A Detailed Report on

2012
World
W
orld B
Businessusiness Forum
Forum
New Era of Open Innovation in Asia
2012.10.10 Wed.-12 Fri.

Pacifico Yokohama

1. Summary
The BioJapan 2012 World Business Forum, titled "New Era of Open Innovation in Asia," was a major
event that was held over three days from October 10 (Wednesday) – 12 (Friday), 2012 at the Pacifico
Yokohama Exhibition Hall and Annex Hall. This year marked the 14th BioJapan, which was started
in 1986 and is the longest-running international comprehensive biotechnology event in Japan. The
event is organized by the BioJapan Organizing Committee comprising eight biotechnology-relatedorganizations, and is operated by ICS Convention Design, Inc. This year as well, the City of Yokohama
and Kanagawa Prefecture, where the event was held, were special co-sponsors and supporters of theevent, and provided overall support. Sponsorship and support for this major event was also received
from a total of 65 Japanese government organizations (including the Ministry of Economy, Trade,and Industry), embassies from foreign countries, and other distinguished organizations. The numberof participating countries was 22 (including Japan), and the number of exhibitors and companies
participating in partnering was 541. The event was visited by 12,369 persons, exceeding the numberof visitors by 150 % from the previous year. The large number of visitors included representativesof industry, governments and related organizations, academia, and biotechnology organizations andclusters, making this the largest BioJapan event ever. In particular BioJapan 2012 represents a largetransformation into Asia's largest business matching event. Approximately 900 persons participatedin the business partnering activities, and approximately 3,400 meetings were held (compared toapproximately 1,600 the previous year). It is certain that BioJapan has established a firm place in theculture of the biotechnology industry in Japan, and is making a great contribution to the growing statusof open innovation by business matching in Japanese culture.

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A Detailed Report on

2012
2. Opening Ceremony
Guests at the opening ceremony included Ikuro Sugawara – Director-Generalof the Manufacturing Industries Bureau at the Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry; Kiyotaka Mitsuda – Director of the City of Yokohama Economic Affairs
Bureau; and Takao Abe – Mayor of the City of Kawasaki.
Michio Oishi, Chairman of the BioJapan Organizing Committee (and Chairmanof the Japan Bioindustry Association), delivered an address on behalf of theevent organizer. "I am very pleased that we are able to hold BioJapan 2012

Michio Oishi

with representatives attending from 22 countries around the world. I am also
particularly delighted that the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was recently
awarded to Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, who has worked
closely with this field. There is no doubt that biotechnology is an industry
with great future potential, including regenerative medicine such as Professor
Yamanaka's iPS cells, personalized medicine, the creation of new crops throughnew methods of breeding, and the development of bio-fuels. This year we haveincorporated new directions for this event to suit the new Biotechnology Age.

Ikuro Sugawara

We have focused on updating the organizer’s seminars with completely new
subjects, expanding and improving the convenience of our matching system,
attracting the participation of major overseas pharmaceutical manufacturers,
and promoting attendance by large numbers of Japanese bio-ventures andacademic institutions."
A special guest of the event, Ikuro Sugawara, Director-General of the
Manufacturing Industries Bureau at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry,
delivered the following remarks. "Biotechnology has made great progress inKiyotaka Mitsuda

recent years with increasingly advanced technologies such as IT and genome
analysis technologies. As Japan becomes a super-aged society in the future,promoting industry in the biotechnology field will be essential if the country is toplay a global leading role and achieve further economic growth. I hope that thecompanies participating in BioJapan will achieve many and great results."
The Director of the City of Yokohama Economic Affairs Bureau, Kiyotaka
Mitsuda, introduced the efforts by Yokohama City in the area of life innovation,and the Mayor of the City of Kawasaki, Takao Abe, explained the efforts by

Takao Abe

Kawasaki City aimed at carrying out innovations in the three fields of life
sciences, green innovation, and welfare.

Opening Ceremony

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3. Keynote Speeches
This year three speakers were invited to deliver a keynote speech: President Isao Teshirogi of the Japan
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (President, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.), former FDA commissioner
Andrew C. von Eschenbach (President, Samaritan Health Initiatives, Inc.), and President & CEO of
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation Yoshimitsu Kobayashi. They spoke about bio-innovation from
Asia, the industrialization of science and technology in the 21st century, and the life science and green
innovation programs of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Bio-Innovation from Asia
Isao Teshirogi (President, Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association)―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
According to statistical materials from the Asian Development Bank, thegrowth rate in Asian countries (excluding Japan) during 2011 – 2012
was larger than the combined growth rate of Japan, the United States,
and Europe, and the GDP of Asian countries is expected to account for
51% of global GDP in the year 2050. We can see the same growth in
the Asian pharmaceuticals market. From 1995 – 2010, there was rapid
growth in total pharmaceutical sales in Asia even as the rate of growth
in Japan slackened, and Asia including Japan now forms one of thelargest pharmaceutical markets.
Under these conditions, the role that is expected of Japan is to provide

Isao Teshirogi

superior pharmaceuticals and medical technologies to the nations of Asia, contributing to Asia in orderto grow in partnership with it, and to return this growth to benefit the Japanese domestic market.
When we take an overall look at the Japanese pharmaceutical industry that we hope will make large
contributions to Asia, we see that the biotechnology industry is positioned as a key industry in the life
sciences growth strategy, and that this strategy is expected to generate 50 trillion yen in demand andemploy 2.8 million persons. Japanese pharmaceutical companies are ranked No. 3 in the world in termsof new drug creation, and possess the only true R&D capability in Asia.
While pharmaceutical companies must focus on drugs for unmet medical needs, collaboration with
universities, venture businesses, and government has become necessary in fields where new capabilities
and expertise are required. The United States has achieved success in drug development based on amutually beneficial relationship between venture businesses and pharmaceutical companies, and Japan
should study these successful cases.
When we look at the development of revolutionary new drugs from Asia, we see that many Asian
nations have addressed health care and biotechnology as part of their national policies, and that a large
number of biotechnology clusters have been created. Each of the Asian nations is in the process ofcreating areas of expertise based on the country's unique characteristics. Half of the world's population
lives in Asia, and the nations of Asia are geographically close, little affected by time zone differences,
and are able to cooperate closely. The Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association conducts
the Asia Partnership Conference of Pharmaceutical Associations (APCPA), and aims to promote bioinnovation in Asia so that the people living in Asia are able to provide revolutionary new pharmaceuticals
developed in Asia to the Asian market.

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A Detailed Report on2012――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――Creating Solutions in the 21st Century of the Life Sciences
Andrew C. von Eschenbach (President, Samaritan Health Initiatives, Inc.,
Former Commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration)――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Progress in biotechnology during the 20th century has contributed not
only to medicine but to many other fields as well. For example, it hascontributed to the creation of GM (genetically modified) crops in the
agriculture field and to the livestock industry. It has contributed to theenergy and environment fields, with bio-fuel supplied from GM algae andenvironmental improvements resulting from the creation of new plants.
Progress in biotechnology has allowed us to construct a fast andeffective bio-defense against bio-terrorism, infectious diseases, andother biological threats.

Andrew C. von Eschenbach

In this way, 21st century society can enjoy large benefits resulting from investment in the life sciences.
General medicine is founded on correctly understanding a patient's illness on the genetic, molecular, andcellular level, and this understanding also makes it possible to correctly conduct personalized medicine
and provide highly accurate medical care.
An understanding of life sciences accelerates the three D's: Discovery, Development, and Delivery.
Improving each of the three D's individually, conducting continual research and improving capabilities,
and combining the results with a delivery capability, will allow us to achieve our future objectives.
Cooperation among industry, universities, and government is also necessary in order to accelerate thiscircle. Universities must accelerate Discovery; industry must accelerate Development; and government
health care systems must accelerate Delivery. One important element in this circle is intellectual
property. Strengthening intellectual property requires that talented persons be employed in R&D, andeducation is key for this purpose. Development can be fostered by both public investment and private
investment. Government policy is also necessary. It is possible for PMDA and FDA policy reforms topromote best use of available intellectual property and assets, and to accelerate the process.
The new concept of global level "competitive collaboration" is also needed. This requires the creationof a new network of collaboration as teams instead of the previous collaborative relationships between
individuals.
Combining these elements will produce an interoperable integrated
solution to overcoming disease.
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Life Science and Green Innovation of Mitsubishi Chemical
Holdings
Yoshimitsu Kobayashi (President & CEO, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings
Corporation)―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings aims to achieve a kaiteki (comfortable)
society based on three major business areas: performance products,
health care, and industrial materials. We are conducting our kaiteki
business centered on the three axes of technology, profit, and social
responsibility. We can no longer operate our business without giving

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Yoshimitsu Kobayashi

A Detailed Report on

2012
consideration to globalization and sustainability (global warming, exhaustion of natural resources,
global population growth, and in Japan our aging society and decreasing population) in the environment
surrounding our business. Japanese companies also require speed due to factors including the Great
East Japan Earthquake, the shale gas revolution, and slowing growth in Europe and China. The global
environment also faces a crisis that calls into doubt whether it can survive for another century.
Resolving these issues will require a combined effort by governments, industry, and academia. There
are only two ways for a company to achieve profits while contributing to society: differentiation andinnovation. A company creates new value through a combination of open innovation and open business.
Collaboration is necessary not only on the research level, but also on the business level as well. It isnecessary to combine closed and open (standardized) approaches, and from the beginning to carry out
design with an image of the final product firmly in mind. The shift from "manufacturing products" to"manufacturing ideas" will be critical.

4. Reception Party
This year's reception party was a grand affair held at the InterContinental Yokohama Grand Hotelbeginning at 6 PM on October 10 (Wednesday), the first day of BioJapan, and was attended by guests,
exhibitors, matching members, and others involved with the event. On behalf of the event organizer,
an address was given by Masafumi Nogimori, Vice President of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Association. During the address, he explained that it isprecisely because of the difficult conditions we face withdeclining financial conditions of various national governments
and dark clouds in the prospects for economic growth, that
now is the time for us to bring together the broad-ranging
power of biotechnology across the environment, energy, food,and medicine fields.
He was followed by Peter Bramberg, Head of Life Sciences at
Invest Sweden, who offered his congratulations to Japan'sProfessor Shinya Yamanaka. The stage was then given
to keynote speaker Andrew C. von Eschenbach; Satoshi
Miyamoto, Deputy Director-General at the Ministry of
Economy, Trade, and Industry; Shigemi Ohba, Deputy Mayorof the City of Yokohama; Masao Kurokawa, Vice Governor of
Kanagawa Prefecture; and Jun Miura, Deputy Mayor of the Cityof Kawasaki, who joined in a toast to kick off the reception
Reception Party

Masafumi Nogimori

Peter Bramberg

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A Detailed Report on

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delivered by Koichiro Aramaki, Chairman of the Japan Association for Techno-innovation in Agriculture,
Forestry, and Fisheries and President of the Japan Association of Bioindustries Executives. The eightrecipients of the three Japan Bioindustry Association awards were also introduced, and the reception
concluded in a festive atmosphere. The party also featured jazz performances, and ensured that the
new BioJapan made a strong first impression.

5. Organizer’s Seminars in BioJapan2012
The Annex Hall was the site of 20 organizer seminars, including those by the keynote speakers, aswell as 18 sponsor seminars. These seminars were attended in total by approximately 5,500 persons.
For the organizer's seminars, an eight-member planning committee was established, chaired by Michio
Oishi, Chairman of the BioJapan Organizing Committee. This planning committee created a seminar planthat covered all the important trends in the biotechnology industry. The seminars gained the strong
attention of the participants, with some seminars becoming quickly filled to capacity during the advanceregistration period. Details of sessions not described here can be found in BIOSCIENCE & INDUSTRY Vol.
71 (2013).
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Life Innovation Summit
Construction and Global Promotion of Japan as an Innovative
Problem-Solving Country
Coordinator: Tatsumi Yamazaki (Chairman of the Steering Committee,
Japan Bioindustry Association)………………………………………………………………………………………
Based on the title above, Mr. Yamazaki invited five panelists todiscuss the following subjects.
1) Health Innovation and National Growth
Yoichiro Matsumoto (Secretary General, Cabinet Secretariat Office of

Tatsumi Yamazaki

Medical Innovation, Government of Japan)
The Office of Medical Innovation was established to serve asa control tower for carrying out projects in cooperation withgovernment ministries and academia or industry. At present in Japan,
academic seeds are not being linked to pharmaceutical production,
and Japanese manufacturing technology is not being put to best use
in medical devices. Japan must create a Japan Care Model that allows
Japan to present its global top-standard medical care to the world.
2) Japan's STI Policy – The 4th Basic Plan of S&T –Yoichiro Matsumoto

Naoki Okamura (Executive Member, Council for Science andTechnology Policy)
A system of three strategy committees has been established, andan “Action Plan” for fiscal year 2013 has been formulated, so thatrequests for budgetary appropriates from various government
ministries are discussed and decided in accordance with key policy
measures. We hope for continued active participation in suchprograms in the future.

Naoki Okamura

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20123) Creating Innovation
Ryoji Chubachi (Co-Chairman, Committee on Industrial Technology, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation))
Among the issues facing innovation in Japan are the lack of a "control tower," the zero-risk syndrome,a perception gap related to science, and personnel training.
4) Towards New Medical Innovations
Masafumi Nogimori (Vice President, Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association)
The pharmaceutical industry contributes to society in three ways. Although development periods areshorter in Japan, costs are higher. Most new cancer drugs are imports and Japan is lagging behind inits cancer research programs. We need collaborations and alliances involving industry, government, andacademia at all stages from basic research to clinical applications.
5) Overcoming Issues in Japanese Medical Care
Osamu Nagayama (President, Japan Bioindustry Association)
Prevention, Intervention, and Rehabilitation are three important factors for Japanese medical care.
Following the seminar, the members engaged in active discussion regarding the steps that need tobe taken to achieve "Construction and Global Promotion of Japan as an Innovative Problem-Solving
Country."

Ryoji Chubachi

Masafumi Nogimori

Osamu Nagayama…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Green Innovation Summit
Coordinator: Hideaki Yukawa (Director, Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE))…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
This summit described the conditions in the United States, where
the introduction of bio-fuels made from cellulose to the market is
not proceeding as initially expected even though these fuels should
be among the top priorities of bio-refineries. It explained that thereason for the trouble is that while the price of manufacturingbioethanol compared to gasoline should be $2.50/gallon, in fact
the cost just for the diastatic enzyme catalyst is nearly $5.00. At
present in the United States, RITE process testing is under way
for use of lactic acid, succinic acid, propanol, amino acids, andother green chemicals in addition to ethanol from cellulose. The

Hideaki Yukawa

objective is to achieve trial production in 2014 and the start of commercial production in 2015. The
ethanol production cost is also expected to drop to less than $2.50/gallon (DOE target cost: $2.15/
gallon).
This session was conducted by the following four panelists, who presented a broad range of measures
aimed at resolving resource, environmental, and energy issues that have swelled to a global scale.

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20121) IHI Programs for Using Technology to Resolve Global Environmental
Problems
Tamotsu Saito (President & CEO, IHI Corporation)2) Tire Material Development Technologies for Contributing to a
Sustainable Society3) Kozaburo Nakaseko (Senior Executive Officer, Sumitomo Rubber
Industries, Ltd.)
4) Achieving the "Joy of Free Movement" and an "Affluent andTamotsu Saito

Sustainable Society"

Michio Shinohara (General Manager, Environment and Safety Planning Office, Business Planning Division,
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.)
5) P&G Sustainability Overview
Ching-Gang Charles Peng (Associate Director, R&D – Safety, Regulatory, Technical Relations, andSustainability, P&G Japan K.K.)

Kozaburo Nakaseko

Michio Shinohara

Ching-Gang Charles Peng

All of the members had conducted lifecycle assessment evaluations (including changes in landuse). They focused attention on programs for identifying rate-limiting processes by quantifying theenvironmental impacts (including resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions) of a company’s
product or system over its entire lifetime. On the subjects of biomass and biotechnology, the members
shared high expectations for bio-refineries, with the development anduse of bio-fuels expected to address energy problems, and the use ofnatural materials and changes to materials from renewable resources
expected to address resource problems.
…………………………………………………………………………………………

Cluster Summit
Moderator: Tsuneaki Sakata (Visiting Professor, Osaka University Cybermedia Center)…………………………………………………………………………………………
At this summit, representatives of four clusters reported on their operating

Tsuneaki Sakata

strategies and the unique strengths of their individual clusters.
1) The Munich Biotech Cluster m4
Horst Domdey (CEO, BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH)
The Munich Biotech Cluster m4 in Germany is the successor to theMunich Gene Center, and got its start by winning a 25 million-Euro prizeat the BioRegio Competition held by the federal government in 1996.
Since that time, it has constructed a successful record as a powerfulpartner in drug development, and has created more than 130 small- and8

Horst Domdey

A Detailed Report on

2012
mid-size businesses to date. It carries out a personalized medicine businessthat departs from the previous blockbuster product approach, and aims toprovide drugs that are tailored to the individual patient.
2) Bio Clusters-Strategic Development and Scientific Focus
James Cameron (Sales Director, Scottish Development International,
Edinburgh BioQuarter)
Based on the plan for the first 25 years since it began operating
in 1999, the Edinburgh BioQuarter in Scotland is in the process ofJames Cameron

constructing a large bio-business park containing a collection of
hospitals, research institutions, and corporate laboratories. There arealso increasing numbers of spin-out ventures from universities, and onequarter of the 100 entries in September 2011 were spin-outs. The area
is characterized by relatively little population migration, and the cluster
has constructed a disease database of Scotland residents covering 35
years. It has also been conducting cohort studies with the University of
Edinburgh and other institutions for more than 10 years, making use of

Kevin Lai

this database in pharmaceutical company biomarker development.
3) Biomedical Sciences in Singapore-A Springboard into Asia andBeyondKevin Lai (Director, Biomedical Sciences Group, Singapore Economic
Development Board)
The Singapore Economic Development Board is dedicated to translational
clinical research and to the development of the necessary humanresources for that purpose. It also works for infrastructure construction
and the optimization of regulations in the manufacturing industry, andBill Bullock

is capable of conducting Phase II clinical trials in just 4 – 6 weeks. Overthe past 20 years, it has attracted 10 billion dollars in overseas capital,and developed 70 billion dollars of products. In 2012, its efforts led
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to establish an antibody laboratory in
Singapore.
4) Biotechnology in North Carolina
Bill Bullock (Vice President, Bioscience Industrial Development, North
Daiya Miyazato

Carolina Biotechnology Center)

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center in the United States was established in 1984, with a focus on
agri-biotechnology. It has invested 1.5 billion US dollars in collaborations with the faculties of medicine
and veterinary medicine at 16 universities including Duke University. Beginning 10 years ago, it began
accepting private capital, and is now focusing on personnel development using the BIOIMPACT networkthat joins together 36 US universities.
5) Current Status and Opportunity for Health-bio Cluster in Okinawa
Daiya Miyazato (Special Associate Professor, Integrated Innovation Center for Community, University of the Ryukyus)
This health biotechnology cluster was established in Okinawa in 2010. During the coming 10 years, itwill collaborate with biotechnology clusters in the prefecture and across Japan, aiming to be a centerfor creation of a health biotechnology industry that will help Okinawa contribute to the health and long
lives of people in Asia. For this purpose, it has constructed a network with 100 health biotechnology

9A Detailed Report on2012
companies in Okinawa Prefecture, conducted industry site concept meetings and launched problemsolving working groups, and is active at the forefront of educational and other activities.

*
The panel discussion included comments from each of the representatives concerning the primary
problems involved in collaborations with Japan, and confirmed the continued importance of ensuring
good collaborations that proceed smoothly without significant problems, and of building up a record ofsuccessful collaborations in the future.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Functional Food Summit
Health Claims of Functional Food Products: Systems and Science from an International Perspective
Coordinator: Toshio Shimizu (Professor, Faculty of Health and Human Life, Nagoya Bunri University)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1) Scientific Substantiation of Health Claims on Foods and theInternational Comparison
Toshio Shimizu (Professor, Faculty of Health and Human Life, Nagoya
Bunri University)
On the subject of food functional claims, Mr. Shimizu explained theclassification (definition) of functional food products in Japan, andthe perspectives of the Codex, EU, US, and Chinese systems.
Although the Japanese system is scientifically and legally reasonable
and is highly consistent with the systems in other countries,

Toshio Shimizu

areas for future improvement include expanding health claims, thelimited-period permit system for designated health foods, and thenotification system for foods with nutrient function claims.
2) Regulation and Scientific Substantiation of Health Claims on
Foods in the EU
Albert Flynn (Chairman, EFSA Health Claims Evaluation Committee)
Mr. Flynn explained the role of the European Food Safety Authority(EFSA) in regard to EU regulations on health claims, and examples

Albert Flynn

of EFSA health claims. Through the EFSA, the EU has approved 241
health claims.
3) The Current Situation and Problems of Health Claims in Japan
Reiko Yonekura (Health inspector, Food Labeling Division, Consumer
Affairs Agency)
Ms. Yonekura spoke primarily to organize the points of argumentfrom the Health Food Investigative Commission regarding functional

Reiko Yonekuraclaims in Japan.
The science and government policy on food safety rely on regulatory
science in order to function, and functional claims require anunderstanding of government policy, science, and consumers.
4) History and Future of the Health Food Development in Hokkaido
Ken-ichi Kosuna (President, Hokkaido Association for Bio-Business)
Hokkaido bio-clusters have been highly rated as Mature Clusters(second rank from the top). Mr. Kosuna explained his request for10

Ken-ichi Kosuna

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allowing special cases of claims based on Hokkaido approval for products manufactured in Hokkaido only
when the scientific basis for a health claim is certified in Hokkaido.

6. Business Partnering
There were 868 partnering participants at this year's BioJapan, making it the largest businessmatching event in Asia. During the event, 627 persons from 22 countries/regions were registered in
the matching system (compared with 310 persons in the previous year's event), and approximately
3,400 meetings were held (compared to approximately 1,600 in the previous year). Most of the major
and key pharmaceutical manufacturers from Japan and overseas participated, and there were many
participating companies and institutions in the green innovation field. BioJapan was the first event inJapan to provide a web matching system, and this system is now used as a mechanism for supporting
open innovation including technology transfer, joint research, and business collaborations.
A new highly convenient web matching system was developed for this year's event based on pastexperience. A special partnering area was set up next to the exhibition space, and the number of
meeting booths was increased to 120. A fee is now charged for system use, which was previously free,
ensuring a forum for participants whoare enthusiastic and serious. The system
has received high praise from many of theparticipants.

In the meeting booth

The space of Business Partnering

7. Partnering Party – Yokohama Blue Night Party
As an additional opportunity to promote partnering in addition to the web matching system, a party
for matching members was held on the second day of the event, October 11 (Thursday), from 18:00– 20:00. It was held in Osanbashi Hall and was attended by approximately 400 participants. In orderto produce a more open feel, there was a greater focus on entertainment than at previous BioJapan
events, with a dress code that required participants to wear blue, as well as blue charity chemical
lights, cocktail performances, and jazz music by top-classmusicians. In this festive atmosphere, many participants
were seen actively introducing themselves and exchanging
information, and the event was kept lively by persons who
continued with active communication up until the very
end. Osanbashi Hall offers a spectacular night view of
Yokohama, and the event was also highly popular among
participants from overseas.

Yokohama Blue Night Party

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8. Alliance Promotion and Metropolitan Bio Network Japan Booths
The Alliance Promotion in BioJapan 2012 (business partnering session), Metropolitan Bio Network
Japan booth exhibition, and Metropolitan Bio Network Japan International Partners program were held
over three days from October 10 (Wednesday) – 12 (Friday). These programs represent one part ofthe "2012 Grant for Promoting Creation of New Local Growth Industries (New Local Growth Industry
Project)," a business subsidy project of the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
Alliance Promotion is a forum for using links with biotechnology clusters from around the country to
introduce the core competences, business plans, and other elements of bio-ventures from all parts ofJapan to Japanese and overseas pharmaceutical companies. It was held for the purposes of facilitating theformation of alliances, M&A, joint research, and other collaborations, creating connections for acquiring
funding, and accelerating the pace of business creation.
This year featured the Metropolitan Bio Network Japan International Partners program as an opportunity
to promote expansion of bio-ventures overseas. Materials from embassies in Japan and other sources
introducing each country's technical seeds and needs were installed in the Alliance Promotion andMetropolitan Bio Network Japan booths, aiming to help create a network for connecting with overseas
clusters, bio-ventures, and other entities.
In total, 36 bio-ventures from across Japan and eight overseas institutions operating in drug
development, drug development support, medical care, and other areas of the biotechnology industry
participated in the BioJapan exhibition. During the three-day event, 62 sessions were conducted (with
20 of the oral presentations conducted in English), and a total of 1,062 persons attended the sessions.
This year saw an increase in the number of English oral presentations, and all of the presenters werefocused on finding alliances over a broad range both in and beyond Japan.
Metropolitan Bio Network Japan operates as an organization that supports the creation and growth ofbio-ventures in the greater Kanto metropolitan area. As one part of its operations, it provides support for
exhibits at events – an otherwise large burden on a venture company. It also conducts joint exhibitions
together with bio-venture companies that contribute to expanding sales channels. This year, a total of
21 promising bio-ventures from a wide range of fields across the country exhibited through Metropolitan
Bio Network Japan booths, including eight drug development companies; five companies offering drug
development support and contracted services; four companies in the medical care, diagnosis, medical
device, and health care field; and four companies in the machine and manufacturing field.
A total of 10 institutions exhibited in the Metropolitan Bio Network Japan International Partners zone,
including six from Europe, two from Asia, one from the United States, and one from Australia.
The matching system was also updated for this year, and the matching system and Alliance Promotion
were linked together. The booth exhibition area was extremely active, with a large number of businessmeetings taking place in the booths and producing agreements and other results.

Alliance Promotion

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9. Presentations from Academics to Introduce Seeds
This year marked the fourth time that the Academic
Seeds Presentation was held, aimed at generating
joint research between industry and academia andaccelerating the pace of technology transfer. In total,
18 research institutions participated. These institutions
were Kyoto University, Tokyo Institute of Technology,
University of Tokushima, University of Tsukuba,
Tohoku University, Tokyo University of Science,
medU-net (Japan Association of Medical University
Network for Technology Transfer), Tokyo Medical

Academic Seeds Presentation& Dental University, University of Toyama, Sapporo Medical University, Shiga University of Medical
Science, Tokai University, Nagasaki University, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kurume
University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine), National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center,
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and RIKEN. In addition, the following
organizations all presented their latest research results: Okayama University, Tokyo University ofTechnology, Fukushima University, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Yokohama City University, Nagoya
Institute of Technology, Nagoya City University, University of Yamanashi, Kumamoto University, Saga
University Medical School, Tohoku University Micro System Integration Center, The Hokuriku Industrial
Advancement Center, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan Science and Technology
Agency, and Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Japan. The presentations covered a broad
range of subjects including medical diagnosis methods, medical treatment, drug development, foodproducts, bio-refineries, and biomass. The participating universities and institutions were highly active
over the three days, making full use of BioJapan through presentations of their research at the booths,
participation in the matching system, and other means to expand opportunities for projects such as
joint research, joint development, and other programs.

10. Exhibition
This year the layout was reviewed
and the matching booths weremoved to the partnering venue inHall C, making it possible to use allof Hall D as space for exhibitions
and presentations. Steps werealso taken to promote businessinteraction and improve conveniencefor both visitors and exhibitors,
including use of a free LAN service
in the venue, and restoration of
the lounge space. Attendance
was further boosted by reinforced
advance publicity activities, and by13

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broad coverage of the event in televisionand newspapers sparked by the increased
interest in exhibitions related to iPS cells
and regenerative medicine following
the announcement of the Nobel Prize inPhysiology or Medicine. The usual happy
hour was combined with the partnering party
and moved to a different venue, and someexhibitors provided their own food and drink
services at the booths as an opportunity forfurther communication.

11. Postscript
This year the event was blessed by favorable weather over all three days, and there was a large
increase in the number participants over the previous year, reaching 12,369 persons. Moreover, theevent finished on schedule amidst great fanfare. This was entirely due to the cooperation and support
received from the exhibitors, lecturers, co-sponsoring and supporting local governments and ministries,
the visitors, and to everyone else who was involved, and we would like to express our sincere thanks. In
particular, there was a dramatic increase in the number of partnering meetings resulting from the event.
This year’s event produced a large number of results. Again this year, with the cooperation of the Japan
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, many representatives of the major and key pharmaceuticalcompanies participated in alliance booth exhibits, and also participated in the partnering event, coming
to the venue in order to create alliances. More companies and institutions than in previous years also
participated for the first time in the green innovation field, and the new business matching system
functioned as expected and was welcomed by the partnering participants.
We are certain that BioJapan clearly presented its intention to be one of the largest business matching
events in Asia in the future. Following the event, many of the participants and visitors reported thatthe event had provided a foothold for business collaborations and joint research alliances. We were also
pleased to hear of the large increase in high-quality business matching meetings that led to businessnegotiations.
The event was also boosted by the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Professor
Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University just before the event period. This resulted in mass media andtelevision coverage, and focused attention
on the Regenerative Medicine zone and on
the exhibitions and presentations where
there was a gathering of medical universities
that are involved with regenerative medicine.
There were also reports of success inarranging technology transfer from theparticipants in the Academic zone aswell. There are expectations for further
expansion of the program for next year as anopportunity for presenting information about

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A Detailed Report on

2012
leading-edge research, and as an opportunity for creating alliances between academia and industry.
The First Japan Biotechnology Professionals Conference was also held at the same time as this year's
BioJapan, with nearly 100 of the top professionals in Japan from biotechnology organizations; bioclusters; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science, and Technology; local governments; supporting institutions; the industry; and relatedorganizations all coming together for active discussion and exchange. The participants unanimously
confirmed that this conference will continue to be held in the future as a permanent part of BioJapanand as a nexus for the activities of biotechnology professionals who are facing a broad range ofchallenges.
̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶
Reprinted and modified from BIOSCIENCE & INDUSTRY (B&I) vol.71(1).

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