"A Protein Synthesis System 3.0," a Nagoya University research team led by Professor Yasuomi Tada of the Center for Gene Research, has been selected to receive the First Prize of the 2015 NEDO Technology Commercialization Program (TCP). The team's other members are Researcher Mika Nomoto and Designated Lecturers Yuichi Fukuda and Masataka Minami of the Academic Research & Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration, Nagoya University.
The objective of NEDO's program is to help university-oriented entrepreneur candidates in Japan start their own businesses. Under the program, venture capitalists or entrepreneurs specializing in relevant fields serve as a mentor to provide basic training, advice and other assistance to young researchers who aim to commercialize technologies obtained through their own studies as a product or service. Researchers make a pitch (short presentation) about their own business model ideas. Their pitches undergo multiple evaluations, and after the finalists' presentations, the most outstanding research projects are selected.
The "A Protein Synthesis System 3.0" team has been selected from among 56 entries to receive First Prize for the project of catalog sales and fast, convenient delivery of cell free protein/wheat germ extract protein synthesis kits and proteins to gene and protein research laboratories with a vision of bringing about a revolution in experiment and research environments.
In 2014, the "Photocathode Electron Soul" team of Nagoya University (consisting of Designated Lecturer Tomohiro Nishitani, Assistant Professor Takamasa Suzuki, and Designated Professor Ikuo Okada) also received the First Prize of the NEDO TCP; thus, Nagoya University teams have achieved this remarkable accomplishment for two consecutive years.
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