Kagoshima University Venture Business Laboratory Silicon Valley Office

Purpose

In December 2004, Kagoshima University established its Venture Business Laboratory's Silicon Valley Office in California. As the first offshore base of Kagoshima University, this office supports international training and education and promotes international joint researches, the cooperation between industry and education, and ventures launched from universities. In addition, Kagoshima University regards this office as “an organization to realize flexible ideas and mobility without any fences, which connects the most advanced technology with global businesses,” Our purpose is to support Kagoshima University's innovations and Japanese new industrial creation through study and training abroad for students and teaching staff, by consulting joint research and business between American companies/universities and Kagoshima University, by cultivating entrepreneurs, and by providing information about high technology in the United States.

Our purpose for establishing this office is to carry out the following:

　(1) Support of education and training for students and teaching staff
　(2) Transfer of information on American high-technology to Kagoshima University, and exchange of Silicon Valley information through university tie-up conferences with Kagoshima University
　(3) Joint research and business between Kagoshima University and American companies/universities, and consulting on business creation and venture businesses launched from Kagoshima University
　(4) Propose overseas strategies to Kagoshima University as a national university corporation
　(5) Support of new business creation, industrial development and export opportunities for Kagoshima Prefecture and Japan

Through the above activities we support Kagoshima University intellectual property assets, Inamori Academy of Management & Technology programs, and VBL as an institution to accelerate social contribution.

Activities

Specific activities of the Office include:

　- Appointment of a director (Mr. Yuji Ide) and a vice-director (Mr. Teruhiro Yotsumoto)
　- Planning and operation of VBL education programs
　- Support of education and research for students and teaching staff (e.g., the intermediation of MBA/MOT or e-learning, and offering of studying abroad and training programs, operation of Silicon Valley Seminar)
　- Consultation of joint research and business with American companies and universities
　- Gathering of information on high technology in the United States
　- Cultivation of entrepreneurs through consultations with venture businesses launched from universities
　- Tie-up with Japanese entrepreneur associations in Silicon Valley including
　　　　SVJEN (Silicon Valley Japanese Entrepreneur Network)
　　　　JTPA (Japanese Technology Professional Association)
　　　　JBC (Japanese Bio Conference)
　- Support of Kagoshima University developed innovations
　- Support of new Japanese industrial creation


	in front of Silicon Valley Office	a souvenir picture

	(SVO area inside Pixera Corporation) from the left, University President Nagata, Kagoshima Prefecture Lieutenant Wakita Governor, and SVO Director Ide	Assistant Professor Ishiharada

Office Location
The Silicon Valley Office of Kagoshima University VBL is located in the Silicon Valley area of California, USA, within the facility of Pixera Corporation (Pixera CEO, Mr. Yuji Ide, graduated from Kagoshima University's Faculty of Engineering in 1979). Pixera Corporation, 140 Knowles Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA Email: yuji@pixera.com (Yuji Ide Director) Yotsumoto@skymerica.com (Teruhiro Yotsumoto Vice-Director) DIRECTIONS/MAP


	Silicon Valley Office Opening Ceremony
	On October 24, 2005 The Venture Business Laboratory Silicon Valley Office opening ceremony was held in Palo Alto.
	For more details about the opening ceremony, please see this page.


	Silicon Valley Seminar
	As an educational activity of ths office, we annually send approximately ten students to Silicon Valley to attend lectures by university instructors, entrepreneurs, lawyers and others who are very active in venture business arena. Our purpose for this Silicon Valley Seminar is to let students to see Silicon Valley first-hand venture practices, collect information on overseas business environment and conduct creative research through, students continue research activities after going back to Japan.


		with Mr. Masumoto, CEO of B-Bridge

		with JTPA instructors

		lecture by Mr. Ando President & CEO, Venture Access Corporation



	Silicon Valley Office Ceremony
	Silicon Valley Photo Gallery