【Press Release】“Innovation Tiger 2026” Announced: Call for Challengers First Overseas FAST TRACK Selection to Be Held in South Korea and Taiwan to Accelerate Drug Discovery Sourcing and Startup Growth

Press Release

May 11, 2026

For Immediate Release
iPark Institute Co., Ltd.

“Innovation Tiger 2026” Announced: Call for Challengers
First Overseas FAST TRACK Selection to Be Held in South Korea and Taiwan to Accelerate Drug Discovery Sourcing and Startup Growth

●  Selection framework strengthened: In response to strong demand from South Korea and Taiwan, FAST TRACK (preliminary selection) will be held locally for the first time
●  Creating opportunities for collaboration between Asia-based startups and pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms, further accelerating open innovation
●  Finalists will be granted the opportunity to attend Shonan Health Innovation Conference (SHIC) 2026 in Boston

iPark Institute Co., Ltd (Head Office: Fujisawa, Kanagawa; President & CEO: Toshio Fujimoto: hereinafter “iPark Institute”) will host the open-call pitch and partnering event “Innovation Tiger 2026” on September 15, 2026, at Shonan Health Innovation Park (hereinafter “Shonan iPark”).
Innovation Tiger is a pitch and partnering event organized by Shonan iPark to connect promising drug discovery seeds from across Asia with pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms. At its inaugural event held on September 30, 2025, a total of 79 applications were received from startups and academic institutions in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Sixteen selected teams were granted the opportunity to participate in Shonan Health Innovation Conference (SHIC) 2025, held in Boston, United States, in November 2025, which connects Asian startups with leading global investors.¹
For its second edition, in addition to the main selection event, preliminary FAST TRACK sessions will be held locally in South Korea and Taiwan between May and July in response to strong demand from these regions. By identifying promising drug discovery seeds at an early stage and providing intensive mentoring by experienced industry professionals, the initiative aims to further accelerate the growth of innovation originating in Asia.
¹Innovation Tiger 2025 Winners Announced | News | Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)

Key Features of Innovation Tiger 2026

Feature 1
Prior to the main selection event on September 15, FAST TRACK preliminary sessions will be held locally in South Korea and Taiwan from May to July to proactively engage with rapidly growing Asian startups and identify promising drug discovery seeds. These sessions will be conducted in collaboration with local partner organizations.

・South Korea FAST TRACK Session
　Date: May 28, 2026
　Co-host: Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF)
・Taiwan FAST TRACK Session
　Date: Scheduled to be held on July 17, 2026
　Co-host: Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)

Feature 2
Selected participants will receive mentoring from professionals with experience in pharmaceutical business development and investment. This support will include guidance on business planning, preparation materials, and pitch development, with the aim of facilitating collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies and investors.

Feature 3
A total of eight judges (“Tigers”) from major pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms, both domestic and international, will participate. Attention will be focused on how participants respond to insightful questions and critical feedback from these experienced judges and how they refine and advance their business strategies.

Feature 4
As in the previous edition, selected participants will be granted the opportunity to attend Shonan Health Innovation Conference (SHIC) 2026, to be held in Boston in winter 2026. The conference will provide opportunities for one-on-one meetings and partnering with overseas investors and corporate venture capital arms of major pharmaceutical companies.

List of Judges (“Tigers”) (in no particular order)

Innovation Tiger 2026 Event Overview
Date: September 15, 2026 (Tuesday), 13:00-18:00
Venue: Auditorium, Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark) 26-1 Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa.

Application form:
https://airtable.com/appIZ0xVXnNBzGS4V/shrnuG5hzWBEH5FgE