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| Creating opportunities for biotech ventures to find their chances |
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The primary goals are to (1) deepen the collaboration among leading-edge research institutes, universities, and companies with many biotech companies in the greater Kanto region (Kanto, Yamanashi, Nagano, Niigata, and Shizuoka), (2) create opportunities for biotech companies to find chances in drug development, bioinformatics (such as DNA analysis software), biochemical (such as amino acids), and other segments of the biotechnology field, and (3) train bio ventures to enhance international competitiveness. |
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Medical (drug discovery, medical instruments, etc.), bio-process (industrial applications of microorganisms), bio-tool, and information (bioinformatics and equipment) |
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Tokyo Metropolitan Area (Tokyo and 10 prefectures centering on Tokyo, Yokohama, Chiba, Tsukuba, and the eastern of Shizuoka Prefecture) |
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Metropolitan Bio Network Japan
URL: http://www.shutoken-bio.net/jp/index.php
Japan Bioindustry Association
TEL: +81-3-5541-2731 FAX: +81-3-5541-2737 |
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Tsukuba Center,Inc., Chiba Industry Advancement Center, Kihara Memorial Yokohama Foundation for the Advancement of Life Sciences, Fuji Pharma Valley Center |
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We have been (1) setting and providing opportunities for venture companies to have exchanges and swap views with major companies, research institutes, financial institutions, consultants, and other entities, (2) giving advice about technical assessment and the introduction of alliance partners, and (3) accumulating the results of joint studies and other forms of industry-university and industry-industry collaboration, fund raising, exploring sales channels, and other results. We will continue promoting such exchange and collaboration, and work to deepen and enrich our network.
Particularly, individual study meetings, business matching projects, coordinator dispatch projects etc. will be conducted. |
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| Each key organization collaborates with the "City Area Program" conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and JST Innovation Satellite in providing support for creating new enterprises. |
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Approximately half of all Japan's bio ventures are located in the Tokyo metropolitan area. With numerous research institutions, universities and major companies gathered in the area, one of the best "bio clusters" in Japan has formed there.
While harnessing this advantage of scale and making use of the human network already built there, various types of support are being implemented to commercialize the unique technologies of each company-technologies that cannot be imitated by others. |
| Yoshiaki Tsukamoto |
| Executive Director, Japan Bioindustry Association |
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(results of FY 2008) |
Status of technological development support:
[Support for R&D and other operations through collaboration, etc. (Results of FY 2001 to 2008)] |
178 |
Tenants of Business Incubators:
(As of April 2009) |
63 |
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| Number of new businesses launched: 250 businesses in 5 years |
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Main Participants of the Project
Private companies (total about 430 companies)
Related administrative organizations (10 organizations)
Universities and public examination and research institutes (26 organizations)
Financial institutions (8 institutions)
Business Incubators (10 facilities) |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 1 |
Alliance Promotion in Bio Japan 2008 (Business matching seminar) |
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Because of the enormous amount of financing and the long development period required in the biotechnology field, an alliance with a major corporation, particularly a pharmaceutical company is vital for an SME. With this in mind, the Metropolitan Bio Network Japan held an alliance promotion (business matching meeting) event at Bio Japan 2008. Held in cooperation with biotechnology clusters from throughout Japan, our event provided a space at which bio ventures could present their core competencies and business programs to leading pharmaceutical companies in Japan and from other countries. The purpose of the event was to facilitate alliances with pharmaceutical companies that would lead to collaborative research?or even a merger or acquisition-as well as to financing, accelerating the process to market.
At the venue, a poster session was held to allow venture companies to get their message out. Additionally, poster displays and talks were given directly by a number of support institutions, including Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Also included were the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Riken), and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan (SMRJ). By combining these approaches, we provided bio ventures with support from a variety of perspectives for synergistic support. |
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Presentation hall
Company's presentation
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Manager comment:
The alliance promotion was a success. More than 60 pharmaceutical firms from Japan and abroad have participated, and a number of SMEs concluded non-disclosure agreements with major pharmaceutical companies and are currently in negotiation toward a partnership. |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 2 |
Tsukuba Bio Business Network |
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| Getting contracts for analysis, measurements and other research using cutting-edge technology from Tsukuba |
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The Tsukuba Bio Business Network was established to provide biotechnology venture members who have their own specialized areas of biotechnologies with opportunities to exchange information and to collaborate with each others. When members cooperate in sharing information, it is hoped that the overall level of service will rise and that business will expand.
Member companies use their focus areas of advanced technology to collaboratively accept work contract in areas such as testing, measurement, analysis and other research with the aim of receiving joint orders in the future.
Our member companies have been divided into two specialized areas of technology such as food and the environment, and genetics and proteins, providing a high level of support over a wide range of fields under the name of Tsukuba brand. |
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Tsukuba Bio Business Network
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The Second Tsukuba Industry and Government Collaboration Promotion at the Akiba Exhibition
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Manager comment:
We have already seen specific results as members have provided each other with business leads and entered into agreements to provide services for each other. These developments are a testament to the strength and vitality of our network. |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 3 |
Bio Venture Alliance - BVA: a base to support new technology and product development for business growth |
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The BVA is a member-based alliance made up of reliable companies also a part of the Yokohama Kanagawa Bio Business Network that have innovative technologies and unique products.
Toward accelerating R&D in the field of life sciences and solving the various issues that arise, we provide optimal solutions that combine member technologies, products and services.
To improve business communications between bio ventures and their clients (including pharmaceutical companies and research institutions), we provide added-value technology, products and services. In particular, the Yokohama Foundation for the Advancement of Life Sciences carries out sales activities as our managing office in cooperation with bio ventures, successfully expanding sales performance and brand strength. We have provided a wide range of sales support including assistance in formulating sales strategies and carrying out business negotiations with domestics and overseas clients. |
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Manager comment:
Specific successes include increased sales for BVA member collaborations and business development leads through cooperative development with Japanese and foreign large corporations. |
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