RIVANES and Mizuho Bank Sign Collaboration Agreement to Revitalize Japan's Regional Economy - Strengthening Collaboration between Deep Tech and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Lifeness Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director and Group CEO: Yukihiro Maru) and Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; President: Katsuhiko Kato) signed a partnership agreement on April 12 aimed at revitalizing regional communities in Japan.

This agreement aims to leverage Ribane’s technological expertise and Mizuho’s network to support the growth of both mid-sized and small businesses and deep-tech startups, with the goal of fostering the emergence of global companies from Japan. To this end, the parties will work together and cooperate to advance this initiative.

The details of the partnership agreement are as follows.

Background Leading to the Partnership Agreement

Since 2014—the dawn of the deep tech era—Lifeness has been identifying researchers and R&D-driven startups driven by a passion to change the world, and—in collaboration with major corporations, financial institutions, and small local manufacturers—has been nurturing them into businesses that contribute to solving global challenges through an ecosystem “TECH PLANTER(a neologism derived from the term “technology plantation”). Since 2016, in collaboration with local financial institutions, municipalities, and companies, we have been promoting “Regional Tech Planter"We launched [the program] and have been implementing it in 12 regions across the country."

As the only megabank with branches in all 47 prefectures, Mizuho Bank has the advantage of a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of customers in each region. In March 2023, the bank established the “Regional Revitalization Desk” as a headquarters function to plan and promote initiatives aimed at solving issues faced by various regions—such as revitalizing local industries, achieving carbon neutrality, and digital transformation (DX), and other challenges faced by each region. The bank is expanding its regional revitalization support initiatives—such as co-creation between startups and local companies and the revitalization of regional industries—by leveraging the strengths of the “Mizuho” brand and its nationwide network.

Lifeness and Mizuho Bank share a common vision for regional revitalization in Japan. During fiscal year 2023, Mizuho Bank participated as a partner in the Regional Tech Planter program in seven regions (Tohoku, Ibaraki, Gunma, Shizuoka, Ishikawa, Okayama, and Kumamoto), working collaboratively with regional financial institutions to build local ecosystems. In addition, in January 2024, the Lifeness Group opened a deep-tech hub in Cyberjaya, a special economic zone in Malaysia, called “Center of Garage MalaysiaUsing "..." as a starting point, we are building a framework to strengthen support for startups based in Japan as they expand overseas by connecting them with the network of major local corporations maintained by Mizuho Bank, which has operations across Southeast Asia.

We have collaborated on various initiatives in the past, but on April 12, 2024, Lifeness hosted Japan’s first “National Knowledge Manufacturing Conference"This partnership agreement was signed following Mizuho Bank's participation as a co-organizer of [...].

About the Partnership Agreement

The Japanese government has designated 2022 as the “Year One of Startups” and formulated the “Five-Year Startup Development Plan” to create an ecosystem that fosters the creation and growth of startups in Japan. It has been focusing its efforts on strengthening support for new business ventures and building momentum for entrepreneurship.

On the other hand, among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—which account for 99.71% of Japanese companies—there is a current reality where it is difficult to create new businesses that keep pace with the changing times, due to factors such as insufficient research and development capabilities, inadequate human resource development systems, and the impact of rigid supply chains. In light of this situation, the Japanese government has designated 2024 as the “First Year of Mid-Sized Companies” and has launched a large-scale support initiative.

Lifenex and Mizuho Bank believe that by strengthening collaboration between mid-sized and small businesses—which possess expertise, assets, and knowledge accumulated over many years—and startups with deep-tech capabilities, and by supporting their expansion into global markets (particularly Southeast Asia), they can increase the probability and speed of the social implementation and commercialization of deep tech, and that this might also lead to the creation of new mid-sized and small-to-medium-sized enterprises that are not constrained by existing industrial structures.

This partnership agreement aims to foster the growth of mega-ventures from the regional ecosystem we have built with regional financial institutions and local governments through initiatives such as the Regional Tech Planter program. To achieve this, we will strengthen collaboration with regional mid-sized and small-to-medium-sized enterprises, including Tech Planter partner companies, and seek to connect them with Mizuho Bank’s network of large enterprises in Southeast Asia.

The signing ceremony was held on April 12, 2024, during the National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference, as described below.

＜調印式概要＞
Date and Time: Friday, April 12, 2024, 11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Location: Ota City Industrial Plaza PiO, Main Exhibition Hall

Signature:
Mizuho Bank, Ltd. Executive Officer and Deputy Head of the Retail and Corporate Business Division, Masato Kaneda
Yukihiro Maru, Representative Director and Group CEO, Ribanes Co., Ltd.

Witness:
Mr. Mitsuru Izumo, President and CEO of Euglena Co., Ltd.
KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. President and CEO Shojiro Kobashi

The agreement was signed by Masato Kaneda, Executive Officer of Mizuho Bank, Ltd., and Yukihiro Maru, Representative Director and Group CEO of Lifeness Co., Ltd. Mr. Mitsuru Izumo, Representative Director and President of euglena Co., Ltd., and Mr. Shojiro Kobashi, Representative Director and President of KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., signed the agreement as witnesses.

Since its founding in 2005, euglena Co., Ltd. has established technology for the large-scale outdoor cultivation of euglena by leveraging the technology and know-how accumulated over many years by Yaeyama Shokusan Co., Ltd., a local company on Ishigaki Island, and has since grown into a mega-venture with a market capitalization of 100 billion yen. Furthermore, KOBASHI HOLDINGS, an agricultural machinery manufacturer in Okayama Prefecture with a history spanning over 100 years, has highlighted the necessity and importance of not only large corporations but also medium-sized and small businesses collaborating with startups. In addition to actively partnering with startups, the company is spearheading its own reform efforts, including redefining its corporate philosophy and establishing a Knowledge Manufacturing Department. The company is also a founding member of the National Knowledge Manufacturing Conference, which was held for the first time on April 12.

These two individuals play a crucial role as role models for strengthening collaboration between deep-tech startups and mid-sized and small businesses—a key objective of this agreement. In addition to serving as witnesses to the signing, they will systematically share with startups and mid-sized and small businesses the practical methods—such as cross-sector collaboration, organizational development, and new business development—that their respective companies have cultivated over the years.

Going forward, by combining Mizuho’s extensive network with LifeNeX’s strengths in deep tech, we will further strengthen our support for the growth of both mid-sized and small businesses and deep-tech startups. Working in collaboration with regional financial institutions, government agencies, and major corporations in Japan and Southeast Asia, we aim to foster the emergence of global companies that will change the world from Japan.

＜メディア掲載＞
・The Nikkei:Lifeness and Mizuho Bank Form Partnership to Support Mid-Sized and Small Businesses
・Nikkun ONLINE:Mizuho Bank and Livanes Partner to Support Startups, Helping Emerging Companies Expand Overseas
・Okinawa Times:Mizuho Bank Partners with Ribane to Support Local Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; Signs Agreement
・San'in Chuo Shimbun Digital:Mizuho Bank and Ribanex Sign Agreement to Support Local Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Expanding into Southeast Asia
・Your Shizuoka Shimbun:Expanding into Southeast Asia: Mizuho Bank and Ribance Partner to Support Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

＜本件に関する問合せ先＞
Matsubara, Corporate Planning Office, Ribanes Co., Ltd.
Phone: 03-5227-4198 Email:[email protected]

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. Public Relations Office
Phone: 03-5252-6574