Ever thought a trip from a small island off the coast of Wales to Japan could be about health innovation? Me neither — until it happened! What started as a sweltering, slow-moving journey thanks to the hottest day of the year and a lorry fire in the Conwy Tunnel (hello, six-hour drive to Manchester Airport!) turned into one of the most inspiring weeks I’ve had in a long time.
Thankfully, my flight departed on time the next morning, turbulence was minimal, and the food was surprisingly good — a rare win when flying!
I had the privilege of visiting Osaka and Tokyo, representing M-SParc on a Health Innovation Mission. We joined forces with the WelshGoverment – Trade Mission and connected with organisations across Japan, all with one common goal: to spark new collaborations between Japan and Wales.
Our first major stop? Nakanoshima Qross in Osaka – a hub for future medicine. Imagine a place where academia, industry, and medicine meet under one roof. Think regenerative medicine labs, startup spaces, a conference centre, and even an iPS cell manufacturing facility from Kyoto University. It was fascinating to see how their vision aligns with what we’re doing back at M-SParc — from entrepreneurial programmes to wrap-around business support. A true “East meets West” moment!
Later, we headed to Kobe Biomedical Park. There, we visited cutting-edge organisations like Air Water International Advanced Medical Centre and RIKEN. Air Water blew us away — from industrial gases to dental regenerative medicine (yes, stem cells from baby teeth!), they’re exploring some incredible frontiers in health tech.
A definite highlight was the World Expo 2025 preview in Osaka. The UK pavilion, inspired by a child’s building blocks, was a perfect metaphor for innovation — small ideas building into something big. During “Wales Health Tech Day,” we heard from Welsh innovators like Lucerne Scientific, Creo Medical, Bomper Studio, and Goggleminds. It was especially nice to see one of our Virtual Tenants, Elliot Riley-Walsh in attendance too.
I also had the chance to present at the Osaka Biotech and Pharma Networking Event, highlighting the North Wales innovation ecosystem and what M-SParc offers to businesses. It was great to see genuine interest in Welsh innovation — the audience was all ears!
The next leg took us to the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition in Saito. Their work on healthy ageing and creating a future-ready society was both impressive and thought-provoking. Afterwards, we visited Osaka University Hospital, where we were introduced to some ground breaking healthcare technologies. Who knew Fujifilm did more than just cameras?
From there, we headed to Japan Health 2025, a massive international trade fair bringing together global players in healthcare and medtech. Welsh Government had a strong presence here too, promoting opportunities for collaboration and investment in Wales.
Our Tokyo day kicked off with the famous bullet train (yes, it’s really that fast — 300 miles in just a couple of hours!). First stop: Weltech in Kawasaki, followed by a fantastic session with university students at Nishida Lab, who shared some truly innovative health solutions. We wrapped up the day with a tour of Fujifilm’s Tokyo HQ — more cutting-edge tech and a look into Japan’s future of healthcare.
What a whirlwind. From Anglesey to Osaka to Tokyo and back — this journey was packed with innovation, ideas, and inspiring people. I learned so much, made invaluable connections, and saw firsthand how Wales can play a key role in shaping the global future of health.
Here’s to building lasting partnerships and creating a healthier world — one collaboration at a time.
tom@m-sparc.com
Tom used to work at the KFC in his hometown of Colwyn Bay before it mysteriously burned down. He then spent several years “on the lam” in East Germany, where he worked as an animator in Berlin. When the wall fell, Tom came home.
He enjoys climbing and hates ice-skating.
