[Call for Participants] Manufacturing Companies × Startups: Taking a Leap Forward “upCRAFT OSAKA 2026 Symposium Vol. 1” to be held on July 6

"upCRAFT OSAKA," a program promoting collaboration between manufacturing companies and startups, is recruiting participants for the "upCRAFT OSAKA 2026 Symposium Vol. 1," to be held in Osaka City on Thursday, July 6.

How can manufacturing companies enhance their potential for growth while addressing challenges such as new business ventures, labor shortages, business succession, digital transformation (DX), AI, and technological expansion? To explore solutions, "upCRAFT OSAKA" plans to support the creation of new value through collaboration and co-creation between small and medium-sized manufacturing companies and startups.

As the kickoff event for "upCRAFT OSAKA," this symposium will bring together experts, manufacturing companies promoting collaboration with startups, and startups seeking collaboration and co-creation. Participants will discuss why manufacturing companies need startups, what new businesses are currently emerging from these collaborations, and what happens when a company’s technology meets that of a startup.

■What is upCRAFT OSAKA?
A program operated under the "FY2026 Project to Promote Collaboration Between Manufacturing SMEs and Startups" implemented by Osaka Prefecture. It creates a space for manufacturing SMEs in Osaka Prefecture and startups from across Japan to deepen mutual understanding, interact, and move toward collaboration and co-creation. How can we combine the technology, ideas, and speed of startups to create new value in manufacturing and business itself?Through events, community building, matchmaking, and information sharing, we will explore these possibilities and translate them into concrete next steps.

[Event Overview]
Date and Time: Monday, July 6, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Registration begins at 4:30 PM)
Venue: Open Innovation Biotope “bee” (Osaka City) https://bee.workmill.jp/access
Format: In-person + Online streaming
Admission: Free (Advance registration required)
Capacity: 60 in-person / 100 online
Organizer: Osaka Prefecture
Organizing Secretariat: Dentsu Inc.
In cooperation with: Tomoyasu Seisakusho and Plug and Play Japan

■ Click herefor symposium details and ticket registration

[Program (Tentative)] *Content, times, and speakers are subject to change.
5:00 PM – 5:05 PM Introduction
Masaki Terada, Planner, Dentsu Inc.
Kiyomi Onishi, Co-Creation Director, Okamura Open Innovation Biotope “bee”

5:05 PM – 5:10 PM Opening Remarks
Yuichi Katsumi, Director, Small and Medium Enterprise Support Office, Department of Commerce, Industry, and Labor, Osaka Prefecture

5:10 PM – 5:20 PM: upCRAFT OSAKA 2026 Project Overview
Masaki Terada, Planner, Dentsu Inc.
Yasutaka Matsuo, Executive Officer in Charge of the Social Design Department, Tomoyasu Seisakusho
Yudai Kawaguchi, Plug and Play Japan

5:20 PM – 5:35 PM Keynote Speech
Yoshiaki Ishii, General Manager, Startup Support Department, Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation

5:35 PM – 5:55 PM: Panel Discussion on “Transformation of Manufacturing SMEs”
Hitoshi Marui, Senior Managing Director, Marui Textile Machinery

5:55 PM – 6:25 PM: Startup Pitches
*Participating companies to be announced

6:25 PM – 6:50 PM: Talk session by support organizations
MUIC Kansai Team Leader, Yasutake Masuko
Yuki Takemura, Startup Promotion Office, Industrial Technology Innovation Division, Regional Economy Department, Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Yoshihiro Matsumoto, Senior Research Officer, Technology Promotion Department, Osaka Science and Technology Center (OSTEC)
Yoshinori Tanaka, General Manager, MOBIO Division, Osaka Industrial Promotion Agency

6:50 PM – 7:00 PM Closing Remarks
Takashi Nakano, Director, Dentsu Inc. 7MK
Hironori Tomoyasu, President and CEO, Tomoyasu Manufacturing
Ryo Uchiki, Executive Officer and COO, Plug and Play Japan

7:00 PM – 7:30 PM Networking