In the new GAP Fund Program, a team will have research analysts who will conduct domestic and international market research and competitive research, etc., in addition to mentors and facilitators. The team will not only develop the technology, but also formulate a business model to expand the business globally. Furthermore, with the aim of building an issue-driven GAP Fund Program, business developers who have the both background of science and business management will be selected as a team member, and then, university researchers, who are able to develop technical solution to address the global issues and needs that the business developers wish to tackle, are selected and brought into the team.

Through this program, a team can develop their business plan for overseas expansion from the GAP Fund stage, when the buddings of new startups are nurtured, leading to deep tech startups from academia that will grow up globally. At the same time, the participation of human resources with a background of science as business developers and research analysts will help to expand the startup management talent pool. We believe that the establishment of a model for a startups’ support program that supports their global growth and produces human resources to manage deep tech startups will be an extremely effective means of boosting the growth of deep tech startups not only at Tokyo Tech but also in Tokyo and Japan.