About
Open InnovationDivision
The Open Innovation Division is responsible for developing and strengthening collaborative frameworks between campuses and campus offices and organizations to create and advance joint research projects for industry-academia collaboration. The department also supports external contract negotiations and their conclusion, as well as partnerhip management. By creating and advancing major joint research with large corporations and startups, we will accelerate the application of Keio University’s research findings in society.
Member
Masami Iida
Director of Open Innovation Division, Project Professor
Masami Iida
Director of Open Innovation Division, Project Professor
Masami Iida is the head of the Open Innovation Division at the Keio University Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a position he has held since November 2023. Iida supports the development and strengthening of collaborative frameworks between campuses, campus offices, and organizations, to accelerate the real-world implementation of research seeds generated by the university scientists and continue to respond to the unmet needs of the world. Prior to joining Keio University, he has experience in both the research and development divisions at Seikagaku Corporation as the Central Research Laboratory Vice President, Head of Research Strategy, and Department Manager Drug Discovery. During his 25 years in drug discovery research and development, he has engaged in discovery of several clinical stage compounds and multiple development candidates, mainly on orthopedic disorders and ophthalmic diseases, and oversaw collaborative research agreements with domestic and international academic institutions. Iida received a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo.
Kazumi Takebe
Project Associate Professor
Kazumi Takebe
Project Associate Professor
Kazumi Takebe joined the Open Innovation Division in August 2023 to contribute to bridging the gap between world-class Japanese researchers and global business/social implementation. As a business consultant in a research and consulting firm, she supported bio-ventures and major manufacturers’ entry into the medical/healthcare markets, as well as industry-government-academia projects. She was also in charge of new product marketing strategy for several blockbuster drugs at three major foreign pharmaceutical companies and leading the customer insights and analytics division. Since going independent in 2019, she has supported new business development and R&D strategy planning in the pharmaceutical, medical device, life and general insurance, and systems development industries, while devising market strategy for startup companies. Takebe holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Hiroyoshi Togo
Project Associate Professor
Hiroyoshi Togo
Project Associate Professor
Hiroyoshi Togo joined the Open Innovation Department, in which he collaborates with various institutions within the university, in April 2024. During his 27-year tenure at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) Research and Development Headquarters, he served as a senior researcher and group leader, driving fundamental research and development. Additionally, he contributed to the real-world implementation of products through open innovation initiatives. As the head of talent development, he supported the recruitment, training , and career development of researchers, which drove the sustainable growth of the organization. He has been instrumental for the university to foster an environment that nurtures new values through education and research, while also facilitating partnerships with industry and government agencies, where the ultimate goal is to create a society where everyone can lead a happy life.
He has a doctorate in engineering from the Graduate School of Science and Engineering at the University of Tsukuba.
Yusuke Hirano
Project Associate Professor
Yusuke Hirano
Project Associate Professor
Yusuke Hirano joined the Open Innovation Division in September 2023 to contribute to the promotion of collaborative research activities at the university. He spent 20 years as a researcher in the Drug Discovery Research Division of Astellas Pharma Inc., during which time he was involved in 10 pre-clinical research projects and contributed to the creation of two clinical development products. Hirano was then put in charge of research-related contracting, and over the following 12 years oversaw many collaborative research agreements with domestic and international academic institutions and private companies, and was involved in strategic research partnerships with several academic institutions in Japan. Hirano holds an Master of Science from Tokyo Metropolitan University.