LINK-J Founded to Promote Life Science Innovation through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration
In cooperation with the University of California, San Diego and Biocom, a life sciences association
Life Science Innovation Network Japan, Inc.
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Masanobu Komoda) and interested members in academia are pleased to announce the foundation of Life Science Innovation Network Japan, Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Chairman of the Board: Hideyuki Okano, Dean, Keio University School of Medicine / hereinafter referred to as LINK-J) . LINK-J, based in the Nihonbashi district where a cluster of medical and pharmaceutical-related companies is situated, will start its activities to promote open innovation through industry-academia-government collaboration to support the creation of new industries.
About LINK-J
The life sciences constitute an interdisciplinary nexus linking all areas of scientific endeavor. They encompass medicine, the natural sciences, engineering; and such new technologies as ICT and AI. LINK-J has been established to promote national and international cross-disciplinary interaction of human resources and technologies and provide support to seeds and ideas leading to practical application through its network.
Dr. Hideyuki Okano, Dean, Keio University School of Medicine, has assumed the office of the Chairman of the Board of LINK-J, and Dr. Yoshiki Sawa, Dean, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine/ Faculty of Medicine, Vice Chairman of the Board.
Moreover, the Management Advisory Committee that provides advice to LINK-J’s business operations is participated by 13 experts from industry and academia, including Dr. Yoichiro Matsumoto, Executive Director, RIKEN, and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, Director, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University.
LINK-J will recruit those who endorse the purpose of its establishment as LINK-J members (special members), starting from July 2016. LINK-J will provide special members opportunities to participate in symposiums, seminars and other gatherings for the interaction of members as its “Interaction and Collaboration Business.” Moreover, it will offer individuals aiming to start a business and startup companies programs and places for receiving advice, opportunities to raise funds from investors and matching opportunities for business alliance as its “Development and Assistance Business.”
LINK-J will promote bi-directional collaboration between Japan and abroad with overseas universities and institutions that are taking the lead in the area of life sciences. As a start, we have agreed with the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) on collaboration in the area of life sciences. Furthermore, collaboration with Biocom, a life sciences association, also located in San Diego, has been fixed. Collaboration with UC San Diegoand Biocom will help promote the revitalization of life science innovation in Japan.
UC San Diego |
 |
Dr. Albert P. Pisano
Jacobs School of Engineering
UC San Diego
|
* About UC San Diego
One of the largest clusters of life science companies and academic institutions in the United States has been developed in San Diego, California. UC San Diego is known not only for its advanced research and development system in life sciences, but also for a proud record of leading the life science cluster in the form of industry academia collaboration.
* About Biocom
Biocom is also a membership organization consisting of 750 life science-related companies and groups with its headquarters in San Diego. Biocom plays a central role in the ecosystem (an environment that generates a cluster of new industries) of life science innovation.
Mitsui Fudosan’s activities
Mitsui Fudosan regards the creation of new industries for a broader business area as an important strategy. The “Nihonbashi Life Science Innovation Promotion Project” implemented together with LINK-J will be a pillar for the creation of new industries, along with the “new industry creation in Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City” and “31 VENTURES, a co-creation project implemented collaboratively with startup companies.” Mitsui Fudosan, through the urban development in Nihonbashi, continuously offers both place and opportunity (tangible and intangible requirements) to encourage national and international/industry-government-academia collaboration for the revitalization of life science innovation.
There are now three bases for the Nihonbashi Life Science Innovation Promotion Project, as Nihonbashi Life Science Building2 has been newly added to the existing Nihonbashi Life Science Building and Nihonbashi Life Science Hub. It has already been decided that the US San Diego Tokyo Branch and Medical-Industrial Cooperation Support Office of Tokyo Metropolitan Government (tentative name) will be located in the Nihonbashi Life Science Building (2-3-11, Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) whose current tenants include industrial groups and branches of Osaka University, Kyoto University, the University of Tokyo and Tohoku University.
The Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) is a tenant of the Nihonbashi Life Science Hub (8F., Muromachi Chibagin Mitsui Building, 1-5-5, Nihombashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and promising life science startup companies are tenants of Nihonbashi Life Science Building2 (3-11-5, Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo). More than 100 seminars, symposiums, and other events were held in the above places of interaction during the past 12 months. With the start of LINK-J, further interactions are expected in the three bases in Nihonbashi now and in the future.
In Nihonbashi, Mitsui Fudosan will establish a life science hub, enhance the capability to support global business, and moreover, in collaboration with LINK-J, develop an environment where innovators inside and outside Japan meet and co-create, crossing the border of their respective fields. Mitsui Fudosan encourages the generation of life science innovation and supports the creation of new industries in order to further increase the value of Nihonbashi, and at the same time, contribute to the solution of issues related to the health and longevity of people of the world.
Overview of LINK-J
| Corporate name |
Life Science Innovation Network Japan, Inc.(LINK-J) |
| Incorporated in |
March 2016 |
| Executive Officers |
Chairman of the Board: Hideyuki Okano
(Dean, Keio University School of Medicine)
Vice Chairman of the Board: Yoshiki Sawa
(Dean, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine/Faculty of Medicine)
Director: Takashi Ueda
(Executive Managing Officer, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.)
Auditor: Yutaro Kikuchi
(Attorney at law, Kikuchi Sogo Law Office) |
| Management Advisory Committee |
Special Advisor: Yoichiro Matsumoto
(Executive Director, RIKEN)
Special Advisor: Shinya Yamanaka
(Director, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University)
Special Advisor: Peter F. Cowhey
(Dean, School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California, San Diego)
Advisor: Shinji Asonuma
(Executive Vice-President for Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration, Kyoto University)
Advisor: Hideo Shindo
(Executive Vice President for Industry-University Collaboration, Tohoku University)
Advisor: Masayo Tada
(President, The Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Associations of JAPAN (FPMAJ))
Advisor: Yuzo Toda
(Chairman, Forum for Innovative Regenerative Medicine (FIRM))
(Director and Executive Vice President, Fujifilm Corporation)
Advisor: Koji Nakao
(Chairman, The Japan Federation of Medical Devices Associations (JFMDA))
Director and Corporate Advisor, Terumo Corporation)
Advisor: Yoshihiko Hatanaka
(President, Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA))
(President and CEO, Astellas Pharma Inc.)
Advisor: Toshiaki Higashihara
(President & CEO, Hitachi, Ltd.)
Advisor: Masaaki Mizuno
(Presidential Advisor/Professor, Nagoya University)
Advisor: Toshiya Watanabe
(Professor, Policy Alternatives Research Institute)
Advisor: Masanobu Komoda
(President and CEO, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.)
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Profile of Hideyuki Okano, Chairman of the Board
| March 1983 |
Graduated from Keio University School of Medicine |
| October 1989 |
Enrolled in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry, U.S.A. (Laboratory of Dr. Craig Montell) |
| September 1994 |
Professor, Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba |
| April 1997 |
Professor, Division of Neuroanatomy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
(from April 1999: Professor, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine due to the reorganization for a greater focus
on graduate schools) |
| April 2001 |
Professor, Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine |
| April 2015-Present |
Dean, Keio University School of Medicine |
Expertise in: Molecular Neurobiology, Developmental Biology, Regenerative Medicine
Outline of 3 Buildings in Nihonbashi(As of June 1st)
1. Nihonbashi Life Science Hub
(1) Address 1-5-5, Nihombashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022
8F., Muromachi Chibagin Mitsui Building
(2)Floor area Approximately 1,030m2
(3)Tenants
| Floor |
|
| 8th floor |
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
(Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, East Japan Office)
|
| Conference room(rental meeting room), Communication lounge |
2. Nihonbashi Life Science Building
(1)Address 2-3-11, Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0023
(2)Floor area Approximately 6,240m2
(3)Tenants
| Floor |
|
| 10th floor |
Conference room (rental meeting room), Communication loung
|
| Life Science Innovation Network Japan, Inc.(LINK-J) |
| 9th floor |
UC San Diego, Osaka University, Kyoto University, The University of Tokyo, and Tohoku University |
| 8th~9th floor |
Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association |
| 6th floor |
Forum for Innovative Regenerative Medicine (FIRM)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Medical Device Development Center/ Medical, Industry and Academia Collaboration(tentative)
DIA Japan
Japanese Organization for Medical Device Development, Inc.
Pharmaceutical Development Support Center |
| 5th floor |
The Japanese CRO Association
MinaCare Co.,Ltd. |
| 4th floor |
General Incorporated Associations Health Care Stability and Regional Economy Vitalization Forum
Quantum Biosystems Inc.
The Systems Biology Institute
Tsujimaru International Patent Office
The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine
Biopharma Forest Inc. |
| 3rd floor~1st floor |
Conference room (rental meeting room), reception desk, etc. |
3. Nihonbashi Life Science Building 2
(1) Address 3-11-5, Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0023
(2)Floor area Approximately 1,340m2(Floor 5~7)
(3) Tenants
| Floor |
|
| 6Th floor |
INDEE Medical
KinoPharma Inc.
Delta-Fly Pharma Inc.
Commons for Medicine and Engineering Japan
Med Vision |
