JASHIE and JSPIN Co-Host High Engagement Australia–Japan Sports Innovation Seminar

On 3 December, JASHIE co-hosted a hybrid seminar with the Japan Sports Business Initiative (JSPIN), a Japanese Government–backed program supporting the internationalisation of Japan’s sports and health innovation sector.

The event brought together 30 participants, including Japanese sports tech and health tech startups, representatives from the Japanese Government, the Queensland Government, and JASHIE–JSPIN program organisers. Participants joined both in person in Japan and online from Australia, creating a dynamic platform for bilateral exchange.

The seminar recorded exceptionally strong attendance, with almost no same-day cancellations—an outcome that reflected the relevance of the topic and the high quality of expertise shared. Despite its compact format, the session delivered practical insights and market intelligence focused on overseas expansion, cross-border collaboration, and opportunities in the Australian market.

Following the formal program, a networking session enabled deeper engagement among participants. Many attendees remained on site to continue discussions, resulting in meaningful relationship-building and forward-looking conversations. Several startups expressed early-stage interest in JASHIE’s upcoming Australia-based business delegation and market immersion activities, highlighting growing momentum for Australia–Japan collaboration.

Discussions throughout the event also underscored the structural challenges faced by Japanese sports and health startups, particularly the limited size of the domestic market and the barriers to international expansion. JSPIN reaffirmed its commitment to addressing these challenges by acting as a hub that lowers entry barriers and connects like-minded innovators, an objective closely aligned with JASHIE’s mission.

JASHIE is pleased to continue strengthening its collaboration with JSPIN and government partners in both countries, and to build practical pathways for sustainable, two-way business engagement between Australia and Japan in the sports and health innovation sectors.