TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd.

TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd. (株式会社ＴＬＯ京都) is a Japanese technology transfer organization headquartered on the Kyoto University campus in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. Its core mission is to bridge academia and industry: it manages intellectual property arising from Kyoto University and other partner universities and public research institutes, handles market-value assessment and rights acquisition, and connects those research results with companies that can turn them into products and businesses. The company describes its role as a one-stop service covering IP management, technology transfer, research exchange, and venture support, under the corporate philosophy of creating new value and exciting the world. The organization was established in October 1998 as Kansai TLO Co., Ltd. (関西ティー・エル・オー株式会社), and in December of that year received approval under Japan's Act on the Promotion of Technology Transfer from Universities to Private Business Operators (the TLO Act). It increased its capital to 29.5 million yen in December 2000, was certified under the same law in July 2002, and was selected in June 2004 as a Super TLO operator for priority technology transfer in specific fields. After a management overhaul and capital increase to 60 million yen in September 2006, it accepted investment from Kyoto University and Wakayama University in December 2011, bringing capital to 63.3 million yen. In January 2016 Kyoto University acquired 68.2% of the outstanding shares, and in October 2019 the company changed its trade name to TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd. In January 2026 Kyoto University moved to a structure holding 100% of the common stock. TLO-Kyoto's activities center on matching university-originated research seeds with industry needs. It publishes available technologies across categories such as life sciences, drug discovery, medical devices, food, agriculture and fisheries, organic materials, metals and inorganic materials, machinery and processing, electrical and electronics, information and communication, environment and energy, and civil engineering and architecture. It also runs recurring matching seminars, including its University-Originated Seed Matching Seminar series, which by 2026 had reached its 33rd edition, covering topics such as polysaccharide-derived tough hydrogels and materials research emerging from biology-chemistry fusion. The company is based in the Kyoto University International Science Innovation Building and employed 27 people as of June 2026, with capital of 63.3 million yen. Its representative director and president is Seiji Miwa, who concurrently serves as president of Kyoto University Original Co., Ltd.

TLO-Kyoto was established in October 1998 as Kansai TLO Co., Ltd. (関西ティー・エル・オー株式会社), one of Japan's early technology transfer organizations created in the wake of the 1998 Act on the Promotion of Technology Transfer from Universities to Private Business Operators (the TLO Act). In December 1998, shortly after incorporation, it received approval under that law, positioning it as a recognized vehicle for transferring university research into industry. The early 2000s were a period of institutional consolidation. In December 2000 the company increased its capital to 29.5 million yen. In July 2002 it received certification under the TLO Act, and in June 2004 it was selected as a Super TLO operator (特定分野重点技術移転事業者), a designation for organizations focused on priority technology transfer in specific fields. In September 2006 the company overhauled its management structure and increased capital to 60 million yen, a step that broadened its operational base. A significant ownership shift came in December 2011, when Kyoto University and Wakayama University invested in the company, raising capital to 63.3 million yen. This deepened the organization's ties to Kyoto University in particular. In January 2016 Kyoto University acquired 68.2% of the outstanding shares, making the TLO a majority-owned affiliate of the university. Reflecting this closer integration, the company changed its trade name to TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd. (株式会社ＴＬＯ京都) in October 2019. In January 2026 Kyoto University moved to a structure in which it holds 100% of the common stock, making TLO-Kyoto a wholly owned subsidiary. Throughout its history, TLO-Kyoto has functioned as a bridge between academia and industry. It manages intellectual property for Kyoto University and other partner universities and public research institutes, covering market-value assessment, rights acquisition, and licensing. It publishes available technologies across a wide range of fields and organizes recurring matching seminars that connect university-originated research seeds with companies. By 2026 the company had held 33 editions of its matching seminar series, and it employed 27 people as of June 2026. Its headquarters is located in the Kyoto University International Science Innovation Building in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto.

• Established as Kansai TLO Co., Ltd. (関西ティー・エル・オー株式会社).

• Received approval under the Act on the Promotion of Technology Transfer from Universities to Private Business Operators (TLO Act).

• Increased capital to 29.5 million yen.

• Received certification under the TLO Act.

• Selected as a Super TLO operator (特定分野重点技術移転事業者).

• Overhauled management structure and increased capital to 60 million yen.

• Accepted investment from Kyoto University and Wakayama University; capital increased to 63.3 million yen.

• Kyoto University acquired 68.2% of outstanding shares.

• Changed trade name to TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd. (株式会社ＴＬＯ京都).

• Kyoto University moved to a structure holding 100% of common stock.

A Kyoto University-affiliated technology transfer organization (TLO) acting as a one-stop bridge between academia and industry, commercializing university intellectual property and supporting venture creation.

• Available Technology (発明情報) database

  A categorized listing of patent information and research seeds from partner universities and public research institutes, spanning life sciences, drug discovery, medical devices, food, agriculture and fisheries, organic materials, metals and inorganic materials, machinery and processing, electrical and electronics, information and communication, environment and energy, and civil engineering and architecture.

• Technology transfer and licensing services

  One-stop intellectual property management from market-value assessment and rights acquisition to bridging with industry.

• University-Originated Seed Matching Seminar series

  Recurring seminars connecting university research seeds with companies; the 33rd edition was held in 2026.

1. 1株式会社ＴＬＯ京都tlo-kyoto.co.jp
2. 2ＴＬＯ京都とは｜株式会社ＴＬＯ京都tlo-kyoto.co.jp
3. 3会社概要｜株式会社ＴＬＯ京都tlo-kyoto.co.jp
4. 4アドバイザー｜株式会社ＴＬＯ京都tlo-kyoto.co.jp
5. 5TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd. (Japan) - Wikidatawikidata.org