TOKYO—MOL PLUS Co., Ltd. (CEO: Takuya Sakamoto; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) today announced its intent to invest in Innovative Space Carrier Inc. (ISC; CEO: Kojiro Hatada; Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo), a startup developing small reusable rockets.
ISC’s corporate vision is “A world where people and cargo are delivered every day. We want to make such a world a reality in space.”, and the company is currently focused on developing reusable rockets for satellite launches, with future plans to expand into manned space transportation services and the spaceport industry.
MOL PLUS shares ISC’s business vision and pleased to participate in this fundraising. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has already participated in a working group to study “Next-generation spaceport” hosted by ISC. Going forward, MOL Group will further strengthen our efforts to create new businesses in the field of shipping/logistics/maritime x space business, including the development of an offshore launching and landing project for reusable rockets with ISC. The entry into space-related businesses has been proposed and promoted through the MOL Group’s new business proposal system, the MOL Incubation Bridge.
MOL PLUS continually works to generate synergetic effects based on startup companies’ innovative ideas and technologies and the MOL Group’s resources through investment in and collaboration with startups, aiming to create new businesses PLUS new value to the ocean shipping industry and society.
<Outline of Innovative Space Carrier>
| Company Name | Innovative Space Carrier Inc. |
| Representative | Kojiro Hatada |
| Established | 2022 |
| Location | Mitsui Building 5F, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
| Businesses | Plan and study the commercialization of innovative space transportation systems |
| Website | https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/en/ |
Note 1) Press releaseStarted “Next Generation Spaceport” working group with a total of 17 companies and 1 university. https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/en/articles/20240801/
(Note 2)
The system was introduced in September 2019 with the objective of providing opportunities for MOL Group employees to maximize their skills and abilities and proactively challenge by themselves and has fostered outof-the-box thinking in the creation of new businesses and services.
