UTokyo IPC was established in 2016,
wholly owned by the University of Tokyo as its first investment company.
Through initiatives ranging from startup creation to growth-stage support,
we aim to foster the development of an innovation ecosystem originating from academia.
Since its founding in 2016, UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) has pursued a mission to bring the knowledge of the University of Tokyo and other research institutions into society, creating new industries and lasting value. The name “IPC”—Innovation Platform Company—embodies this philosophy.
Innovation does not emerge from the efforts of a single researcher or organization alone. It takes place when researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, and governments come together, complementing one another’s strengths. Only through such collaboration can research achievements be transformed into real-world applications that generate sustainable value.
From the beginning, UTokyo IPC has supported numerous university-based startups with both funding and hands-on management support. Beyond investment, we have cultivated communities for entrepreneurs and researchers, launched co-creation programs with industry, and established partnerships with innovation hubs overseas. These efforts have accelerated the pace of startup creation and growth, giving rise to companies that are now gaining recognition both in Japan and abroad.
Over the years, we have evolved from being “an investment company” to becoming “a builder of ecosystems.” By expanding initiatives in academia-industry collaboration and human capital development, we have laid the foundation for the next generation of challengers to take root.
At the heart of our work is creating an environment where researchers and entrepreneurs can take on challenges with confidence. By implementing academic knowledge into society and channeling it through industry, we foster a cycle where talent develops, capital circulates, and new ventures continuously emerge. This is the essence of our vision for an “Innovation Platform.”
The “C” in IPC stands for Company. We are not merely a support organization; we are a corporate entity that takes responsibility, commits to outcomes, and continuously delivers value to society. Our aim is to ensure that university-driven innovation is a foundation for long-term growth.
To us, an Innovation Platform Company means building the societal foundation that nurtures seeds of challenge into the fruits of the future. Guided by this vision, UTokyo IPC will continue to generate new industries and talent—from Japan to the world.
July 2025
Kousuke Ueda
President & CEO
