeley; Jun Seita, M.D., Ph.D., a Team Leader at RIKEN’s Medical Data Deep Learning Team; and Shoko Takahashi, Ph.D., a life science researcher and entrepreneur who founded GeneQuest, a personal genetic testing service, and Taz, a longevity-focused biotech startup.

The discussion was moderated by Raeka Aiyar, Ph.D., Science Outreach Advisor to SS-F, who had been leading the symposium as the host throughout the day.

Dr. Aiyar opened the discussion by stating, “Bringing scientific discoveries to the market is not a straightforward path.“ She emphasized that while scientists are trained in publishing research and securing funding, they often lack the tools necessary to navigate the complex journey of entrepreneurship.

Furthermore, she highlighted that as we develop global strategies for accelerating entrepreneurship, it is essential to account for the unique barriers that still exist across different countries and disciplines, making the transformation of scientific discoveries into innovations a complex process. Aiyar then invited the panelists to share their experiences and insights on overcoming these challenges.

Entrepreneurial Environment and Challenges

Challenge ①: Lack of PhD-holding Venture Capitalists in Japan

Dr. Shoko Takahashi pointed out that one of the biggest challenges for science startups in Japan is the shortage of venture capital. Compared to the U.S., investment in science and technology startups is significantly lagging, and there is a lack of investors with the expertise to properly evaluate scientific innovations. Additionally, she noted that few PhD holders in Japan pursue entrepreneurship, and the gap between universities, research institutions, and the business sector remains a major obstacle.

Challenge ②: Need for Technology Transfer and Business Development Experts

Dr. Jun Seita emphasized that for startups to succeed, experts in technology transfer and business development are essential. He pointed out that Japan currently lacks a structured system to support academic entrepreneurship, and there is an urgent need for specialized professionals to facilitate technology transfer and business development within the ecosystem.

Challenge ③: Risk Tolerance and Cultural Differences

The discussion also touched on differences in risk tolerance between Japan and the U.S.. In the U.S., failure is considered a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey, and even if a startup fails, entrepreneurs can easily try again. In contrast, in Japan, a single failure can significantly impact one’s career, making many researchers hesitant to take risks. The panelists highlighted that changing this mindset is crucial for fostering a more robust startup ecosystem in Japan.

Key Factors for Startup Success

Dr. Amy E. Herr discussed the startup ecosystem in the U.S., emphasizing that entrepreneurial networks and continuous support systems are essential for success. She pointed out that technical expertise alone is not enough—startups also require the right mentors, access to funding opportunities, and the ability to leverage networks.

Reflecting on her visit to Japan, Dr. Herr noted that she witnessed the ambition of Japanese researchers looking toward entrepreneurship. She stressed that connecting this ambition with international collaboration is crucial for driving global innovation.

Towards the end of the discussion, Dr. Takahashi shared her personal experience, stating that she never originally intended to become an entrepreneur but made the decision after discussions with senior researchers in her lab who had startup experience. She highlighted the importance of connecting with founders and mentors, and emphasized that scientists do not need to do everything themselves. Instead, she argued, it is vital to recognize one’s own limitations and build a team that complements those gaps.

Dr. Seita, considering the SS-F and CZ Biohub Network partnership, proposed that Japan should not limit its talent pool to domestic researchers but actively engage with global talent, including from the U.S..

Dr. Herr reinforced this point, stating that through CZ Biohub Network collaborations, she found that 99% of the people she met provided invaluable ideas and connections. She concluded that innovation is not driven by individuals alone but is built on strong networks and global collaboration.

After the Event

Although the symposium had officially concluded, the networking session continued at the venue, with many participants engaging in meaningful discussions.

Young researchers, particularly those interested in entrepreneurship and international collaboration, actively approached speakers and panelists, asking questions and sharing their own research and ideas. It was evident that new connections and potential collaborations were beginning to take shape.

As participants embarked on their next challenges, the event reaffirmed the belief that innovation emerges from cross-border and interdisciplinary exchanges, paving the way for future breakthroughs.

[Interview・Written by] Shinya Midori, [Photography] Kayo Sekiguchi