Open for Collaboration: Kyocera Comes to UC San Diego

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• Mika Ono - [email protected]

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Kyocera has established a new home at University of California San Diego's Qualcomm Institute (QI), giving the global technology company an on-campus base from which to build partnerships with researchers, mentor entrepreneurs and explore investment and joint-development opportunities.

"Universities are the vanguard of what's coming in three, five or 10 years, and smart companies understand that," said Paul Roben, associate vice chancellor for innovation and commercialization at UC San Diego. "With Kyocera on campus, the company taps into our faculty's expertise, and our researchers get real-world insight into what industry needs. That's fertile ground for new collaborations. Our students win, too, getting to know the company in ways that can lead to internships and jobs."

Founded in Japan, Kyocera has operated in San Diego since the 1970s. Over the past two years, its venture team has renewed ties with UC San Diego by participating in the university's Corporate Affiliates Program, mentoring campus entrepreneurs and engaging with its ecosystem of startup accelerators and incubators.

This involvement led to the company's investment in KatoMed, a startup developing a navigation tool for spine surgery that grew out of technology from the UC San Diego lab of Michael Yip, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering.

"Now that we have a space in QI, we want to build on that momentum and partner even more closely with faculty and departments conducting cutting-edge research in areas that interest Kyocera," said Shiva Chandra, senior associate at Kyocera Ventures. "We would love for people across campus to feel comfortable approaching us and starting a conversation. We want to see how we can help."

Kyocera is particularly interested in partnering with faculty in three broad areas: precision electronic components and advanced ceramics; semiconductor packaging, thermal management and cooling; and emerging technologies in data science and cybersecurity. Collaborations could include sponsored research or the joint development of new technologies.

The firm will also continue to provide mentorship to early-stage companies on campus. Chandra noted startup founders are generally looking not only for capital, but also industry connections and insight into the issues facing industry. "That is something that our team specifically is in a good position to provide," said Chandra.

The four-person Kyocera team set up operations in the QI Innovation Space, located in the heart of the UC San Diego campus, over the summer.

QI Director Ramesh Rao said, "QI's interdisciplinary focus makes it a natural home for Kyocera. Here, the company can build connections across engineering, data science, medicine and other fields, opening the door to collaborations that draw on expertise throughout UC San Diego."

Yves Theriault, whose role at QI is to catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship, said, "The presence of Kyocera in our Innovation Space is expected to attract new startups and also contribute to campus-wide collaborations and potential funding. I would like to thank Becky Decker, former program manager for the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur (IGE) MedTech accelerator, who introduced Kyocera's leadership to us."

Chandra noted, "Being on campus makes it easier to attend research seminars and faculty gatherings, keep up with the work coming out of UC San Diego's labs and build relationships before specific opportunities arise."

To connect with Chandra, email [email protected]. To learn more about the QI Innovation Space, visit https://qi.ucsd.edu/services/qualcomm-institute-innovation-space.