2025 Academic Year
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The 1st Kobe Global Medtech Forum (invitation-only) was held on March 12 and 13, 2026, at the Medtech Innovation Center (MIC), Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University. Approximately 170 participants attended over the two-day forum.
The forum provided practical insights through presentations and individual consultations (available to pre-registered participants only) by experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States, Germany, and Southeast Asia, including professionals from development consulting firms, venture capital firms, and incubators. In collaboration with the Medical Device Development Collaboration Network “Yawaragi,” the forum also featured pitch events by researchers and startups and concluded successfully.
9:30-10:00
Registration Time
10:00-10:15
Opening Remarks
Takamichi Murakami
Dean, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
Dean, School of Medicine, Kobe University
Takumi Fukumoto
Vice President, Kobe University
Professor, Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
Guest Speech
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
10:15-11:00
Building a Glocal Medical Device Innovation Hub in Kobe (20 min)
Takahiro Yasuda
Head, Department of Medical Innovation Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
Director, Medtech Innovation Center (MIC), Kobe University
Smart Operating Room via Vision Driven Development (20 min)
Yoshihiro Muragaki
Vice Dean, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
Head, Department of Medical Innovation Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
11:00-12:35
Medical Device Regulation in the US: Challenges and Opportunities (40 min)
Dr. Nicole Ibrahim, Deputy Director, Office of Cardiovascular Devices U.S., FDA
Regulatory Challenges and Strategies for Startup Companies (50 min)
Dr. Daniel Burnett, Founder & CEO, Theranova, LLC／Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCSF
12:35-13:35
Lunch Break
13:35-15:15
The U.S. Medical Device Market: Opportunities and Challenges for Japanese Companies (45 min)
Mr. Takahiro Haruyama, President and Founder, Globizz Corp.
Understanding the Reimbursement Value Chain (50 min)
Mr. Gregg Yoshito Shibata, Sr Principal, Corporate Development, Blue Shield of California
15:15-16:30
Coffee Break, Optional MIC Tour (Part 1) and Consultation Session (Part 1)*
* Consultation Sessions (Parts 1 & 2) will be conducted individually with the invited speakers and Mr. Sano.
Mr. Takahiro Sano, Founder & CEO, PlanEx Business Partners LLC
16:30-17:50
What U.S. VCs Look For: What Medical Device Startups Really Need to Win Globally (50 min)
Mr. Masashi Kiyomine, Founder & Managing Partner, Kicker Ventures
Building for Impact: How Mayo Clinic Supports Healthtech Innovation (25 min)
Mr. Jamie Sundsbak, Director Accelerate, Mayo Clinic Platform
18:00-20:30
Networking Session and Pitch Event (18:30-19:30)
Remarks
Ryosuke Kuroda Director, Kobe University Hospital
Toshiji Mukai Director, Center for Advanced Medical Engineering Research and Development, Kobe University
8:30-9:00
Registration Time
9:00-10:50
Reimbursement systems and Market Entry in Germany／Europe (60 min)
Mr. Birger Nispel, CEO, AirMed PLUS GmbH／CEO, Birger Nispel International Academy
Market Entry Strategies for Medical Devices: Regulatory Pathways in Southeast Asia & Taiwan (45 min)
Mr. Tan Shouzheng, Vice President of Southeast Asia, Cisema
10:50-11:00
Closing Remarks
Yoshimasa Maniwa Director, International Clinical Cancer Research Center (ICCRC), Kobe University Hospital
Yoshihiro Muragaki
Vice Dean, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
Head, Department of Medical Innovation Engineering, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University
11:00-12:50
Optional MIC Tour (Part 2) and Consultation Session (Part 2)*
Kobe University, as a participating hub of the Medical Device Development Collaboration Promotion Network “Yawaragi”, will exhibit at the 21st Medical Device Design & Manufacturing Exhibition – Medical Creation Fukushima 2025. During the exhibition, the latest medical devices from manufacturing companies and medical device manufacturers who will showcase their specialized technologies alongside the latest medical devices The event aims to promote the matching of advanced corporate technologies with the needs of clinical practice, and will also feature seminars on the latest topics in the medical device industry and on human resource development.
From Kobe University, we will introduce our initiatives in human resource development and industry-academia collaboration conducted mainly through the University Hospital, the Graduate School of Medicine, and the Department of Medical Innovation Engineering in the School of Medicine, as well as our development achievements and the Medtech Innovation Center.
The 21st Medical Device Design & Manufacturing Exhibit at Medical Creation Fukushima 2025
https://fmdipa.jp/mcf/