Please tell us about your company's business.
We manufacture and sell an eco-friendly superabsorbent polymer called "EF Polymer" (Eco-Friendly Polymer). EF Polymer was developed by our founder, Narayan, who is from Rajasthan, India, a drought-prone region. He created it with the desire to solve the problems faced by local farmers, including his parents.
Most superabsorbent polymers currently on the market are derived from petrochemicals, but our polymer is made from agricultural waste such as fruit peels and pulp. It is 100% organic and fully biodegradable, returning to the soil within about a year. By mixing it into the soil, it improves the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients, enhancing crop yields. We are selling it as an agricultural material, and our sales have been growing significantly in both Japan and India. We are also expanding into other agricultural markets such as the U.S., Europe, and Thailand.
In addition, EF Polymer has potential uses beyond agriculture, such as a thickening agent in cosmetics, as a cooling agent, in diapers, sanitary products, and more. For these non-agricultural applications, we are forming partnerships with companies in various industries to jointly develop these uses.
What were the reasons behind your choice to join the OIST Innovation Incubator as a tenant?
Our founder Narayan participated in OIST’s accelerator program, and after graduating from the program, we naturally transitioned into the incubator.
How are you currently using the OIST Innovation Incubator?
We have a contract for a private office and a bench in the shared lab, which we use as our office and R&D base. However, our team in Okinawa has grown to 13 members, so space is becoming limited, and we have also contracted other research and development facilities in the prefecture.
What benefits have you found in being part of the OIST Innovation Incubator?
One of the major benefits is the flexible and extensive support from OIST. They are very attentive to the needs of tenant companies, including when it comes to equipment installation, which has been extremely helpful. In addition to the incubator, OIST frequently holds accelerator programs, events, and seminars, which shows their strong commitment to supporting startups in Okinawa.
Another significant value is access to the OIST community. I was actually a former OIST employee myself, and EF Polymer now employs four OIST alumni. While I feel somewhat sorry for OIST as we are taking their valuable talent, we intend to repay them by delivering results. Additionally, the fact that people recruited from outside Okinawa are now staying and contributing to local startups, fostering new industries in the prefecture, is a significant contribution OIST is making to the regional economy.
Moreover, the international community around OIST is a big help, making it easier for our foreign members and their families to adjust to life here.
Which companies would you recommend to join the OIST Innovation Incubator?
Looking at the companies currently gathered in the incubator, I think startups in the fields of biotechnology and agriculture would be a good fit. Also, in Tokyo, where there are many startups, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd, but in Okinawa, everyone supports you extensively, so I highly recommend starting a business here.
What do you expect from the OIST Innovation Incubator in the future?
Since the current facility was created as a trial, there are many challenges in terms of the experimental infrastructure, such as temperature and humidity control. I hope for a more advanced experimental setup in the new facilities. There is also talk of space being provided for large corporations to conduct joint research with OIST, so I’m looking forward to opportunities for collaboration with them. With the expansion of the facility, we’re excited about the various possibilities it will bring.
(Interview Date: August 14, 2024)
