LINK-J Selected as a Promoter for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Startup Support Program
Mitsui Fudosan Now Has 16 Life Science Buildings with LINK-J Events Topping 800 Annually
-Transition to Serving as an Industry Developer That Creates New Industries by Building Communities and Developing Sites-

February 9, 2023
Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J)
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

Tokyo, Japan, February 9, 2023 – Mitsui Fudosan, Co., Ltd., a leading global real estate company headquartered in Tokyo, announced today that Life Science Innovation Network Japan (hereafter, LINK-J) has been selected to serve as a Promoter tasked with supporting efforts to build the startup ecosystem as a representative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Blockbuster TOKYO startup support program specializing in pharmaceutical and medical startups. Throughout the agreement period with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (up to three fiscal years), the Promoters are to engage in efforts that involve maintaining a supportive environment for developing startups at the international level, invigorating and expanding the startup community, and establishing a self-sustaining startup ecosystem in Tokyo.

LINK-J was established by Mitsui Fudosan to serves as an organization that seeks to build communities in the life sciences industry in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district in 2016 in collaboration with academia and industry professionals. In 2022, LINK-J arranged a total of 834 events that attracted an estimated 200,000 attendees. It is now up to 652 members, which include companies, organizations, and individuals. Meanwhile, Mitsui Fudosan assumes responsibility for developing sites for the startup community and has accordingly established a network of 16 Life Science Building locations occupied by 167 corporate tenants, with 15 of the locations in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district and the other one in Osaka. LINK-J and Mitsui Fudosan have been working together in developing Japan’s life sciences industry, from the perspective of achieving intangible and tangible outcomes.

LINK-J has recently been selected to serve as a startup support program Promoter tasked with supporting efforts to build the startup ecosystem under the Blockbuster TOKYO startup support program, launched in 2018. LINK-J was selected for this role upon having earned high marks for its project proposal, which was the culmination of about seven years of its activities. A consortium consisting of the three companies LINK-J, CIC Tokyo, and MRI have been selected as Blockbuster TOKYO startup support program Promoters, with LINK-J to serve as the program representative in supporting efforts to build the startup ecosystem. The Blockbuster TOKYO program will promote efforts to support startups, in part by leveraging initiatives of LINK-J and also by enlisting Mitsui Fudosan’s expertise as an industry developer focused on industrial revitalization and creation of new industries through urban development that involves developing sites and providing capital.　

LINK-J and Mitsui Fudosan will set their sights on creating new industries as they continue working together in building communities and developing sites.

Key Points of This News Release

< Achievements of LINK-J and Mitsui Fudosan >

（1）LINK-J now has more than 650 members, which include companies, organizations, and individuals.

LINK-J’s membership includes venture companies and various other companies, organizations, and individuals involved in the life sciences. It also provides a range of services, which in part entail participation in various types of events and programs for facilitating interaction and cooperation. LINK-J has achieved steady membership growth since its establishment in 2016, having surpassed the 600-member threshold in November 2022. In addition to venture companies, pharmaceutical corporations, and enterprises from various other industries, LINK-J has also attracted a wide range of players in the life sciences sector. This includes medical institutions and other non-profit organizations; academic institutions; municipalities, embassies and other public institutions, and; venture capital firms and accelerators (as of February 2023, LINK-J has 652 members). Notably, its membership includes approximately 50 academic institutions from Japan and overseas and extends across the eight regions of Japan.

Number of LINK-J members

Membership distribution

（2）In 2022, LINK-J recorded an annual all-time high 834 events, which attracted an estimated 200,000 attendees.

LINK-J recorded an annual all-time high 834 events in 2022 amid a scenario of steady growth in its number of events since its founding*. Moreover, attendance at LINK-J events topped an estimated 200,000 visitors in 2022.

* In 2020, events were subject to a period of self-restraint due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Number of LINK-J events

（3）Mitsui Fudosan’s efforts taken to develop sites have culminated in it having established a network of 16 Life Science Building locations occupied by 167 corporate tenants, with 15 of the locations in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district and the other one in Osaka. We seek further expansion of partnerships in Japan and overseas, particularly by drawing on LINK-J’s overseas locations.

When it comes to Mitsui Fudosan’s life sciences business, whereas LINK-J assumes responsibility for building communities and other such intangible objectives, Mitsui Fudosan assumes responsibility for developing sites and other such tangible objectives. Mitsui Fudosan has accordingly established a network of 16 Life Science Building locations that serve as sites for facilitating interaction and cooperation among players in the life sciences sector, with 15 of the locations in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district and the other one in Osaka. Mitsui Fudosan has been actively working to attract tenants to these locations and has 167 corporate tenants in Tokyo and Osaka combined as of February 2023.

Meanwhile, LINK-J opened its first overseas offices in 2022, one at the University of California, San Diego and another at the Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas (New York, USA). LINK-J has been actively seeking partnerships overseas, which thus far has in part entailed concluding 17 MOUs with domestic and overseas organizations and academic institutions. Going forward, LINK-J aims to enhance its capability to serve as a hub for the life sciences industry by further strengthening its partnerships, centering such efforts on the expansive network of life science sites operated by Mitsui Fudosan and LINK-J.

Map of the Life Science Building network in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district
* The areas indicated in pink are pharmaceutical companies
(according to LINK-J research).

Map of Lifescience HUB West, Osaka
* The areas indicated in purple are pharmaceutical companies (according to LINK-J research).

Mitsui Fudosan and LINK-J seek to help prompt development of Japan’s life sciences industry in part by invigorating and extending the industry in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district through initiatives involving the Blockbuster TOKYO startup support program, and also by expanding their interregional networks.