NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS), is expanding its presence in Japan with the launch of its second BLOCK71 office in Tokyo today.

This follows the successful opening of its first location in Nagoya in November 2024，NUS said in a statement on Friday.

In collaboration with key partners, Central Japan Innovation Capital (CJIC), Kyoto University, and TIS Inc., NUS Enterprise aims to support start-ups, researchers, and students while connecting them with investors. These partnerships align with Japan’s efforts to accelerate the growth of its start-up ecosystem.

Located at TAKANAWA GATEWAY Link Scholars’ Hub, BLOCK71 Tokyo will support the growth of Southeast Asian technology-driven start-ups in Japan, contributing to the urban development’s focus on environmental sustainability, mobility and robotics, and smart health.

It will also provide Japanese start-ups with the resources needed to expand into Southeast Asia and beyond.

“Japan’s strong foundation in technology and research makes it an ideal environment for start-up growth,

“It ranks among the world’s top three countries for patent applications and invests over three percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in research and development (R&D), one of the highest globally,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President.

According to him, this creates immense potential for innovation.

“With BLOCK71 Tokyo located in the country’s latest innovation hub, we have a strategic platform to connect start-ups and drive cross-border collaboration,

“To amplify our impact, we are partnering one of Japan’s top universities, a major corporation, and a leading venture capital firm, all sharing our vision to foster deep tech innovation and build a robust global ecosystem,” he added.

Building on the success of its globally recognized BLOCK71 model, BLOCK71 Tokyo will promote knowledge exchange, cross-border innovation, and new opportunities for start-ups entering the Japanese market.

To deepen its impact, NUS has inked three new partnerships with Central Japan Innovation Capital, Kyoto University and TIS Inc.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), CJIC will invest up to five percent of its assets under management in NUS-affiliated deep tech start-ups.

The fund aims to raise approximately S$44 million ($32.81 million) by the end of its fundraising, expected in November 2025.

A subsidiary of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, CJIC supports university start-ups focused on deep tech innovation.

NUS and CJIC will also explore broader collaboration opportunities to help start-ups from both ecosystems expand into the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets.

Beyond funding, NUS is also enhancing entrepreneurial support for deep tech start-ups through its partnership with Kyoto University, formalized by an MOU.

As a first step, Kyoto University will send start-ups to join the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Program (NUS GRIP).

They will also become the first overseas university partner in a localized version of the program.

This will empower Kyoto University’s graduate students, researchers, and alumni to transform research into impactful deep tech ventures, addressing some of the social challenges in Asia and seizing new opportunities.

Both universities will also offer exchange programs to foster cross-border entrepreneurial experiences.

Kyoto University students will have the opportunity to intern at NUS GRIP start-ups, while NUS GRIP start-ups can gain hands-on experience from Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd (Kyoto-iCAP), the university’s venture capital arm.

This partnership enhances the flow of entrepreneurial talent and deepen innovation ties between the two countries, further boosting their deep tech ecosystems.

NUS is also expanding its global entrepreneurship efforts through a partnership with TIS Inc., one of Japan’s leading IT companies, to build a globally connected start-up ecosystem.

This collaboration, formalized through a collaboration agreement, launches the Deep Tech Seed to A Growth Expansion Program (Deep-SAGE), a tailored start-up acceleration initiative to help seed-stage start-ups worldwide scale towards pre-Series A and Series A funding.

TIS Inc. will commit a total of S$7.6 million ($5.67 million) to support Deep-SAGE over the next three years.

This will include three cohorts, each comprising up to 10 start-ups.

As part of this commitment, TIS Inc. plans to invest a minimum of S$500,000 ($372,838) each in at least two start-ups per cohort.

BLOCK71 will design and deliver the program, providing structured support through virtual mentorship sessions and workshops.

Start-ups will also have incubation opportunities at BLOCK71 offices across 11 cities, including Singapore, Silicon Valley, Saigon and Suzhou, drawing on a global network that supports international market entry and commercial opportunities.

Through these strategic collaborations, NUS reinforces its position as a leading start-up university in the global innovation landscape, nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets and empowering the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.

Following the success of its second Japan Immersion Program in Nagoya held in 2024, where start-ups gained insights into Japan’s manufacturing powerhouse, BLOCK71 Japan will launch the third edition in Tokyo in May 2025.

The 2024 program provided start-ups with a deeper understanding of Japan’s culturally distinct landscape, helping them build connections with local partners, secure new customers, and develop new proof-of-concept projects.

The 2025 edition will focus on the three key themes of TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY: environmental sustainability, mobility and robotics, and smart health.

It will welcome five Southeast Asian start-ups, who will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions at the upcoming GATEWAY Tech TAKANAWA event — a platform for large corporations and start-ups to exchange innovative ideas and solutions.

This immersive experience will further strengthen ties between Southeast Asia and Japan, equipping start-ups with the knowledge and networks they need to enter new markets and drive innovation.

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