MPO, Inc.

MPO, Inc. (MPO株式会社) is a Japanese technology transfer organization (TLO) and intellectual property producer headquartered in Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa. It was established in July 2004 as a technology transfer vehicle originating from St. Marianna University School of Medicine, with the mission of creating new industries in the life-science field based on science and technology. Its stated vision is to build a world in which intellectual property can be easily returned to society. Unlike a conventional TLO that focuses narrowly on licensing, MPO positions itself as an "intellectual property producer" that supports the entire journey from the conception stage through to the commercialization of research results. It handles not only patents but also designs, trademarks, copyrights, and know-how, and it leverages researchers' ideas and networks. The company specializes in life sciences and maintains staff with skills required for commercialization in that domain, including partner-company matching, intellectual property, research and development, marketing, and regulatory affairs. It is particularly strong in establishing startups and supporting their business expansion. MPO's network extends beyond St. Marianna University to university hospitals, mid-sized hospitals, and clinics, enabling it to commercialize a variety of technologies and match optimal commercialization partners. Its model is to formulate business models, development strategies, and intellectual strategies from the needs and seeds of researchers and medical professionals, combine them with commercialization partners, and build new business entities such as startups. MPO then participates in those entities while incubating and growing the new businesses. It also performs the traditional TLO function of searching for licensees, but its support extends beyond technology transfer. The company is based at St. Marianna University School of Medicine in Kawasaki and has capital of 22 million yen. It has business alliances including with Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. (株式会社新日本科学). Its leadership includes Honorary Chairman Katsuya Akashi (Chairman of St. Marianna University School of Medicine), Representative Director and President Masanori Inoue (patent attorney, MBA), and Director Kazuo Yudo (physician, PhD in medicine), with advisors Hatsushi Shimizu (patent attorney, PhD in pharmacy) and Yoshiyuki Watanabe (physician, PhD in medicine).

MPO, Inc. was established in July 2004 as a technology transfer organization (TLO) originating from St. Marianna University School of Medicine. Its founding rationale was the recognition that the social return of knowledge created at universities is a mission of universities alongside education and research. To commercialize research results in the life-science field, the university created MPO as a dedicated technology transfer vehicle. From its base at St. Marianna University School of Medicine in Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, MPO developed a model that differs from a conventional TLO. Rather than limiting itself to licensing patents, it positions itself as an "intellectual property producer" that supports the entire process from the conception stage to the commercialization of research results. It handles not only patents but also designs, trademarks, copyrights, and know-how, and it incorporates researchers' ideas and networks into commercialization. Over time MPO built a network that extends beyond St. Marianna University to university hospitals, mid-sized hospitals, and clinics. This network allows it to commercialize a variety of technologies and to match optimal commercialization partners. The company specializes in life sciences and staffs itself with personnel who have the skills needed for commercialization in that domain, including partner-company matching, intellectual property, research and development, marketing, and regulatory affairs. It has become particularly strong in establishing startups and supporting their business expansion. MPO's operating model is to formulate business models, development strategies, and intellectual strategies from the needs and seeds of researchers and medical professionals, combine them with commercialization partners, and build new business entities such as startups. MPO then participates in those entities while creating and nurturing new businesses. It also performs the traditional TLO function of searching for licensees, but its support extends beyond technology transfer. The company is headquartered at St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Green Building 3F, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8512. It was established in July 2004 with capital of 22 million yen. It has business alliances including with Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. (株式会社新日本科学). Its leadership includes Honorary Chairman Katsuya Akashi (Chairman of St. Marianna University School of Medicine), Representative Director and President Masanori Inoue (patent attorney, MBA), and Director Kazuo Yudo (physician, PhD in medicine), with advisors Hatsushi Shimizu (patent attorney, PhD in pharmacy) and Yoshiyuki Watanabe (physician, PhD in medicine).

• 2026

  Announced activity as a commercialization promotion organization for IJIE.

• 2026

  Announced St. Marianna University School of Medicine exhibition at AXIA EXPO 2026.

• 2004

  MPO, Inc. established as a technology transfer organization (TLO) originating from St. Marianna University School of Medicine.

An intellectual property producer and life-science-specialized TLO that goes beyond conventional technology transfer to build and participate in new business entities.

• Technology transfer (TLO) services

  Licensing and licensee search as a technology transfer organization.

• Intellectual property production

  Support from IP consultation and discovery to commercialization, covering patents, designs, trademarks, copyrights, and know-how.

• Startup creation and incubation

  Building new business entities such as startups and participating in them to create and grow businesses.

• Partner matching

  Matching optimal commercialization partners for technologies from universities, hospitals, and clinics.

1. 1MPO official website homepagempoinc.co.jp
2. 2MPO株式会社とは – MPOmpoinc.co.jp
3. 3MPO, Inc. (Japan) – Wikidatawikidata.org