BioJapan 2025 Drug Discovery Hub Cross Talk Event Report (October 9)
“Drug Discovery Hub Cross Talk: The Future of Japan’s Drug Discovery Ecosystem in 10 Years”

Discussion on the Current State and Future Prospects of Japan’s Drug Discovery Hubs
What Should Japan’s Target Ecosystem Look Like?

Asia’s largest partnering event, “BioJapan 2025,” was held at Pacifico Yokohama over three days from October 8 to 10. On the second day, the sponsor seminar “Drug Discovery Hub Cross Talk: The Future of Japan’s Drug Discovery Ecosystem in 10 Years” was held, hosted by IPark Institute Co., Ltd., which operates Shonan Health Innovation Park (hereinafter “Shonan iPark”). With Maggie O’Toole, CEO of LabCentral USA, as facilitator, four representatives from Japan’s leading drug discovery hubs exchanged views on the current state, challenges, and outlook for Japan’s drug discovery ecosystem.

Panelists (titles omitted):
-(Facilitator) Maggie O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer (LabCentral, U.S.)
-Toshihiko Doi, Director, National Cancer Center Hospital East (Kashiwa-no-ha Campus)
-Toshio Fujimoto, President and CEO, iPark Institute Co., Ltd. (Shonan iPark)
-Yoshiki Sawa, President, Future Medical Promotion Organization / Director, Osaka Police Hospital (Nakanoshima Cross)
-Kozo Mori, Director, Division of Medical Industry, Planning and Coordination Bureau, Kobe City Government (Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster)

 

Introduction to Each Drug Discovery Hub
LabCentral
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, LabCentral is an incubator designed to support startups in the life sciences sector, primarily from the early to mid-stage of development. Situated in a region home to academia, pharmaceutical companies, medical centers, and more, LabCentral provides a complete ecosystem for startup development. Amidst a deteriorating environment for startups in the U.S., including insufficient grants, it also supports securing necessary funding through corporate partnerships.

Kashiwanoha Campus
The National Cancer Center Hospital East, located in Kashiwanoha (Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture) is highly regarded for its clinical development. It handles nearly all first-in-human trials for university-developed anticancer drug candidates. It has also hosted multiple inspections by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, earning high trust. The area is also developing shared labs, attracting companies from various industries and energizing the entire region, including increasing participation from overseas firms.

Shonan iPark
This science park was originally established by opening Takeda Pharmaceutical Company’s Shonan Research Center (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture) to external organizations. It features the unique capability to allow all processes necessary for drug discovery and development to be completed under one roof. The park houses over 100 organizations, making it one of Japan’s largest clusters of corporate researchers. In the past year, two tenant companies went public and two others achieved M&A. To meet growing demand, new facilities are under development, including a new site planned in Kobe City tentatively named “iPark Kobe”.

Nakanoshima Cross
Founded in Kita Ward, Osaka City, as a hub for industrializing advanced medical technologies, Nakanoshima Cross began as a center for regenerative medicine, and has since expanded to encompass an array of sciences including medtech, artificial intelligence, and drug discovery.
Tenants span research and development to clinical applications, with over 60 companies already occupying the facility. It has also strengthened international collaboration, having hosted visitors from over 50 countries and concluded multiple cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding.

Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster
Established as part of Kobe’s reconstruction following the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the cluster focuses not only on regenerative medicine and medical devices, but also on biotechnology manufacturing, robotics, and artificial intelligence. With a concentration of hospitals, universities, and research institutions—including RIKEN and Kobe University—the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster serves as the city’s core organization promoting industry-academia collaboration and startup support.

Photo (from left): Toshihiko Doi, Yoshiki Sawa, Kozo Mori, Maggie O’Toole

 

Panel Discussion I: Collaboration Across Drug Discovery Hubs
The Importance of Collaboration among Drug Discovery Hubs
While Nakanoshima Cross benefits from its central location in Osaka, its space is limited, so our focus is on startup incubation and early growth. Further development requires collaboration with other ecosystems. Since each Japanese hub has distinct strengths, we aim to create a complementary national network connecting them seamlessly.
—Yoshiki Sawa

How many biotech clusters is Japan going to build?
An American colleague once asked, ‘Even in the U.S., only three biotech clusters have truly succeeded—how many does Japan plan to build?’ It’s a fair question. Yet Japan’s hubs each possess unique characteristics. By specializing and supporting one another, we can generate collective results that energize the entire country.
—Toshio Fujimoto

Japan is a country where horizontal division of labor is possible
When Kobe first began developing its medical industry cluster, we tried to build an ecosystem on our own. But we realized that ecosystems cannot exist—or have meaning—in isolation. Japan’s hubs, even if geographically distant, can cooperate horizontally, forming a uniquely Japanese ecosystem as they mature.
—Kozo Mori

A system of cooperation, not competition
The fact that all four leaders are gathered here today sends a powerful message of collaboration rather than competition. In the U.S., strong clusters often compete intensely. What gives me hope about Japan’s approach is your shared commitment toward a common goal.
—Maggie O’Toole

Panel Discussion II: Challenges Ahead
Globalization and Entrepreneurship
Japan faces two key challenges: globalization and entrepreneurship. Historically, Japan has lagged in global engagement. In the U.S., many entrepreneurs are immigrants, while in Japan, the entrepreneurial spirit remains limited. At a recent startup support event at Shonan iPark, half of the 80 applicants were Korean companies—showing their strong motivation. We must rethink how Japan can compete under these circumstances.
—Toshio Fujimoto

The current situation regarding investment in Japan
Japanese investors are still hesitant to fund domestic startups. When my organization established a subsidiary in the U.S., many Japanese funds suddenly approached us, explaining that they find domestic investments too uncertain. Ironically, expanding abroad first may attract foreign investors—and, in turn, reawaken Japanese interest.
—Yoshiki Sawa

A nurturing environment for university-originated seeds
One weakness in Japan is nurturing seeds that originate from academia. For example, the regulatory T-cell technology developed by Nobel laureate Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi is still under development domestically. Strengthening the environment for nurturing university-origin innovations is one of the major challenges for the next decade.
— Toshihiko Doi

Discovering hidden seeds in Western Japan
Each region has distinct strengths in infrastructure and networks. By combining them, we can create an organically connected national system. Kobe, located on Japan’s western end of the Kansai region, offers excellent access to western Japan. We aim to uncover promising seeds in these areas and connect them with new investments.
—Kozo Mori

Panel Discussion III: Global Perspectives
Rethinking Global Development
Many say they want to pursue global development, but from a global standpoint, there’s no absolute reason why trials must start in Japan. Targeting U.S. FDA approval from the outset can often be more efficient. Japan can still play a role within that framework, but it’s time to reconsider what ‘global perspective’ truly means.
—Toshihiko Doi

Trying first for approval in the US
I agree. In our current projects, we plan to first file for clinical trial approval with the U.S. FDA. Once approved, trials can be conducted globally, making it easier to include Japan and Europe. The conventional sequence of starting in Japan and later expanding abroad no longer applies.
—Yoshiki Sawa

Opportunity arrives in Japan
The U.S. biotech market is currently under strain, prompting some investors to explore Japan’s ecosystem. Several American venture capital firms are now applying for accreditation from Japan’s AMED to operate as official VCs. As global innovation diversifies, Japan’s ability to translate this trend into commercial opportunities will be key to attracting sustained international attention.
—Toshio Fujimoto

Two-way communication between Japan and the United States is important
Establishing systems that allow Japanese researchers and companies to collaborate quickly with U.S. counterparts will promote diverse partnerships. At the same time, reciprocity is essential—creating opportunities for U.S. researchers to spend time in Japan will deepen cooperation and lower barriers to investment.
—Maggie O’Toole