Gov. Wes Moore’s sales pitch in Tokyo is turning a few heads

Taku Nonaka doesn’t see much of a choice for his Tokyo-based technology company, ViXion: He must expand to the United States.

But even after winning an innovation award at the annual CES tech conference in Las Vegas for ViXion’s “autofocus eyewear” — glasses that use a sensor to automatically adjust for both near and distant viewing — he’s hit a roadblock. The Food and Drug Administration regulatory process is tough and expensive, especially for a startup abroad.

On Monday, a potential helping hand from nearly 7,000 miles away showed up practically at his door.

“This is a great support,” Nonaka said after attending a seminar with Gov. Wes Moore and then speaking directly with both him and a deputy secretary for the Maryland Department of Commerce. “I was exploring the pathway to collaborate with Maryland They are taking care of not only the big companies, but a startup.”

Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.