Expectations for startups are increasing as a key drivers for sustainable economic growth. The Japan's government has positioned 2022 as the “startup year for creating startups,” and has announced a 5-year plan by the end of the year to increase the number of startups that are key to innovation by 10 times over the next five years.

Under these circumstances, expectations are rising not only for tech startups that utilize IT technology, but also for deep tech startups that solve deep-seated social issues with cutting-edge technology. A typical tech-startup aims for a few months development cycle, a market launch in a few years, and an IPO or M&A exit in about five years. On the other hand, deep tech startups face difficulties such as a long period of time to bring products to market, the capital required for development is more than an order of magnitude larger, mismatch between R&D personnel and management personnel, miscommunication between R&D personnel and investors, etc.

We organized this symposium to discuss the possibility of creating startups and changing society from the standpoint of the Society of Chemical Engineers, a place where academia with deep tech seeds gather.