Connecting Deep-Tech Ecosystems between Japan/Southeast Asia and Europe through “TECH PLANTER WORLD in UK 2025” 〜Japanese Fusion-Venture Helical Fusion Shines as the Grand Winner〜
Leave a Nest United Kingdom Ltd. proudly hosted TECH PLANTER WORLD in UK 2025 at IDEALondon on November 1st 2025, bringing together some of the world’s most visionary Deep Tech innovators from Asia, Japan, and across Europe.
Nine finalist teams took the stage to present their groundbreaking technologies — and it was Helical Fusion Co. Ltd., a pioneering Japanese fusion energy startup, that captured the Grand Prize. This marks the first-ever Japanese company to win the Grand Winner award at TECH PLANTER WORLD in the UK.
A Global Deep Tech Platform Connecting Science and Society
TECH PLANTER, launched in Japan by Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. in 2014, is a global platform built on the mission to “Exploring Deep Tech and Solving Deep Issue”. Over the past decade, it has expanded to six Southeast Asian countries, the US, and the UK, discovering and nurturing more than 6,000 Deep Tech startups worldwide.
With the launch of TECH PLANTER WORLD in the UK in March 2024, the initiative aims to bridge ecosystems between Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe, accelerating market expansion, joint research, and technological collaboration across continents.
A Truly Global Competition
This year’s edition — the second in the UK — drew 23 applications from 10 countries including Japan, the UK, Ireland, Malta, Singapore, Thailand, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Australia. Nine outstanding teams from four countries advanced to the final pitch event. ※1
The judging panel featured nine distinguished leaders from the UK’s startup ecosystem — including venture builders, government agencies, accelerators, and VCs — who evaluated each team’s originality, technical excellence, and potential for social impact. ※2
Helical Fusion: Powering the Future of Humanity
The Grand Winner, Helical Fusion Co. Ltd., is on a mission to redefine the future of clean energy under the bold vision, “Humanity evolves with nuclear fusion.” The company is developing its proprietary Helical-type fusion reactor, the first of its kind in the world, under its flagship project, the Helix Program. In October 2025, Helical Fusion achieved a historic milestone — the world’s first successful demonstration of a large-scale high-temperature superconducting coil under simulated fusion magnetic conditions. This achievement, not yet reached even by major fusion ventures in the US and Europe, paves the way for constructing the company’s final demonstration reactor, Helix HARUKA, accelerating progress toward commercial fusion power in the 2030s.
The selection recognizes Helical Fusion’s exceptional technological prowess and their ambition to fundamentally transform global energy challenges — a match with Leave a Nest’s philosophy of deep-tech contributions to Earth across a 144-year time-horizon.
Helical Fusion, President and CEO Mr. Taguchi presenting at TECH PLANTER WORLD in UK 2025
In addition, two century old small medium enterprises from Japan’s Tokai region — Hasetora Spinning Co., Ltd. (Gifu Prefecture, textiles and spinning) and Yamada Shokai Holdings Co., Ltd. (Aichi Prefecture, construction and engineering) — participated in the event and each presented a special corporate award.
The Hasetora Spinning Award was presented to Evove Ltd., a UK-based company developing precision membrane filtration technology that utilizes 3D printing to create uniform pore structures with exceptional control and efficiency.
The Yamada Shokai Award was given to Sention Technologies Ltd., a University College London spin-out that applies acoustic imaging technology to visualize the internal state of electrochemical cells such as lithium-ion batteries non-destructively and without contact, aiming to improve battery quality, lifespan, and safety.
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(Left) Evove Ltd, COO, Andrew Walker (Right) Sention Technologies Ltd, Founder, Dan Brett presenting at TECH PLANTER WORLD in UK 2025
Leave a Nest will continue to strengthen the TECH PLANTER WORLD in UK initiative, connecting Japan and Southeast Asia’s TECH PLANTER ecosystems with Europe with the vision of “Advancing Science & Technology for Global Happiness”.
Award winners
| Award | Winning Team | Award Content |
| Grand Winner | Helical Fusion | 3,000 GBP Prize money |
| Hasetora Spinning Co. Ltd | Evove Ltd | 1,000 GBP Prize money
Participation at HIC Tokyo 2026 (March 6-7th) |
| Yamada Shokai Holdings Co. Ltd | Sention Technologies | 1,000 GBP Prize money
Participation at HIC Tokyo 2026 (March 6-7th) |
| ARK INC | Hoxton Farms, Evove Ltd | Invitation to Sushi Tonari (London) |
| Cambridge Cleantech | All Finalists | Cambridge Cleantech Membership |
＜Grand Winer Award＞
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Team：Helical Fusion Co. Ltd Representative：Takaya Taguchi Theme：World's first commercial nuclear fusion plant Summary：Compact helical fusion reactor aiming for commercial power generation. Award：3,000 GBP |
＜Hasetora Spinning Award＞
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Team：Evove Ltd. Representative：Andrew Walker Theme：Separonics – 3D Printed Industrial Water Filtration Summary：3D-printed membranes with superior precision and reduced environmental impact. Award：1,000 GBP and participation rights at HIC Tokyo 2026 |
＜Yamada Shokai Holdings Award＞
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Team：Sention Technologies Ltd. Representative：Dan Brett Theme：Non-invasive Acoustic Battery Diagnostics Summary：AI + ultrasound for non-invasive battery health monitoring in EVs and storage systems. Award：1,000 GBP and participation rights at HIC Tokyo 2026 |
＜ARK INC Award＞
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Team：Evove Ltd. Representative：Andrew Walker Theme：Separonics – 3D Printed Industrial Water Filtration Summary：3D-printed membranes with superior precision and reduced environmental impact.Team：Hoxton Farms Representative：Max Jamilly Theme：Cultivated pork fat Summary：Cultivated animal fat grown from cells as a sustainable ingredient for the food industry.Award: Invitation to Sushi Tonari (London) |
＜Cambridge Cleantech Award＞
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Team：All Finalists Award: Cambridge Cleantech Membership |
Event Overview
- Event: TECH PLANTER WORLD in UK 2025
- Venue: IDEALondon (69 Wilson St, London EC2A 2BB)
- Date & Time: Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 13:00–18:30 (GMT)
- Participants: By invitation / pre-registration (finalist teams & corporate supporters)
- More Info: https://techplanter.lne.st/en/world/world2025/
News Releases
※1 TECH PLANTER WORLD in the UK 2025 Announces 9 Outstanding Finalists
※2 ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED JUDGES FOR TECH PLANTER WORLD in UK 2025