The first SPACE FORUM @ The University of Osaka held, a space-related event featuring speakers from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and university-based space startups

On April 14, 2025, the University of Osaka, together with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), held an event at the Central Terrace Hall in our Suita Campus to promote technological development and collaborative research in the space field.

At the University of Osaka, various researchers of different fields of science, engineering, information science, and medicine, dentistry, and life sciences, such as from the Graduate School of Engineering, Engineering Science, and Science, as well as the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Joining and Welding Research Institute, Institute of Laser Engineering, and Research Center for Nuclear Physics, are engaged in research and technology development in the space field at the level of each laboratory and affiliated startup.

This event was held with the aim of creating a future where not only such researchers and startups involved in the space field but also those of different fields can play an active role, and to serve as an opportunity to connect various research, including non-space fields, to "application to the space field" and "candidates as JAXA projects" in an independent and interdisciplinary manner.

Approximately 150 attendees from diverse fields, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, life sciences, science, engineering, and information science—comprising researchers, students, startups, and companies from collaborative research institutes and joint research courses—participated in presentations, Q&A sessions, and discussions on space-related initiatives.

The day started off with an opening remark by Takeshi OMASA (Director of the School of Engineering and Dean of the Graduate School of Engineering), followed by an explanation of how researchers can get involved in the space business, including non-space fields, by Mr. Ichiro MATSUOKA, a consultant for the Business Development and Industrial Relations Department at JAXA. Next, Mr. Koichi FUJIHIRA, Chief Research and Development Engineer, Space Strategic Fund Department, JAXA, introduced JAXA's initiatives to expand space utilization and reinforce industrial competitiveness, as well as the Space Strategy Fund Project (Phase II).

Masaoki YAMAZAKI, Chief R&D Engineer at the JAXA Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center, introduced their activities to date, the future call for research proposals, and the details of the ongoing call for RFIs (Request For Information).

Kazunari MIYAMARU, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ElevationSpace Inc., a university-based space startup, gave a presentation on the history of the university-based space startup, its status quo in development, and the space service initiatives being considered as part of the university-based space startup's trajectory and prospects.

In addition, Hideaki UCHIKAWA, Director of Kibo Utilization Center, Manned Space Technology Directorate, JAXA, as well as a UOsaka alumnus of the Department of Mechanical Science and Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, participated online and introduced the space service initiatives in his presentation titled "Introducing the Kibo automated experiment system GEMPAK, which aims to automate space experiments that contribute to drug discovery, material creation, and more."

Lively Q&A sessions were held in each part, in which the participating researchers and others were able to deepen their understanding of JAXA's projects and gain insight into how their daily research activities could be applied to the space field.

The forum made clear that the University of Osaka will serve as a starting point to strengthen cooperation among industries in the Kansai region, improve Japan's international competitiveness in the space field, and promote innovation in solving social issues as well as research and technological capabilities.