On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Tsukuba Startup Park, three researchers from JIRCAS—Dr. OMORI Keisuke, Program Director (Information and Strategy Program), Dr. Marcy Wilder, Project Leader (Fisheries Division), and Dr. Kang Bong Jung, Senior Researcher (Fisheries Division)—participated as speakers in the event titled “TSUKUBA JOURNEY SESSION No.12 – From Research to Business: How JIRCAS Researchers Took the Step into Entrepreneurship.”

This event was part of a series introducing initiatives related to entrepreneurship and commercialization in the Tsukuba area. This session focused on ShrimpTech JIRCAS, Inc., the first startup venture originating from JIRCAS, and presented the process by which research results were developed into a business, from both the researchers’ and supporters’ perspectives.

At the event, Dr. Omori first provided an overview of JIRCAS and explained its venture certification and support system aimed at promoting the social implementation of research results. Following this, Dr. Wilder and Dr. Kang presented closed-loop land-based aquaculture techniques for cultivating whiteleg shrimp without using seawater, as well as their studies on shrimp maturation and spawning. They also outlined the background and process leading to the establishment of ShrimpTech JIRCAS.

In the subsequent cross-talk session, the speakers shared insights from their respective positions on the journey toward establishing ShrimpTech JIRCAS, including how the venture took shape step by step, the efforts of those involved, and the fortunate alignment of research results with business opportunities. They also reflected on the emotional significance of seeing long-term research achievements take form as a business, and exchanged views on the value of researchers engaging in entrepreneurship and on the role of institutional support. In addition, they discussed the growing trend of launching JIRCAS-based ventures and future prospects for further social implementation of research outcomes.

This event provided an opportunity to widely showcase JIRCAS’s efforts toward the social implementation of research results, not only to attendees at the venue in Tsukuba but also to a broader audience via live web streaming. JIRCAS will continue to promote initiatives aimed at returning research results to society.
[Photo courtesy: Civic Power Inc.]

Related Links (Note: In Japanese)

• Interview: From Research to Business: How JIRCAS Researchers Took the Step into Entrepreneurship
• Event Information: TSUKUBA JOURNEY SESSION No.12 – From Research to Business: How JIRCAS Researchers Took the Step into Entrepreneurship

(A link will be added once the digest video is released.)