On October 12, our company applied for and was selected for the "Startup-ASEAN Cooperation Promotion Program(*1)" sponsored by the ASEAN-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) Secretariat, with a contribution from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

 

 This program targets Japanese startups who aim to develop new businesses or expand their business in ASEAN through collaboration and cooperation with ASEAN companies (in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam).

 

Our hyperspectral camera-based cancer diagnostic software will enable highly accurate early detection of cancer and help solve sustainability issues in ASEAN.

 

What is the Startup-ASEAN Cooperation Promotion Program?

 

It is an acceleration program sponsored by the ASEAN-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) Secretariat with contributions from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), targeting Japanese start-ups that aim to develop new businesses or expand business in ASEAN through collaboration with ASEAN companies (companies from Southeast Asian countries). The program is designed for Japanese startups who aim to develop new businesses or expand their businesses in ASEAN through collaboration with ASEAN companies (companies from Southeast Asian countries).

 

 The program aims to solve sustainability issues in ASEAN through collaboration with ASEAN companies.

 

 

Background and purpose of participation: Increasing healthcare needs in ASEAN countries

 

According to the "Social Needs Survey of ASEAN Countries (*2)" conducted by KPMG AZSA LLC, which operates the secretariat of this program on behalf of the organizer, SDG 3: Health and Welfare for All are considered to be a very important issue in all ASEAN countries except Singapore, although progress is being made moderately. The SDG issue "3: Health and Welfare for All" have been identified as one of the most important remaining challenges in the ASEAN countries, except Singapore, and requires urgent solutions.

Under such circumstances, we believe that the knowledge accumulated in Japan, where a pathological diagnosis is performed on a large number of cases and shared with ASEAN countries will lead to the correction of medical disparities in Asia and provide an opportunity for Japan to demonstrate its international leadership in medical services.

 

 In addition, according to a report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit in June 2020, the mortality rate of cancer patients in Vietnam is over 70%, the highest in Asia, but the study found that the incidence rate per population is not high compared to other countries. The mortality rate is then followed by India, Thailand, and China. Given these survey results, there is an urgent need to promote the use of diagnostic systems that can lead to cancer treatment.

 

 What is a hyperspectral camera?

 

A hyperspectral camera is a camera that can capture light spectrally at different wavelengths and produces a special image, called a data cube, by photographing an object.

By analyzing the unique spectrum (spectral information) of an object, it is possible to evaluate the characteristics and state of materials that are difficult to evaluate with the human eye.

 

Collaboration with ASEAN Companies

 

We will aim to obtain medical device approvals in promoting collaboration with ASEAN companies.

 

Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia have large populations, which can be seen in high demand for cancer diagnosis.

 

In addition, Malaysia and Singapore have more medical facilities than any other ASEAN countries, and FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approval is relatively easy to obtain. Therefore, we intend to use the countries in which we have obtained medical device approval in these countries as a stepping stone to advance into ASEAN.

 

Goals

Through this program, we will strive to achieve the following goals

○Start introducing hyperspectral-related services to ASEAN within 3 years.

Our goal is to go beyond the framework of nations to elucidate the causes of all diseases, focusing on cancer.

Through this program, we will make a sincere effort to solve issues in ASEAN countries as a passing point.

 

 

 

Six companies selected for the "Startup-ASEAN Cooperation Promotion Program

Deep X Corporation (Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo)

Liberaware Inc.

Milk.

TBM Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Zero Board Corporation (Minato-ku, Tokyo)

TradeWaltz Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

 

 

 

 

 

*1Startup-ASEAN Cooperation Promotion Program

 

https://jstartup-asean.com

 

*2 ASEAN Countries Social Issues Needs Survey (KPMG AZSA & Co.)

 

https://jstartup-asean.com/wp-content/themes/asean/files/needs_assessment_20220620.pdf

 

Secretariat of this program: KPMG AZSA LLC