National Knowledge Manufacturing Conference 2024 Implementation Report

The National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference 2024, held on Friday, April 12, 2024, was a resounding success, featuring booths from 52 companies and various sessions, with over 400 participants in attendance. The conference opened with a keynote speech titled “Ventures and SMEs That Have Shifted to Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Will Change the World of Tomorrow” by Mr. Mitsuru Izumo, President and CEO of euglena Co., Ltd., signaling the dawn of a “new era of knowledge-based manufacturing.” This article serves as a report on the National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference 2024, providing an overview of the event.

Panel Session"What a Long-Established Venture with Over 100 Years of History Has to Say About the Practice of Knowledge Manufacturing"

speaker
KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. President and CEO Shojiro Kobashi
Mr. Koji Hase, President and CEO of Hase Tora Spinning Co., Ltd.
Yukihiro Maru, Representative Director and Group CEO, Ribanes Co., Ltd.

“Knowledge Manufacturing”—as advocated by Lifeness—refers to the creation of new knowledge that solves problems through the combination of existing knowledge (from *The New Era of Knowledge Manufacturing* by Yukihiro Maru). Even before Ribane proposed this concept, KOBASHI HOLDINGS in Okayama Prefecture and Hase Tora Spinning in Gifu Prefecture had already been embodying the “Knowledge Manufacturing Industry.” Both are long-established mid-sized and small-to-medium-sized enterprises with histories spanning over 100 years; each has continuously refined its technologies in the fields of agriculture and manufacturing, as well as spinning techniques in the textile industry. In this session, the speakers discussed why mid-sized and small-to-medium-sized enterprises must embody the “Knowledge Manufacturing Industry” and what steps are necessary to make the shift toward it.

Keynote Session 1"A Nationwide Effort to Revive Manufacturing"

speaker
Mr. Yoshiaki Ishii, Senior Advisor, Organization for Small & Medium Enterprise Development (SME Support, Japan)
Mr. Motoki Ozawa, Deputy Director-General, Industry Department, Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

To revitalize Japan, it is important to support the growth of not only large corporations and startups but also the mid-sized and small businesses in regional areas, which account for 99.7% of the economy. Government support for collaboration between startups and mid-sized and small businesses is on the rise. Recognizing that a lack of investment during the “Lost 30 Years” has created unmet demand, and arguing that more examples of such collaboration are needed to resolve long-standing social issues, the speaker shared insights on these initiatives.

keynote session② “Survival Strategies for Mid-Sized and Small Businesses”

Speakers and Topic Titles
Mr. Keiichi Hamano, Representative Director and CEO, Hamano Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
　"The Challenges Facing Tokyo's Shitamachi Neighborhood and Local Factories," as Told by Hamano Seisakusho, a Local Factory in Sumida Ward
Mr. Akiyuki Washitani, Representative Director and CEO, ACSL Co., Ltd.
　As a drone startup, what we expect from partnerships with mid-sized and small businesses
Masahiro Samejima, Managing Partner, Uchida & Samejima Law Firm
　A Lawyer from *Shitamachi Rocket* Discusses the Methodology for Bringing Dreams and Technology to the World

With Hasegawa, Executive Officer and CHO of Lifeness, serving as moderator, three panelists shared their perspectives on the mindset and approaches that mid-sized and small businesses should adopt. Hamano Seisakusho, a small factory in Sumida Ward, has continued to transform its business model and organizational structure through partnerships with startups. The company demonstrated a commitment to continuing to take on new challenges, even if not all of them are successful. ACSL, which went public in 2018 as Japan’s first drone startup, has established a framework for collaboration with mid-sized and small businesses. The firm explained that the key to successful collaboration lies neither in business plans nor in profit, but in finding shared enthusiasm for a common vision and in the mutual sharing of assets—including people, intellectual property, and production facilities. Uchida-Samejima Law Office, which supports the businesses of mid-sized, small, and startup companies, emphasized the importance of a “patent/intellectual property × contracts” approach grounded in a deep understanding of technology.

Keynote Session 3"How to Start Collaborations Between Mid-Sized and Small Businesses and Startups"

Case Study 1: RealTech Fund’s Initiatives
Mr. Hajime Yamaga, Director and Executive Officer, RealTech Holdings Co., Ltd.
Case Study 2: The Collaboration Between Tochigi Seiko and Intelligent Surface
Mr. Daiki Kawashima, President and CEO of Tochigi Seiko Co., Ltd.
Mr. Yoshihiro Kiridōri, Representative Director, Intelligent Surface Co., Ltd.
Case Study 3: The Rebox × Cecil Research Collaboration
Mr. Toru Shinohe, Marketing Team Leader, Sales Department, Rebox Co., Ltd.
Mr. Keiji Yamashita, Director and Head of Research and Development, Cecil Research Co., Ltd.

Real Tech Holdings, a venture capital firm that supports startups, spoke about the roles and potential of mid-sized and small businesses. Regarding examples of collaboration between mid-sized and small businesses and startups, representatives from both sides—mid-sized and small businesses as well as startups—shared insights on how these partnerships were formed and tips for fostering collaboration.

Exhibition Hall

At the plenary session, 52 companies (List of Exhibitors 2024) set up booths, and lively discussions took place about the challenges they wanted to solve and the kind of future they wanted to create. Feedback from the companies that actually exhibited and those that attended can be found at <this way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)It is posted at >.

National Conference on Knowledge-Based Manufacturing 2025: Overview

Date and Time: Friday, April 18, 2025
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center, Hamamatsucho Building, 4th Floor Exhibition Hall
If you are interested in exhibiting at or attending the 2025 National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference, please visit <Contact Us> Please contact us via [this link].