Attractive Sectors

Recognizing the necessity of developing a national biotechnology strategy for the welfare of its citizens—as well as to maintain national competitiveness, the national economy, security and bioethics—the Japanese government is implementing a comprehensive plan based on its Biotechnology Strategy Guidelines.

In 2005, Japan's biotechnology market was an estimated 1.76 trillion yen, making it the second largest in the world, after the U.S.
The market is expected to continue to grow and expected to reach 25 trillion yen by 2010 due to factors such as the aging of society and increasing health awareness.

Japan features one of the world's most competitive bio-industries, leading both the U.S. and Europe in such key areas as pharmacogenomics, protein engineering, glyco-engineering, tissue engineering, bio-informatics, genome medicine and preventive medicine.
The nation is devoting substantial resources to developing universities and R&D facilities, increasing bioventure startups, growing bio-clusters (communities of biotechnology companies and institutions) and developing human resources, all with the goal of making it one of the world's most advanced biotechnology regions.

The Industrial Cluster Plan was launched in April 2001 to strengthen the capabilities of regional areas in developing new technologies and products and as a means to foster the growth of established companies and startups.
By taking advantage of the unique characteristics of each respective region, these projects have resulted in a succession of new, world-class business ventures and have encouraged active exchange and collaboration by corporate managers, engineers and administrators.