Officials from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Belize Visit Novelgen Co., Ltd.

-Exchange of views on startup development using seaweed resources and international industrial expansion-

A delegation of officials from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Belize visited Novelgen Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture) on Thursday, July 2, 2026, and exchanged views with Representative Director Atsushi Ogura on the utilization of seaweed resources, startup development, commercialization and international industrial expansion.

■ Overview of the visit

This visit was part of a study tour of Japan for Belizean officials organized by UNIDO. Participants from the Government of Belize included officials of government agencies in charge of investment policy, the blue economy, economic development and natural resources, and they were joined by representatives of UNIDO's Vienna headquarters and Tokyo office and of Shiga Prefecture.

■ Main topics

In recent years, in the Caribbean region including Belize, rising sea water temperatures and the mass arrival of sargassum (*1) on shores have been affecting ecosystems, including the environment, tourism and the fishing industry, which has become a challenge.

On the other hand, collecting and processing these seaweed resources and linking them to new products and industries may make it possible to achieve both the resolution of regional issues and the creation of economic value.

Novelgen introduced the SBIR Phase 3 project, as well as its business concept of carrying out, in an integrated manner, component analysis, functional evaluation, application development and commercialization of biological resources, including seaweed and microalgae.

We also explained that, in order to turn research results into business, it is important to build a business foundation that includes not only technology development but also raw material procurement, mass production, quality control, regulatory compliance, market development and intellectual property strategy.

In the exchange of views, participants discussed the creation of new businesses using seaweed resources and sargassum (*1) in Belize, the development of local startups and entrepreneurial talent, and a business support framework in which government, universities, companies and international organizations collaborate. Views were also exchanged on the potential for industrial expansion into food, feed, agricultural materials, cosmetics and environment-related materials by combining the technologies and commercialization know-how of Japanese R&D-oriented startups with Belize's regional resources, making this a meaningful opportunity for future collaboration.

*1: Sargassum is a general term for brown algae (seaweed) belonging to the genus Sargassum.

■ Outlook

Building on this visit, Novelgen will consider business development using biomass resources and the potential for expansion into international markets, with a view to collaboration with UNIDO and Government of Belize agencies.

[Contact]

Novelgen Co., Ltd. Public Relations: Tsuji

Location: Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture

TEL: 050-5369-0762 / E-mail office@novelgen.com