BIE was launched as an educational program by the Centre for Innovative Medical Research (CIMR) in Sydney, Australia. For more than a decade, Professor Michael Wallach and Dr. Isabella Hajduk at CIMR have been training young scientists to bridge the gap between fundamental research and commercialization. Professor Wallach has led international BIE programs for over 15 years, and their impact has been widely recognized around the world.
The BIE program was originally developed as an intensive two-week course and has since been delivered in conjunction with the annual SPARK Global Conference, as well as restructured into the master’s curriculum at the University of Technology Sydney.
The BIE Japan Workshop is based on the BIE program while also incorporating the strengths of SPARK Global, making it uniquely designed for Japan-oriented biomedical entrepreneurship. It brings together scientists, healthcare professionals, and business innovators in a practice-oriented, interdisciplinary environment.
Conducted in English, the workshop provides hands-on training in design thinking, product development, and translational strategy—equipping participants with the skills to accelerate innovation and translate discoveries from the laboratory into real-world applications.
Through mentorship from internationally recognized advisors and collaboration across diverse fields, the program cultivates the next generation of startups and global leaders in biomedical innovation.
Tomoyoshi Koyanagi, Ph.D.
Director, Program-Specific Professor Business Development Office,
Institute of Advancement of Clinical and Translation Science (iACT)
Kyoto University Hospital
Basic biomedical research addresses fundamental questions of life phenomena and aspires to uncover scientific truths. Its outcomes often find unexpected applications in meeting emerging medical needs, offering the potential to deliver innovative solutions to unresolved clinical challenges.
For more than a decade, SPARK Global and CIMR have supported researchers at the forefront of translational research worldwide, helping them tackle pressing medical problems. The path from discovery to product development requires not only excellence in basic science but also expertise in intellectual property strategy, nonclinical and clinical trial design, regulatory science, and business development. Moreover, the commercialization of university-based technologies entails unique barriers, including the difficulty of securing funding and managing development risks.
To address these multifaceted challenges, we have developed an educational program that incorporates design thinking and creative problem-solving methodologies, providing a structured approach that spans the product development process through to commercialization strategies. This program represents a practical model optimized for advancing academia-driven innovation in Japan.
BIE Japan is committed to equipping researchers and their supporters with the creativity and innovative mindset essential in the biomedical field, as well as the practical skills and systematic knowledge required to successfully carry out translational research.
BIE Japan Workshop, Kyoto, 28-30 June 2025
Supported by SPARK Global and KSAC (Kansai Startup Academia Coalition)
