On July 28-29, 2023, Dr. Kengo Suzuki, Chief Technology Officer of Euglena Co., Ltd., addressed a diverse audience at the 3rd Healthtech Device Forum. The forum, a key event in the industry calendar, took place at the Healthtech Innovation Hub (HIH) in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Dr. Suzuki utilized his platform to shed light on Euglena's business journey from inception to the present, with an emphasis on their key milestones and advancements.

In his compelling address, Dr. Suzuki underscored the pressing need to integrate the concept of "planetary health" into the future trajectory of the healthcare industry. He posited that this holistic approach - prioritizing global health starting from the earth's well-being - is pivotal, and that science and technology play a vital role in realizing this vision. This thought-provoking statement stirred a lively debate during the subsequent Q&A session.

Scene of the Lecture

A Glimpse into the Healthtech Innovation Hub

The Healthtech Innovation Hub was established with the principal aim of invigorating the local economy. This goal is achieved through the cultivation of innovative products and businesses, with a focus on uniting key health tech-focused companies in Iwate Prefecture. This alignment fosters beneficial collaborations between industry, academia, and government, propelling joint research and development initiatives. Currently, the hub is home to 13 health tech-related firms.

Highlighting one of the tenants: Icomes Lab Co., Ltd.

Iwate Prefecture, historically a hub for Nambu iron production, is home to several companies proficient in metal precision processing technology and plastic precision injection molding. Icomes Lab Co., Ltd. leverages the accumulated expertise of these local companies, Iwate University, and their own proprietary mechatronics technology to innovate and deliver quality products. Among their notable accomplishments are the development, mass production, and sale of a micro actuator, which employs an ultra-compact gear reducer. The company's suite of life science instruments, including the "pipetty," a compact, high-precision motorized pipette, and the "CytoAuto," an automatic culture medium exchange system, have proven instrumental in numerous research studies owing to their precision and workload reduction benefits.

Compact, high-precision motorized pipette "pipetty"

A Panorama of the Healthtech Device Forum

The forum provided a dynamic platform for the presenting companies to showcase their businesses and technological innovations, fostering robust dialogue aimed at further industry growth. In addition, international perspectives were incorporated with guest lectures from Taiwan and Korea, offering insights into the current landscape and future prospects of global health tech. Further enriching the event, high school and university students presented their research, exchanging ideas that promise to shape the future of health tech technology.

Group photo with speakers from Taiwan and Korea and high school students who presented their research