On July 6, the Okinawa Startup Eco System hosted the annual startup event KOZAROCKS 2024, featuring the KOZAROCKS PITCH AWARD competition. This event attracted nine startup companies from Japan and overseas. Taiwanese teams CancerFree Biotech and Turing Drive performed exceptionally well, with CancerFree Biotech winning the highest honor, the KOZAROCKS AWARD, and Turing Drive receiving the GxPartners Award.
KOZAROCKS Takes the Stage, Infusing Okinawa with Startup Spirit
KOZAROCKS is the largest startup event in Okinawa. This year’s theme, “Bankoku Shinryo – Okinawa as a Bridge Between Asia and Japan,” aimed to attract startups and investors from Japan and abroad for networking and collaboration. Real-time translation at the event was supported by the AI-powered simultaneous translation solution from Taiwanese team VM-Fi.
Taiwanese Startups Shine, CancerFree Biotech Wins Top Prize
The KOZAROCKS PITCH AWARD, organized by the Okinawa Startup Eco System, was sponsored by ResorTech EXPO 2024 in Okinawa, eiicon Company, GxPartners, NOMURA Securities Co., Ltd., and OIST Innovation. OIST Innovation, part of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), is fully funded by the Japanese government and focuses on cutting-edge academic research, with over 70% international researchers and several Nobel Prize-winning achievements.
CancerFree Biotech earned the top prize, the KOZAROCKS AWARD, for its personalized ex vivo tumor cell analysis technology, which helps cancer patients and doctors identify the best treatment strategies. CEO Po Chen shared a successful clinical case involving a child with brain cancer during the competition. Additionally, their “Little Star” program provides free anti-cancer drug testing services for children under 12. CancerFree Biotech will participate in BIO Asia-Taiwan 2024 at the end of July, where interested parties can learn more about their innovations.
Turing Drive Earns GxPartners Award
Turing Drive focuses on developing practical autonomous driving solutions, providing reliable self-driving technology for functional vehicle manufacturers. They match appropriate sensors and computing platforms according to customer needs and offer modular operational management systems, significantly reducing R&D investment for clients and helping them achieve rapid smart transformation. Turing Drive’s outstanding performance in the pitch competition earned them the GxPartners Award.
Startup Island TAIWAN to Co-Host Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit with Tokyo Metropolitan Government in September
In addition to supporting Taiwanese startup teams at this event, Startup Island TAIWAN plans to co-host the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government this September. Collaborating with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan’s three major banks (Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho, Sumitomo Mitsui), and major trading companies, the summit will operate under the core philosophy of “Together, Go Big.” The initiative aims to build a bridge of cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, support entrepreneurs in expanding into bilateral markets, promoting multifaceted collaborations, and welcoming global entrepreneurs to develop in Taiwan.
Through this event, CancerFree Biotech and Turing Drive showcased the competitiveness and innovative strength of Taiwanese startups on the international stage, bringing new opportunities for global cooperation and exchange.
