New Brand, Same Commitment: OIST Innovation Creates Connections Between World-leading Science and Industry
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is proud to announce the rebranding of its technology transfer activities as "OIST Innovation." This new brand identity reflects the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and driving technological advancements for social impact, both locally and globally.
OIST Innovation will continue to provide the same exceptional services and support for technology commercialization and entrepreneurship that the university community and its strategic partners around the world have come to expect. Our team of experts will remain dedicated to providing the necessary resources and guidance to help innovators succeed.
OIST Innovation began in 2014 with the merging of the university’s patenting and industry-sponsored research programs into a new administrative division, initially called the Office for Sustainable Development of Okinawa and subsequently renamed the Technology Development & Innovation Center (TDIC). Over the last eight years, the division expanded rapidly, establishing new initiatives for technology marketing, proof-of-concept funding, entrepreneurship education, and startup incubation — all aimed at moving technologies from the lab to the market. Today, OIST Innovation consolidates these diverse initiatives, including the Innovation Square (I2) brand of startup support programs, under a single identity.
Guided by simplicity and a strong visual identity that connects with OIST broadly, OIST Innovation embodies the cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial spirit that the university fosters. “The new OIST Innovation name combines the strengths of OIST as a world-class research institution, the potential of Okinawa as a hub for innovation, and the concept of connection and convergence to solve global problems,” said Gil Granot-Mayer, Executive Vice President of OIST Innovation. “We are pleased that our new identity is also well aligned with the Japanese government’s recently announced multi-year strategy to transform social issues into engines of economic growth through support for startups and open innovation.”
Elements of OIST Innovation
As a prominent representation of the university’s ideals and principles, the OIST Innovation wordmark portrays connection, intersection, and unity
OIST Innovation’s multi-faceted blueprint for growth is a plan designed to transform the division into the premier academic technology commercialization brand in Asia. Recent initiatives include the establishment of the Global Bioconvergence Center of Innovation, a new research and development center at OIST focused on the convergence of diverse technologies to promote the health of people and the planet. The Center was awarded a 10-year grant, the largest ever received by the university, from the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology.
OIST Innovation remains committed to providing the highest quality services and support for technology commercialization and entrepreneurship programs, and we look forward to advancing innovation together.
For more information, please visit our website at www.oist.jp/innovation or contact us at innovation@oist.jp.
