InnoJin Inc. Wins "Science Category - HORIBA Award" at the 11th Japan Entrepreneur Award

Development of a VR-Based Training Software Medical Device for Pediatric Amblyopia (Unapproved in Japan) Recognized as an Innovative Business Plan Grounded in Science and Technology

InnoJin Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "InnoJin") has won the "Science Category - HORIBA Award" at the 11th Japan Entrepreneur Award hosted by the Kenja no Sentaku Leaders Club.

The award was presented in recognition of InnoJin's project: "Development of a VR-Based Training Software Medical Device for Pediatric Amblyopia (Unapproved in Japan) (Figure 1)."

Figure 1: Demonstration of using the VR-based training software medical device for pediatric amblyopia (unapproved)

The Japan Entrepreneur Award is a business plan competition aimed at discovering next-generation entrepreneurs and supporting innovative business plans. The Science Category targets initiatives that aim to create new innovations and businesses based on science and technology.

InnoJin was established in December 2020 as a university-launched venture company. Under the philosophy of "Realizing Human-Friendly Digital Medicine," the company has been engaged in the research, development, and social implementation of mobile health applications, software medical devices (SaMD), and the AI/digital health fields. The company name is a combination of "Innovation" and "Jin" (仁), which means compassion and benevolence, reflecting the determination to create new value in medicine through creative challenges.

To date, InnoJin has driven digital health research with a focus on ophthalmology, including the "Dry Eye Rhythm®" smartphone application for dry eye research and the "AllerSearch®" smartphone application for pollen allergy research. Furthermore, in 2022, the company obtained a Type 2 Medical Device Manufacturing and Sales License and is advancing the development, regulatory affairs, and quality management systems for software medical devices.

The VR-based training software medical device for pediatric amblyopia, which received recognition this time, aims to realize a new medical support system that combines digital technology with conventional training methods, making it easier for children to continue their training and easier for healthcare professionals and guardians to manage. InnoJin is developing practical solutions rooted in issues clinical sites face, bringing together ophthalmologists, researchers, regulatory and quality control specialists, and software development experts.

Founder Takenori Inomata commented on receiving the award as follows:

"It is a great honor to receive the 'Science Category - HORIBA Award' at the 11th Japan Entrepreneur Award.

With the goal of realizing 'Human-Friendly Digital Medicine,' InnoJin has been working on research and development in mobile health, AI, VR, and software medical devices, with a focus on ophthalmology.

The VR-based training software medical device for pediatric amblyopia evaluated this time aims to create an environment where children can engage in their treatment positively and establish a new training support model in clinical settings.

Encouraged by this award, we will further promote research and development, clinical evaluation, and regulatory compliance. By bridging science and technology with social implementation, we aim to provide digital medicine of true value to patients, their families, and healthcare professionals."

InnoJin will continue to accelerate the social implementation of ophthalmic digital medicine, leveraging its R&D capabilities as a university-launched venture along with the quality and regulatory frameworks essential for medical device development.

Press Release

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