Speaking Engagement: CEO Ozawa Spoke at RINK FESTIVAL 2026

“RINK FESTIVAL 2026,” a networking event promoting the practical application and industrialization of regenerative medicine, was held on February 6, 2026. Epistra Inc. CEO Yosuke Ozawa participated as a speaker in Session B, “Innovation Magnet Power through the Spirit of Public Service,” Part 2. The event reached its capacity of 200 attendees, reflecting the strong interest in the regenerative medicine field.

Event Overview

RINK FESTIVAL 2026 is an annual event hosted by Kanagawa Prefecture and the Kanagawa Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Industrialization Network (RINK). Held under the theme of “loose connections and new encounters,” it provides a venue for RINK member companies and domestic and international businesses, researchers, and students to interact.

Event Details

• Name: RINK FESTIVAL 2026
• Date: Friday, February 6, 2026, 13:30-20:30
• Venue: TIAT SKY HALL (4F, Haneda Airport Terminal 3, Ota-ku, Tokyo)
• Organizers: Kanagawa Prefecture, Kanagawa Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Industrialization Network (RINK)
• Supporters: Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (JSRM), Kansai Regenerative Medicine Industry Consortium (KRIC)

The event featured sessions on business strategies for regenerative medicine seeds and the theme “Science x Business x Ecosystem,” as well as a networking party.

Session B: “Innovation Magnet Power through the Spirit of Public Service”

Session B, in which Ozawa participated, focused on the spirit of “public service” as a driving force for innovation in the regenerative medicine field. Discussions explored how collaboration centered on public interest can attract innovation from the perspectives of industry, government, and academia.

Speakers

• Masaya Nakamura (Professor, Keio University School of Medicine)
• Shizuka Akieda (CEO, Cyfuse Biomedical K.K.; RINK Representative Director)
• Yasunori Aizawa (Associate Professor, Institute of Science Tokyo, School of Life Science and Technology)
• Yosuke Ozawa (CEO, Epistra Inc.)
• Yoji Sato (Deputy Director, National Institute of Health Sciences)

The session covered diverse perspectives on the elements necessary for the industrialization of regenerative medicine, from fundamental research and quality control to innovation in manufacturing processes through AI and data science.

Epistra is engaged in initiatives such as optimizing culture processes for regenerative medicine cells using AI and robotics, and contributed to the session discussions based on this expertise. We will continue to work toward solving social challenges through industry-government-academia collaboration in the life sciences.