BIE Japan is a unique, practice-oriented program in the biomedical sciences, designed to strengthen creativity, innovation, and practical competence in translational research.
Conducted entirely in English as the shared language of global science, the program is tailored for scientists, healthcare professionals, and aspiring academic entrepreneurs. It provides systematic training in design thinking, creative problem-solving, product development, and strategies for translation and commercialization. The program cultivates the skills required to advance discoveries from the laboratory to impact clinical practice and society, nurturing the next generation of leaders in biomedical innovation.
Participants benefit from close mentorship by internationally recognized advisors, creating an authentically global learning environment while remaining in Japan.
Professor Michael Wallach initiated the Bio Innovation & Entrepreneurship (BIE) course in 2007 at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Australia. It was largely based on the translational experience Professor Wallach had working in both industry and academia to translate his research into marketed products.
In 2015, BIE joined forces with SPARK Stanford and SPARK Global and since that time it has been run in 8 countries and has educated and inspired over 2,000 researchers and clinicians in innovation and entrepreneurship in the biomedical sciences. Dr. Isabella Hajduk joined the program in 2016 and oversaw the BIE Japan Workshop Kyoto 2025.
BIE Japan, launched as a Japan-based program for universities affiliated with the Kansai Startup Academia Coalition (KSAC), provides world-class training and an international collaborative network that empower participants to translate research into practical applications and drive the next generation of biomedical innovation.
Translational research is the critical process of transforming the outcomes of basic science into forms that can be applied in clinical practice. Yet this pathway is fraught with challenges. Scientists often lack perspectives rooted in clinical or business realities; they face shortages of the talent, funding, and intellectual property expertise essential for commercialization; and, as a result, most projects fail to cross the major hurdle known as the “Valley of Death.”
BIE Japan was established to address these challenges by bringing together scientists and professionals from the business sector in a practical program that connects innovative ideas to commercialization. Centered on the Kansai Startup Academia Coalition (KSAC), the program brings together international and interdisciplinary teams comprising SPARK Global scientists (SPARKees) from Japan, Australia, and other participating countries, along with healthcare professionals, business school students, and industry collaborators. Under the guidance of expert mentors, these teams refine their scientific concepts into viable projects with the potential for real-world impact.
The workshop offers intensive, hands-on training focused on:
Participants immediately apply the knowledge gained in lectures to group work, translating ideas into concrete strategies for product development and clinical translation.
Through BIE, the workshop serves as:
As a bridge between basic science and industry, BIE Japan will continue to create new value and cultivate the next generation of translational leaders.
