GLOBAL STARTUP CAMPUS | JAPAN

Turn your research into a global deep tech company.

Powered by SRI's venture experience to meet Japan's long term vision

An intensive five-month program for deep-tech teams from Japanese universities, national research institutes, and established regional hubs — hands-on coaching in Japan, a two-week Silicon Valley Bootcamp, and dedicated support throughout the program.

START YOUR APPLICATION ASK A QUESTION BEFORE YOU APPLY

AI-accellerant-header
fast fast
THE GLOBAL STARTUP CAMPUS INITIATIVE

Driving Japan's economic growth

The Global Startup Campus (GSC) has been initiated by the Japan government with a long term vision to establish a world-class innovation hub for deep technology startup development. It is a commitment of $400 million to activate these companies onto the global stage. Japan’s startup ecosystem has been transforming itself and is ready for this moment to build



SRI plays a unique role to launch 3 year efforts in both the International researcher and venture build programs. While these are distinct programs, the SRI team work in an integrated fashion from defining future research themes to the lab to commercialization journey. This is part of our 80 year-old collaborative, multidisciplinary heritage of Deep technology invention. This Venture Build program in FY 2026 will be the inaugural cohort - a unique opportunity to shape this model from the ground up.

The Japanese government has selected a robust group of partner entities. Some partners include: Stellar Science Foundation, Renaissance Philanthropy, StartX, and many others.

30 SECOND ELIGIBILITY CHECK

Three questions to answer before applying

You do not need to be incorporated, funded, or fully staffed. you just need to be able to answer “YES” to all of the following questions:
1-Aug-03-2026-09-27-23-1097-PM

Is your research based at a Japanese university, national R&D institute, or referred from a GSC International Research Program partner institution?

2-Aug-03-2026-09-27-39-7496-PM

Are you ready to commit with a principal researcher and a business lead? Pre-incorporation teams are welcome.

3-Aug-03-2026-09-27-39-7518-PM

Can both potential founders fully commit their time and attention across the five-month sprint?

Applications close September 4, 2026. Approximately 60 mins to complete.

Not ready yet? Pre-register and we will connect you with team-formation resources and notify you about FY2027.

WHY THIS PROGRAM

Japan has world class tech. Going global is hard.

Japanese universities and national institutes produce breakthrough research in AI, robotics, biotech, and climate tech. Turning that science into a globally competitive company — with the right strategy, investors, and market access —demands a different kind of support.

SRI has been doing this for 80 years. From the computer mouse to Siri, SRI has a long record of taking deep research and building world-changing companies from it. This program brings that commercialization practice directly to Japanese researchers.

As part of the wider GSC Initiative, participants also gain proximity to the GSC International Research Program — a global network of scientists, institutions, and partners that extends well beyond the five-month sprint.

Selected teams join as partners in building a new model for Japanese deep-tech commercialization — not as recipients of support.

SRI Venture Incubation Metrics
50+ Ventures
$100B+ Market Cap
4.4x Multiple on Invested Capital (MOIC)
33% Successful Exits
WHAT YOU GET

Six kinds of support, built around your team

Each team receives a bespoke plan matched to its stage — delivered in Japan and virtually throughout the sprint, with two irreplaceable weeks in Silicon Valley.

4-Aug-07-2026-01-24-56-2632-PM  Business Strategy

Hands-on development of a global business strategy — initial business plan, capital policy design, and concrete milestones for market entry. Built for your team, not off the shelf.

5-Aug-07-2026-01-24-56-1951-PM  Technology Diligence

SRI researchers who have commercialized their own inventions assess the strength and defensibility of your technology, and what it will take to hold an edge in global markets.



7-2  Market Validation

Designing and running interviews with overseas customers and partners, competitive analysis, and refining your go-to-market approach against real evidence.



6-4  Dedicated Coaching

Your own coaches and mentors, Japanese and international, assigned for the full five months. Regular sessions in person and online — not touchpoints at events.



8-2  IP & Patent Strategy

Initial IP diagnosis, filing advice including overseas applications, and direct introductions to patent attorneys with global deep-tech experience.



9-1  Investor Relations

Build your fundraising story, sharpen the deck, and prepare targeted outreach to domestic and international investors — with warm introductions at the Bootcamp and after.



WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

Your venture build coaches named up front

Together they have launched and guided dozens of lab to commercialization efforts from incubation to IPO. Technology experts from SRI are determined dynamically based on the subject matter expertise required or diligence needed. You will have access to the entire SRI research lab community across domains.

THE FIVE MONTH SPRINT

Build in Japan. Two weeks in Silicon Valley. Return and finish strong.

A structured arc with a clear shape — and a relationship that does not stop whenthe sprint does.



August 2026

Applications open. 

Submit your Venture Brief and team profile

Nov 30 - Dec 11

Silicon Valley Bootcamp [FLAGSHIP]

Two weeks inside the global deep-tech ecosystem

Dec - Jan

Post-Bootcamp coaching

Apply what you learned; close the milestone gaps

Feb 2027

Program close

Investor introductions and next-step planning

Beyond

Ongoing connection

FY2027 pathway, alumni and partner network — support does not stop at close

SILICON VALLEY BOOTCAMP

SILICON VALLEY BOOTCAMP
30 NOVEMBER – 11 DECEMBER 2026

Two weeks you cannot replicate anywhere else.

The Bootcamp is the defining stretch of the program — two full weeks embedded in the world's most active deep-tech ecosystem. The meetings and introductions are ones you cannot arrange from Japan alone. SRI makes them happen.

Before and after, your team receives dedicated coaching in Japan, in person and online, matched to where you are in the sprint.

menlo-entrance (1)
 

SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park — where the Bootcamp is based.

→ Face-to-face meetings with Silicon Valley VCs and deep-tech investors

→ Introductions to US founders, operators, and prospective customers

→ Live pitch sessions with expert coaches and unfiltered feedback

→ Site visits to SRI and leading Bay Area innovation centers

ELIGIBILITY IN DETAIL

For research teams with the ambition to commercialize.

You do not need all the answers yet — you need a compelling technology, a global ambition, and the drive to build.

✓ Research from a Japanese university, national R&D institute, or a GSC International Research Program partner institution

✓ Deep tech fields: AI and robotics, biotechnology, climate tech, or other science-based fields with major global potential

✓ Ambition to build for global markets, not only the domestic one

✓ A principal researcher plus a business lead responsible for management and business development

✓ Both founders should expect to spend at least one day a week for the venture curriculum and coaching and 100% for the 2 weeks in Silicon Valley

✓ Incorporation status does not matter — pre-incorporation teams are welcome

✓ Able to prepare a Venture Brief using SRI's template

 

Not ready yet? If your team is not fully formed, pre-register — we will connectyou with team-formation resources and notify you about FY2027, which targets roughly six teams

HOW TO APPLY

Three things. That is it.

We are assessing readiness and fit, not bureaucratic completeness. Most teams complete the form in about an hour.

 

01. VENTURE BRIEF

A concise business summary on SRI's template: the problem and your technical approach, your global market hypothesis, team structure, sprint milestones, and a three-to-five year vision.

Download the template →
02. APPLICATION FORM

Basic team information, a summary of your research results, and each member's stated commitment (FTE %).

03. OPTIONAL MATERIALS

Anything that strengthens the application — a pitch deck, key publications, relevant press. Optional but encouraged.

KEY DATES
Opens 3 August 2026
Call for applications launches
Deadline 4 September 2026
 All materials due — form, Venture Brief, optional attachments
Review Early Sept 2026 Document review, followed by online interviews mid-September
Selection  Late Sept 2026 Every applicant notified, with written feedback
Kickoff October 2026 Program begins — milestones set, coaches matched

 

HOW SELECTION WORKS

Applications are assessed by document review and interview against five criteria: global expansion intent, technological edge, team commitment, feasibility and readiness, and program fit.

2 teams
selected for the inaugural FY2026 cohort; FY2027
targets roughly six.

Every applicant
receives written feedback on their outcome, selected or not.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 2026 — EXACT DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Ready to take your research global?

Spend five months building the company your research deserves, with coaches who have done it before.

Deadline: September 4, 2026