On October 9th and 10th, the Fukuoka City Government held the startup event RAMEN TECH (RAMEN – Revolutionizing Asia: Merging Ecosystems & Networks – Tech).
As the largest startup event in the Kyushu region, RAMEN TECH is an upgraded version of the “ASCENSION” international startup exchange event, rebranded by Fukuoka City in 2020. This event gathered 16 startups from 8 countries and regions to compete for the ASIA NEXT UNICORN AWARD and brought together more than 20 domestic and international investment companies, accelerators, and government agencies to participate in the Asia Startup Ecosystem Summit and other activities.
CancerFree Biotech Triumphs in the Unicorn Competition
The ASIA NEXT UNICORN AWARD received applications from 84 companies. After fierce competition in the preliminary round, only 6 companies advanced to the finals. In the end, a jury composed of Japanese and international investors selected CancerFree Biotech, a Taiwanese biomedical startup, as the champion.
Po Chen, CEO of CancerFree Biotech, expressed his gratitude, saying:
“We sincerely thank all the friends who have supported CancerFree Biotech along the way. We hope to take this opportunity to deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Japan.”
This victory follows CancerFree Biotech’s previous selection for the finals of SusHi Tech Tokyo, the largest startup event in Tokyo, where they received two Special Prizes from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Shimizu Corporation.
Currently, the team is dedicated to developing personalized anti-cancer drug testing technology aimed at reducing cancer treatment risks and helping patients choose the most suitable treatment options. So far, through its patented drug testing platform, CancerFree Biotech has assisted over 1,500 patients across more than 100 types of cancer.
Avatar Medicine Technology Attracts International Attention
The term “Avatar Medicine” literally means using a surrogate to test drugs instead of the patient, identifying the most effective medication. Specifically, it involves using patient-derived tumor organoids to screen anti-cancer drugs. These organoids act as “avatars” for drug response testing, allowing patients to avoid the risks of direct drug trials. This approach precisely identifies the most suitable treatment while minimizing potential risks during the treatment process.
Experts have called this technology “the next step in precision medicine”. It has garnered significant attention at international exhibitions and in leading academic journals, especially for its focus on organoid-based cancer avatar medicine, which has become a major research focus.
Strong Bilateral Ecosystem: Taiwan and Japan Cooperate to Build a Comprehensive Biotech Landscape
Since 2018, the IAPS Accelerator at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University has actively cultivated the Fukuoka startup ecosystem, partnering annually with StartupGoGo, Fukuoka’s largest startup accelerator. They have supported six outstanding Taiwanese startups by offering pre-event guidance, company visits, and business matching.
This year’s participants at RAMEN TECH included:
- CancerFree Biotech
- Eslitec Co., Ltd.
- Digital Explorer Technology Co., Ltd.
- DeepRad.AI Inc.
- MoBagel Inc.
- Forever Green Biological Co., Ltd.
The national startup brand Startup Island TAIWAN also took this opportunity to collaborate with the Fukuoka City Government, Fukuoka Growth Next, and The Company (a shared workspace) to organize the 2024 Taiwan & Fukuoka Business Expansion Program (Taiwan & Fukuoka: Bridging Startups and Innovation). This program aimed to promote business collaboration between Taiwanese and Japanese companies, attracting nearly 20 local Fukuoka enterprises, Kyushu government agencies, JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), and the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ).
Additionally, the Taipei City Department of Economic Development launched the Global Pass Upgrade Program, which supports startups entering shared workspaces, including other overseas co-working spaces, to boost global development.
Building a Solid Bridge for Taiwan-Japan Collaboration
In recent years, both Taiwanese and Japanese governments, along with private sectors, have actively collaborated to build a platform of trust and partnership. The goal is to create tight-knit cross-border ecosystems by connecting businesses from both sides. Besides popular topics like semiconductors and AI, the biotech and pharmaceutical industry has also drawn significant attention.
Industries and universities from both countries have collaborated on cutting-edge technologies. As biotech collaboration between Taiwan and Japan gains momentum, the challenge now is to efficiently allocate complementary resources and talents, forming a robust foundation for future partnerships.
