Company Profile / Our History

Company Profile

NameiPS Academia Japan, Inc.
EstablishedJune 25, 2008
Accredited TLOAccredited as of January 22, 2016 as an official technology licensing organization under the "Law for Promoting University-Industry Technology Transfer"
LocationiPS Academia Japan, Inc.
207 International Science Innovation Building
East Wing Kyoto University
36-1 Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto,
606-8501 Japan
Access Map
CapitalJPY 100 million
President & CEOHideo Saji Ph.D.
(Professor emeritus, Kyoto University & Specially Appointed Professor, the Office of Society-Academia Collaboration for Innovation of Kyoto University (SACI) & President and CEO, TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd. & Director, Kyoto Lifetech Innovation Support Center, Regional Industrial Revitalization Division of Advanced Science, Technology and Management Research Institute of KYOTO)
DirectorHiroshi Seno M.D.Ph.D.
(Professor, Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University & Deputy director-general, Office of Society-Academia Collaboration for Innovation of Kyoto University (SACI))
DirectorAtsushi Onodera
(Manager, Medical Applications Promoting Office of Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University & Director, TLO-Kyoto Co., Ltd.)
DirectorIshikawa Takatoshi
(Vice-director of iPS Academia Japan, Inc.)
Corporate AuditorYoshito Fujikawa
(Attorney/patent Lawyer, Yodoyabashi & Yamagami LPC)
Corporate AuditorTakuko Sawada
(Executive Vice-President of Kyoto University for Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration, Director and Vice Chairman of the Board, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. )
Scientific AdviserShinya Yamanaka M.D.Ph.D.
(Director emeritus, Center for iPS Cells Research and Application, Kyoto University, Professor, Kyoto University & Representative Director, CiRA Foundation)
Business description
  • License and management of patents relating to stem cells, mainly iPS cells (technology transfer operation)
  • Patent support of the research results (invention) produced by academia in the field of iPS cell technologies etc.
  • Update of latest patent information related to iPS cell technologies

Our History

before the foundation
2005 First iPS cell basic patent application filed in Japan
First iPS cell basic patent application was filed in Japan, based on which its corresponding international application (PCT application) was filed in the following year.
2006 Mouse iPS cells announced
Professor Shinya Yamanaka’s group reported the establishment of mouse iPS cells by introducing 4 factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, into mouse skin cells in the journal “Cell.”
ⓒCenter for iPS Cell Research and Application,Kyoto University
2007 Human iPS cells announced
Professor Shinya Yamanaka’s group reported the establishment of human iPS cells by introducing 4 factors,Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, into human skin cells in the journal “Cell.” Professor James Thomson’s group also reported human iPS cells established with a different method in another journal on the same day
ⓒCenter for iPS Cell Research and Application,Kyoto University
after the foundation
2008 iPS Academia Japan established
iPS Academia Japan, Inc. was established in Kyoto on June 25, 2008 to promote the transfer of iPS cell-related technologies to industry for its commercialization. We started as an affiliate of Kyoto University with a mission to share the fruit of iPS cell research for the good of all humanity.
ⓒCenter for iPS Cell Research and Application,Kyoto University
World's first iPS cell basic patent granted in Japan
The world's first iPS cell basic patent was granted in Japan. So far, 8 basic patents (our ref.: AJ001) have been granted in Japan. Further, their corresponding patents have been granted in more than 30 countries and regions worldwide.
2009 First license agreement signed
Our first license agreement was entered into with ReproCELL, Inc. Since then, our licensees have gradually increased year by year.
2010 First overseas licensing
Our first overseas license agreement was entered into with Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (currently Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Inc.). iPS cell technology raised interest not only in Japan where iPS cells were invented, but also in countries where more ES cell research was conducted, which, as a result, increased foreign licensees.
2011 iPierian patents assigned to Kyoto University
The patents of iPierian, Inc. were assigned to Kyoto University to avoid a potential patent dispute in the U.S.A. In return, we granted to iPierian a license under Kyoto University’s basic patents and the former iPierian patents.
2012 Professor Yamanaka awarded Nobel Prize
Professor Shinya Yamanaka and Sir John B. Gurdon were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery that mature cells could be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.
2013 Patents from 10 academic institutions
300 patents available for licensing

Increasing numbers of patents were licensed not only from Kyoto University but from other universities and research institutions. The patents related to applications such as differentiation methods began to increase.
2014 iPS Academia Japan reorganized
A part of our business was transferred to iPS Portal, Inc. Our business previously included research, sales of cells, etc., but since then, we have been specializing in patent licensing.
2015 Relocated to Kyoto University campus
We were relocated to a new building in Yoshida Campus of Kyoto University.
2016 Became an Accredited TLO in Japan
We became an Accredited TLO in Japan by the authorization of both the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
2017 500 patents available for licensing
We handled more patents from our licensors, and total 500 patents became available for licensing.
2018 10th anniversary
The year 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of our company foundation.
2019 Over 200 licensees worldwide
We achieved license agreements with over 200 entities worldwide. They are from various fields such as pharmaceuticals, regents, chemicals, foods, cosmetics, CROs, medical devices, research instruments, and more. From the small bio-venture start-ups to large entities. It shows the expansion of iPS cell technologies in many ways.
2020 Became a subsidiary of Kyoto University
Kyoto University acquires all voting stocks of iPS Academia Japan, Inc. in August 2020, and iPS Academia Japan, Inc. became its subsidiary.

From Kyoto Station on the Japan Railways (JR)

Kyoto City Bus
Boarding location:
No. 206 (D2 bus stop)
*Bound for Kitaoji Bus Terminal via Higashiyama Street
Dropping location:
"Kyodai Seimon-mae" bus stop
Travel Time: about 40 min.
Boarding location:
No. 17 (A2 bus stop)
*Bound for Ginkakuji Temple
Dropping location:
"Kyodai Nogakubu-mae" bus stop
Travel Time: about 40 min.
Taxi about 30 min.

From Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Railway Oto Line

Kyoto City Bus
Boarding location:
No. 201
*Bound for Gion via Hyakumanben
Dropping location:
"Kyodai Seimon-mae" bus stop
Travel Time: about 10 min.
Boarding location:
No. 203
*Bound for Ginkakuji Temple
No. 17
*Bound for Ginkakuji Temple
Dropping location:
"Kyodai Nogakubu-mae" bus stop
Travel Time: about 10 min.
Walk about 20 min.