[Brief translation]
The sea contains many forms of life, such as marine plants, sponges and coral, and these marine lives may have substances that can control cancer. Junichi Tanaka, an assistant professor of science faculty at Ryukyu University, has been looking for the possibility to discover marine substances in the sea around Okinawa Prefecture. In addition to this marine lives research, the other research utilizing a potential of the sea, has been studied. Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University, has been researching an OTEC system (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) that extracts energy from the ocean by taking advantage of the difference in surface and deep seawater temperatures. This institute is far ahead of the rest of world in this technology, and 11 patents have already been acquired. In order to connect the intellectual property to business and bring this technology to society, Saga University called a bid to grant the exclusive patent rights to companies 5 years ago. However, there was no tenders from the locals, Xenesys Inc., a venture company in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, won the bid in the end. Xenesys Inc. manufactures a power plant and a seawater desalination plant. Satomi Kiminao, the president of Xenesys Inc., believes strongly in the value of the patents, anticipating a large amount of profit will be obtained if business talks in Saudi Arabia reach an agreement.