In order to stimulate the creation of science, technology and innovation through social application of research results, RIKEN has been certifying and supporting groups of companies (RIKEN Ventures) that have passed a certain level of screening under the RIKEN Venture Certification and Support System. However, while the venture accreditation and support system was significant in the early days of startups, in today's age of increasingly and diverse startups, RIKEN believes effective promotion is important for both researchers who are considering startups themselves and stakeholders aside from researchers who are interested in directly handling RIKEN’s research results. Starting in December 2023, RIKEN will broadly open its system to the public as a way to strengthen startup support measures under the policy of "visualization.”

• Strengthening Promotion and Support for Deep Tech Startups

Policies and measures toward strengthening startups

• *(The measures will be announced accordingly)

Expansion of the scope of support (publicizing the support system)

In accordance with the law concerning the revitalization of science, technology and innovation, under the Science and Technology Basic Law, expansion of support will be applied to those unlisted companies (in principle, established less than 10 years ago) that utilize RIKEN’s research results and meet any of the following criteria, even if they are not certified as a RIKEN Venture, whereas previously only RIKEN Venture-certified companies were.

• (1)Companies that have commercialized or plan to commercialize research results conducted by RIKEN.
• (2)Companies that have commercialized or plan to commercialize joint research results conducted with RIKEN.
• (3)Other companies that RIKEN deems appropriate for support.
• *Please note that RIKEN will not accredit firms as RIKEN-originated startups or give titles after December 2023. If there are any companies which claim to be RIKEN startups or with similar titles, they are not related to RIKEN and RIKEN will not be liable for any comments on those cases appearing on SNS, etc. Please see RIKEN’s homepage for currently accredited RIKEN Ventures.

Expansion of the scope of share option payments

The scope of payments by share acquisition rights will be expanded, whereas previously the scope was limited.

Clarification and transparency of treatment of side work

For researchers engaging in RIKEN startup side work, the basic idea was adopted to allow researchers to assume positions as officers without representative authority, such as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), or to be founders of startups under certain conditions.

Clarification and transparency in terms of patent enforcement

Until now, the form of license implementation has been, in principle, the granting of a non-exclusive or exclusive license , but the establishment of a special exclusive license under the Japanese patent law is added as an option.

Expansion of opportunities to use advanced facilities, equipment, and devices (facilities, etc.)

RIKEN will drastically expand the provision of opportunities to use RIKEN's cutting-edge facilities and equipment to support RIKEN Startups.

• Please see here for RIKEN Ventures
  Due to expansion of the overall support service for startups, RIKEN Venture’s certification system has been closed for new ventures as of December 1, 2023.