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| Aiming to develop a key organization for putting biotech manufacturing to practical use |
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The objective here is to step up a network of industry-university-government people in the Tokai region, while promoting the following three operations: (1) creating ventures by using university and research seeds, (2) creating new enterprises at the region's existing biotech companies, and (3) encouraging local manufacturers to enter the biotech field. As a result, a "key organization for putting biotech manufacturing to practical use" will be formed as an entity teeming with biotech businesses, and as a new pillar of industry. |
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Medical equipment and instruments, medical diagnosis and analysis, functional foods, environmental biotechnology |
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Aichi, Gifu, Mie Prefectures and surrounding areas in the Tokai region |
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NPO BIO FActory CEntral Japan
URL: http://www.bioface.or.jp/
TEL: +81-52-747-6388 FAX: +81-52-788-6002 |
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Mie Technology Licensing Organization (Mie Medical, Health and Welfare Industry Cluster) |
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| The network consists of about 74 companies (including 5 financial institutions), 47 universities and public research institutes, 4 local government organizations. |
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| We have expert advisors in place who are familiar with a wide range of fields handling everything from technology and management to marketing. They actively work to find technological leads that are good matches for member companies as well as assisting with project creation and market development, a one-stop service to facilitate the venture process. |
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| In such vital fields as medicine (including equipment, instruments, diagnosis and analysis), functional foods and environmental biotechnology, special committees hold meetings to find good matches between technological seeds and member companies as well as form product development projects. This work lays the foundation for creating and promoting projects. |
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| We are collaborating with MEXT on their Knowledge Cluster Initiative as well as participating in the City Area Program and working on R&D projects in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and the Ministry of the Environment; among others. |
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"Automobile Industry" is the most conspicuous strength of Tokai region where manufacturers playing the central role.
The biggest strength of the Tokai region is its manufacturing technology, as we see in the automotive industry.
However, we cannot tell when, where, or in what form economic change might occur, and so we must build an industrial foundation that can always keep up with such changes. To this end, NPO Bio Factory Central Japan is positioned to foster the biotech industry.
In specific, we have 28 registered advisers in various subcommittees who are reviewing the almost 80 projects spawned from the Tokai Bio-Factory Project, and then meeting with experts in an effort to commercialize and productize these project ideas. |
| Minoru Hayakawa |
| Cluster Manager, NPO BIO FActory CEntral Japan |
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Number of new businesses launched(Accumulating
total in the second term):
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27 |
Number of new companies established(Accumulating
total in the second term) :
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5 |
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| Number of new businesses launched: 60 businesses in 5 years |
| Number of new companies established: 30 companies in 5 years |
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Main Participants of the Project
Private companies (64 companies): Aisin Seiki Co.,Ltd., Taiyo Kagaku Co.,Ltd., Toyota Tsusho Corporation, NGK Insulators, Ltd., Japan Tobacco Inc., Api Co.,Ltd., Medical &Biological Laboratories Co.,Ltd., Japan Tissue Engineering Co.,Ltd., Tokai Medical Products, Inc., Nippon Menard Cosmetic Co.,Ltd., Fukukaen Nursery & Bulb Co.,Ltd., Mizkan Group Corporation, KSK Laboratories, Inc., etc.
Related administrative organizations (5 organizations): Aichi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Nagoya City, Okazaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Universities and public examination and research institutes (47 organizations): Nagoya University, Gifu University, Mie University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya City University, AIST, Chubu Center, etc.
Financial institutions (5 institutions): Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, Ltd., Nagoya Small and Medium Business Investment & Consultation Co.,Ltd., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co.,Ltd., TEI Inc.
Business Incubators (3 facilities): Nagoya Life Science Incubator, Nagoya University Incubation Center, Mie University Research Center For Creation
Others: KPMG AZSA & Co., KY International Patent Office, Konishi & Nakamura Patent Office, NPO Bio-Oriented High Technology Society in Tokai |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 1 |
University-launched ventures |
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Based on a technological seed from Dr. Kuniaki Nagayama of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, Tera Base Inc. was founded in March 2006 with the support of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, a member of the NPO BIO FActory CEntral Japan, as well as physical and chemical instrument manufacturer JEOL, Ltd. (also the largest maker of electron microscopes).
Using their uniquely developed transmission phase contrast electron microscope, Tera Base is able to observe fine structures in soft materials such as biological samples and organic molecules without resorting to the metallic dyes needed in the past.
This has a wide range or uses including work outsourced to university, business and other research institutes such as assessment and analysis in areas such as bioplastics, rubber, glass and nanoparticles. Given this development, the level of demand for such work is expected in fields where basic materials for products such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and automobiles are being developed. At the same time, sales of the transmission phase contrast electron microscope will go forward and its technology promoted.
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An image of ribosomes contained in a cosmetic under development, taken with a transmission phase contrast electron microscope.
Each side = 460 nm, bar = 50 nm. |
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Images of a cyanobacterium.
Top: phase contrast microscopy, bottom: conventional microscopy.
Bar = 500 nm |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 2 |
Conversion to a biodiesel manufacturing base |
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Ohta Oil Mill Co., Ltd. has been producing oil for more than a hundred years and is the largest producer of corn oil and perilla (shiso) oil in Japan. Selling organic byproducts from the extraction process when making cooking oil for animal feed and fertilizer, they ensure that natural resources are used without waste.
Recently, they established a system to process waste oil collected by local companies and governments, converting it into biodiesel fuel before returning it. This project was undertaken at the suggestion of NPO BIO FActory CEntral Japan's Executive Bureau.
The test equipment currently in use was developed in cooperation with Toyota Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd. and others, and the high-quality biodiesel it produces has been rigorously demonstrated, having been used in the Team Land Cruiser (TLC) in the 2009 Dakar Rally when the TLC took place first in the car class.
Ohta Oil Mill Co., Ltd. is currently getting ready to ramp up its capacity to full-scale production and is undergoing preparations to receive assistance Work is progressing toward creating a production base that meets the needs of businesses such as Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. and local governments such as Isshiki who are participants in the regional system. In April, they completed the B5 registration procedure for quality assurance for products consumed in the home as provided in the Act on the Quality Control of Gasoline and Other Fuels.
They are also investigating technological ideas in the region under collaboration to effectively utilize food processing residue from factories.
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Biodiesel fuel test equipment developed in a corporate collaboration with assistance from NPO BIO FActory CEntral Japan advisors
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 3 |
The Mie Medical, Health and Welfare Industry Cluster provides project support |
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Liposome Engineering Laboratory (LEL) is a venture started by Mie University applying liposome* manufacturing technology that employs the company's core competence areas of gene recombination and ultrasonic treatment in such areas as autoimmune disease diagnosis, brain tissue targeting and vaccine development.
LEL is a member of the promotional organization, NPO BIO FActory CEntral Japan, and collaborated with fellow member company Hashimoto Inc. to develop a fully automated liposome manufacturing device needed in the manufacture of liposomes. They succeeded at this before any other company in the world. Also, beginning with their participation as an exhibitor at Bio Japan through the Industrial Cluster Project, they have expanded their market, seeing an increase in quality leads from large corporations and expecting continued expansion going forward.
*Liposomes are tiny artificial bubbles made out of cell membrane material with a wide range of applications because of being friendly to the human body and being able to carry drugs, genes, cosmetics and food. Despite requiring a number of expensive machines for their production and mastery of special technical expertise to manually operate the machines, liposomes are expected to grow in their uses.
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A research laboratory with the world's fully automated liposome manufacturing device co-developed by Industrial Cluster member companies
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Manager comment:
The Mie Medical, Health and Welfare Industry Cluster is now in its third year, having been established in April FY 2007 with the Mie Technology Licensing Organization as a base organization for the Tokai Bio-Factory Project.
With more than 50 member organizations, our organization primarily handles competitive funding, acquires outsourcing projects, and coordinates to find matches in industry, academia and government. To compensate for the lack of management resources this fiscal year, we are working particularly hard on compensate with brainpower and innovation to provide handcrafted assistance including market development.
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Yasuhisa Sanda
Cluster Manager, Mie TLO Co., Ltd |
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