Tech Bootcamp
Pioneering the future with new technology
Summary
The QREC Tech Bootcamp aims to promote innovation at Kyushu University by helping graduate students and post-doctoral researchers to rapidly implement (i.e. accelerate) their technology ideas into society. The program supports the acquisition of a PoC (Proof of Concept: verification of a project before it enters prototype development) in a short period of 8 weeks. Furthermore, for teams that wish to continue their projects after the program is over, we will support them in connecting to Kyushu University’s GAP Fund*¹, obtaining other public funds, and obtaining external funding as the next step in their social implementation.
*¹The fund will encourage the creation of university-launched ventures by providing universities with relatively small amounts of funds for prototype development and other activities to bridge the gap between technology and commercialization.
*This program was implemented as the “Acceleration Program” until Summer 2025 (QSAP03), but its name was changed to “Tech Bootcamp” starting Spring 2026 (TechBC).
*This program has been operated since fiscal year 2023 thanks to a donation from Mr. Shuhei Morofuji.
Eligibility for Application
- Teams of 2-4 members led by a graduate student or post-doctoral researcher from Kyushu University (undergraduate students may also participate as team members).
- Teams with technical ideas that want to tackle real-world implementation
- A team that can commit to and participate in an 8-week program that includes a total of 7 in-person sessions
If adopted
- Support by a companion mentor.Providing weekly online mentoring and other companionship support by experienced mentors
- Spot assistance from the QREC Mentor Community. （Spot assistance provided by experts in (customer, technical, business, IP, team, and fundraising)
- Incentive payment.Up to 300,000 yen per team will be provided.
- Since the incentive is considered as income, eligible applicants are required to confirm and file their own tax returns.
- Offers a workshop and community space.Provides a workshop for MVP production and a community space for 24-hour work and meetings
- Next Steps Connection Support.Support for connection to public support such as Kyushu University’s GAP Fund, Fukuoka Unexplored, IPA Unexplored*², NEDO’s NEP*³, and other private sector support
*²The Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA), is implementing the “Unexplored IT Human Resources Discovery and Development Project”.
https://www.ipa.go.jp/jinzai/mitou/it/index.html
*³The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) is implementing the “Project to Discover Talent and Foster Entrepreneurship in the Deep Tech Field / Project to Discover Talent and Foster Entrepreneurship in the Deep Tech Field.
https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/CA2_100449.html
TechBC05 Schedule
*Please note that the schedule below is subject to change. Please be forewarned.
Advance Online Briefing
Tuesday, November 10, 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 17, 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 24, 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Applicant Application Period
Monday, November 2, 9:00 a.m. – Monday, November 30, 5:00 p.m.
Face-to-face interview
Sunday, December 6, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: ONE FUKUOKA BLDG., 7th Floor, CIC Fukuoka
Review: Pitch & Q&A
Notification of Results
Wednesday, December 9
Adopters’ Briefing Session
(online)
Friday, February 11, 2026, 12:15 p.m.–12:45 p.m.
Session1
Kick-off / Making prototype
(Prototype Development Camp Day 1)
Saturday, January 23
場所：いいかねPalette
Session2
Testing Hypotheses / Interviewing Potential Customers
(Proto Development Camp, Day 2)
Sunday, January 24
場所：いいかねPalette
Session3
Preparing for the intermediate pitch
Thursday, February 18, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Location: CIC Fukuoka Conference Room
Session4
midterm review
Thursday, February 25, 6:00 p.m.–7:50 p.m.
Location: ONE FUKUOKA BLDG., 6th Floor, SKY LOBBY (Workshop Area next to REC COFFEE)
Session5
Thinking about commercialization from the customer’s point of view
Thursday, March 4, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Place: Ito Campus, Center Bldg. 5, 7F ToP
Session6
Acquire Resources · Prepare for the Final Review
Thursday, March 11, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Place: Ito Campus, Center Bldg. 5, 7F ToP
Session7
Final Review and Discussion Session
Thursday, March 18, 6:00 p.m.–7:50 p.m. (8:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Discussion Session)
Location: ONE FUKUOKA BLDG., 6th Floor, SKY LOBBY (Workshop Area next to REC COFFEE)
Follow-up Session
(online)
Friday, March 19, 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
■Click here for the schedule for fiscal year 2026 (TechBC04)
Application Guidelines
Activities required
- Lead a team of 2 – 4 members, including the applicant, with a strong desire to implement the technical project in society.
- In principle, participate in regular weekly sessions with team members.
- Actively engage in activities centered on the cycle of “prototyping,” “interviewing potential customers,” and “team decision-making,” as recommended by the program.
- To start “prototyping” after the session in the first week for the social implementation of the technical project, and to continuously revise the prototype from the second week onward.
- For the social implementation of the technology project, “interviews with potential customers” shall be conducted after the second week session, and the team shall make decisions based on the information obtained from these interviews and revise the prototypes.
Review Criteria
Review at the time of adoption
- Is it technically novel and willing to try new things?
- Are the challenges and solutions well communicated to the judges?
- Do you have a problem and a hypothesis of a solution that can be used to obtain a PoC for social implementation in an 8-week program?
- Can you commit to participating in a 7-week program that includes 7 in-person sessions?
midterm review
- Is it technically novel and willing to try new things?
- Are the challenges and solutions well communicated to the judges?
- Are the hypotheses of issues and solutions being verified through repeated interviews with approximately 20 potential customers and modifications to the MVP?
- Is progress being made in formulating issues and solutions?
final review
- Is it technically novel and willing to try new things?
- Are the challenges and solutions well communicated to the judges?
- Since the interim review, have the hypotheses of issues and solutions been verified through approximately 30 interviews with potential customers and repeated revisions of the MVP?
- Has a PoC for social implementation been obtained?
Number of adopted teams
Around 5 teams
Interruption of support
- After the interim review, the project support may be suspended upon agreement between the team and the judges. In that case, the project will no longer receive support from the following week
- If QREC determines that you have not committed and participated in the program, including in-person sessions, we may suspend support for the project with prior notice if no improvement is seen by 10 days after an email warning.
How to apply
Application period
Monday, November 2, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – Monday, November 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
How to apply
Fill out the form below to submit your application.
Selection process
interview screening
Date: Sunday, December 6, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Notification of Results: Wednesday, December 9
Remarks
After the completion of theTech Bootcamp, we expect to connect to the following programs.
- PARKS University-Based New Industry Creation Fund Initiative Startup Ecosystem Co-Creation Program [GAP Fund Program]
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry “AKATSUKI Project” Selected Initiative: Fukuoka Consortium for Discovering and Cultivating Untapped Talent
- The Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA) implements the
Uncharted IT Talent Discovery and Development Program - The Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA) implements the
Uncharted Advanced Project - National Research and Development Agency New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Implementation of the “Deep Tech Talent Discovery and Entrepreneur Development Program / Deep Tech Talent Discovery and Entrepreneur Development Program”
- Projects related to ridesharing cannot be adopted due to legal restrictions.
*Please note that some of the above information is subject to change.
Contact Us
QREC Tech Bootcamp Office (in QREC office)
- TEL：
- 092-802-6060
Hours: Weekdays 9:00-17:00 *Except Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, year-end and New Year holidays, etc. If you are in a hurry, please call us.
Please change ★ to @ when you send us an e-mail.
Past Adopters
Spring 2026 (TechBC04) Summer 2025(QSAP03) Spring 2025(QSAP02) Summer 2024(QSAP01) 2023(Pilot version)
Awards
●FY2024
Pilot version for FY2023 Adopted team has been selected for the [Unexplored Advanced ProjectPress Coverage
The team selected for the 2023 pilot version won a double award at [Maker Faire Kyoto2024].
●FY2023
The team adopted for the pilot version in FY2023 has been selected for the [Fukuoka Consortium for Exploratory Human Resource Discovery and Development].