Renaissance Philanthropy’s mission is to fuel a 21st-century renaissance by increasing the ambition of philanthropists, scientists, and innovators. We activate a virtuous loop of ambition and impact by identifying frontier experts in science and new approaches to solving problems; engaging a growing community of emerging philanthropists; and building multi-sector initiatives that harness the power of philanthropy, markets, and governments.
We advance our mission by designing, incubating, and managing time-bound, thesis-driven funds. Read more about our philanthropic fund model here.
Japan is a global leader in science and engineering, with world-class universities and significant investment in research and development (R&D). Yet its innovation ecosystem faces a persistent challenge: translating research excellence into startups, industries, and global impact. Limited pathways to commercialization can constrain the ambitions of Japanese researchers, contribute to talent leakage, and slow economic renewal.
The Government of Japan launched the Global Startup Campus (GSC) Initiative to transform this dynamic by attracting world-class researchers, startups, and investors, and by piloting ambitious programs in international research, venture building, and fellowships.
Renaissance Philanthropy’s flagship contribution to this effort is ASCENT (Accelerating Science, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship through New Technologies), a formal R&D partnership with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) under the Cabinet Office’s Global Startup Campus Initiative. ASCENT is designed to identify, fund, and accelerate high-impact technology development while strengthening Japan’s capacity to translate ambitious research into real-world applications and commercial impact.
Through ASCENT, Renaissance Philanthropy has already deployed the first Japan-based cohort of its Big if True Science (BiTS) Accelerator to train Venture Directors (VDs)—science leaders capable of designing and implementing ambitious R&D programs. Building on this foundation, ASCENT will develop and deliver high-impact research programs spanning advanced manufacturing, intelligent systems, and other areas of deep technology; accelerate their translation into real-world applications and new ventures; and cultivate a pipeline of next-generation science leaders through the BRIDGE fellowship. Together, these efforts will equip participants with the skills, networks, and institutional support to advance transformative ideas in Japan and internationally.
The Technical Scientific, Engineering & Technical Assistant (Tech SETA) will support ASCENT’s program operations in Japan. Serving as a trusted technical resource to the ASCENT Program Director and Venture Directors, the Tech SETA will provide domain expertise, conduct technical due diligence, and engage with performers across the program portfolio.
Conduct technical due diligence on proposals and venture candidates in AI, machine vision, and robotics
Monitor milestone progress for funded performers and flag technical risk to the Program Director
Provide domain expertise to support portfolio design, Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) development, and evaluation criteria
Participate in site visits, demo days, and peer reviews, and facilitate knowledge exchange across the portfolio
Support ecosystem mapping, including competitive and IP landscapes and opportunities for new spinouts
Serve as a liaison between Japanese academic and industry stakeholders and the ASCENT leadership team
Prepare clear, decision-ready technical summaries and briefing materials in both Japanese and English
Native-level proficiency in Japanese, including reading, writing, and speaking
Professional fluency in English sufficient for technical writing, presentations, and engagement with stakeholders in Japan and internationally
Master's degree or higher in Engineering, Computer Science, Robotics, or a closely related field
Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: AI and machine learning, machine vision and computer vision, robotics, and autonomous systems
Experience evaluating or supporting early-stage technology development through R&D program management, venture assessment, applied research, or a related setting
Familiarity with Japan's research and innovation ecosystem, including universities, national laboratories, JST or NEDO programs, and startups
Ph.D. in a relevant engineering or computer science discipline
Previous experience in an R&D program management or advisory role within government, FFRDC, a Japanese National Research and Development Agency (Kokuritsu Kenkyuu Kaihatsu Houjin), or the private sector
Knowledge of ARPA-style program design, milestone-based funding, or Heilmeier Catechism-style program evaluation
A professional network spanning Japanese academia, industry, and government, particularly in advanced manufacturing or intelligent systems
You will thrive within our team if you:
Share our mission and ambition: You believe in the power of science, innovation, and technology to create a brighter future for all.
Demonstrate high agency: You turn ambitious ideas into action and find paths through apparent constraints.
Inspire others and collaborate generously: You can motivate people around a shared mission and understand that the most ambitious goals require strong partnerships.
Recognize exceptional talent and the power of networks: You can identify and nurture outstanding people and understand how strong networks amplify their impact.
Thrive in ambitious, fast-moving environments: You are comfortable navigating ambiguity, adapting quickly, and helping shape work as it evolves.
Compensation will be commensurate with experience. This is a contractor position, and further details will be discussed with qualified candidates during the interview process.
We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every listed qualification. The strongest candidates will bring unique perspectives and experiences that complement our mission. Renaissance Philanthropy is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all team members.
If you are interested in joining our team, please apply here.
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Renaissance Philanthropy is a consulting firm that helps foundations and other philanthropic organizations achieve their goals.