Nikkei BP to Co-organize BioJapan 2004

Tokyo -- January 20, 2003 -- Nikkei Business Publications has announced that it will hold BioJapan 2004 for the first time as a co-organizer. BioJapan has been held every four years since 1988 as the single largest biotechnology-focused event in Japan. Slated to be held from September 28 to 30, 2004 in Tokyo, BioJapan 2004 aims to offer business opportunities to bio-related companies around the globe by providing a platform where they can gather en masse to interact, seek new syndication partners and cultivate new markets.

BioJapan 2004 will embody symposiums, an exhibition, business partnering seminars and public-oriented programs. The symposium at BioJapan 2004 will widely cover the technological state of bio-related fields, and discuss future prospects of biotechnology, bioscience and bioindustry. It will focus how to materialize biotechnology into business, and provide hints to form business models in such fields. Interactive panel discussions and open discussions will be organized in order to arouse partaking from as many participants as possible. To be selected for discussion is a wide array of topics including regenerative medicine, genomic drug discovery, and nano-bio fusion. The exhibition will have exhibits gathered from all kinds of fields that are related to biotechnology including heath, environment, finance, technology, education and management. Exhibiting companies and entities will be recruited from all over the world.

Business partnering seminars at BioJapan 2004 will provide participants with optimum opportunities to find business partners for new alliance and cooperation. Venture businesses, venture capitals and bio-related companies from Japan, the U.S., Europe and Asia will convene to hold meetings in a bid to promote syndication among organizations in joint researches, production, technology and marketing. In contrast, public-oriented programs will tout visitors from the public with the aim of enlightening biotechnology through hands-on seminars and exhibitions to boost the public recognition to the bio-industry. The program will be designed to emphasize the importance and the reality of research and development of life sciences.

BioJapan 2004 aims to become a springboard for Japan to position itself as a growing point of the world's bio-industry in the 21st century. BioJapan 2004 is sure to open up numerous business chances and provide insights into the present and the future of the biotech market not only in Japan but also around the world. Brochures in English are available. Please contact nakamura@nikkeibp.co.jp to obtain a copy.

[Outline of BioJapan 2004]
- Event Name: BioJapan 2004
- Dates: September 28-30, 2004
- Location: New Takanawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo
- Organizers: Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA), Society for Techno-Innovation of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (STAFF), Japan Health Science Foundation (JHSF), Japan Biological Informatics Consortium (JBIC), Japan Association of Bioindustries Executives (JABEX)
- Co-organizer: Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
- Supported by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, other relevant ministries and agencies of the Japanese government, Japan External Trade Organization (planned)
- Cooperation: Various foreign embassies in Japan, and other relevant bodies (planned)
- For further information or inquiries concerning BioJapan 2004,
please contact:

Mr. Naoya Nakamura
BioJapan 2004 Managing Office
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
Shiozaki Building 6th Floor
2-7-1 Hirakawacho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093, Japan
Fax: +813-5210-7014
E-mail: nakamura@nikkeibp.co.jp

For further details, please contact:
International Office
phone: +813-5210-8502
fax: +813-5210-8119
http://www.nikkeibp.com
e-mail: info@nikkeibp.com