USJMF and Wilson Sonsini Host Successful Japan Trade Mission and Roadshow for U.S. Medtech Companies -

On November 5-11, 2019, U.S.-Japan Medtech Frontiers (USJMF) and Wilson Sonsini led a group of representatives from 22 U.S. start-up and growth-stage medical device companies to Japan for the Sixth Annual Japan Medical Device Innovation Week, also known as MedTech Week Japan. The week’s activities—which took place primarily in Tokyo and Kobe and drew more than 1,000 attendees overall—included various conferences, symposiums, site visits, and social events designed to facilitate access to potential Japanese partners, investors, distributors, customers, and others; help the companies gain visibility; and provide a hands-on introduction to the Japanese medical device ecosystem.

The week’s marquee event was USJMF’s sixth annual symposium, which was titled “Innovation and Corporate Strategy for Medtech Companies” and took place on November 6 in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. At the exclusive, invite-only event, the 22 U.S. delegate companies had the opportunity to pitch themselves to the 150 senior executives of large Japanese medtech companies in attendance. The symposium also featured speeches by USJMF Chairman Jack Moorman; Keith Kirkham, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs from the U.S. Embassy Tokyo; Elton Satusky, a partner at Wilson Sonsini; and Akihiko Soyama, president and CEO of the Life Science Innovation Network Japan, a coorganizer of the symposium, as well as a keynote address from renowned Johns Hopkins Professor Russell H. Taylor, who provided a 30-year perspective on medical robotics. “Participating in the U.S.-Japan Medtech Frontiers Symposium was a unique and rewarding opportunity that has resulted in fruitful discussions with several Japanese strategics,” said Brett Follmer, CTO and co-founder of Progressive Neuro, one of the U.S. delegate companies.