One Year Since AVF: The Value Created by Connecting Students and Startups
AVF is a place where students who are serious about their research can connect with startups striving to bring technology to society.
Students participate with their own research topics and research questions, and through dialogue with companies, they gain perspectives that are difficult to obtain within the university setting alone.
One such example is Shori Yatame, the leader of the iGEM TSUKUBA team at the University of Tsukuba. Yatame,
I would like to seek expert advice on research into protein modification using machine learning, and,
We joined AVF with the hope of creating opportunities for interaction between MeBio Co., Ltd. and student research communities.
Subsequently, it was selected as a project for the AVF Scholarship, which led to an ongoing relationship with MeBio.
Through the AVF, students not only have the opportunity to meet with companies but also learn how to introduce themselves in a way that effectively communicates their research and activities.
This enables students to clarify their interests and strengths, allowing them to engage in more concrete discussions with companies.
During his visit to the MeBio Lab, Mr. Yadame is explaining the progress of his research.
Through AVF, Mr. Yadame exchanged views with MeBio regarding research topics and visited the company’s lab alongside members of iGEM TSUKUBA. Seeing the actual research environment of a biotech startup provided the students with a valuable opportunity to learn about the realities of research and development.
This experience spread throughout the team as well. Kenzo Hayashi, a junior colleague who accompanied us on the lab visit, was inspired by MiBio’s technology.
We incorporated their feedback and used it to generate new ideas. This effort led to our winning the Platinum Award at the Student Idea Factory Competition.
At the same time, AVF proved to be a valuable practical opportunity for MeBio as well. Mr. Yatame led a student research team called iGEM TSUKUBA and had strong ties to both the laboratory environment and the university’s mentoring system. For this reason, from the company’s perspective as well,
It facilitated dialogue and collaboration and provided an opportunity to connect with young professionals and research communities at an early stage.
What becomes clear from Mr. Yadame’s case is that AVF is more than just a venue for networking. Through direct dialogue with companies, students learn how their research connects to society and business. By engaging with the fresh perspectives of young researchers, startups gain insights that inspire them to explore new applications for their technologies and future directions.
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