The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry has created a business commercialization platform for healthcare and medical technology developers called MDF (Medical Device Industry Forum). Its purpose is to promote global collaborations through identification, attraction and support of medical start-ups both in and out of Japan. As part of this project, “MEDTECH CONNECT OSAKA 2019” was held on 3 October at Grand Front Knowledge Capital, which is home to innovation-centric organizations located at the center of Umekita area. At the event, four medical start-ups participated in a pitch contest and a keynote speech was delivered by CEO of Shionogi & Co., Ltd, a 140-year-old global pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Osaka, as well as Vice Chairman of the Chamber. At the following panel discussion, panelists including the head of SGInnovate, the Singaporean government-backed startup catalyst organization, and the CEO of The Actuator, an Australia’s national MedTech accelerator, discussed how the international cooperation should promote medical development and health improvement in Japan and globally. The audience had an excellent opportunity to listen to the first line presenters speaking on such topics as “the vision which Osaka and Kansai business community aims at for the healthier world” and “what overseas investors expect from the MedTech industry”. MEDTECH CONNECT OSAKA 2019