Nikkei BP Participates in Holding Japan-US Bio Exchange Meeting

Tokyo -- July 16, 2003 -- Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. supported an event organized by Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA) called "Japan-US Bio Exchange Meeting: Perspectives on Bioindustry in the U.S.A. and Japan," on June 23, 2003 at Hilton Washington & Towers at Washington D.C. Japan-US Bio exchange meeting, timed at the holding of BIO 2003 (an event organized by Washington-based Biotechnology Industry Organization), gathered Japanese biotechnology leaders residing in the U.S. and Japan. The aim of holding the event was to deepen the reciprocal understanding of the biotechnology environment of the two countries and establish a beneficial network for the future. The meeting was held in a buffet dinner party-style, where the participants listened to the speeches while enjoying dinner.

JBA lnternational Exchanges Chairman Toshio Komuro first made the opening remarks, followed by a speech delivered by Nikkei BP Emerging Technology Information Center Senior Manager Mitsuru Miyata. Miyata stressed the point that although the research environment in Japan has become comparable to the U.S. in terms of equipment and facilities, the capacity of Japanese universities and organizations in providing vigorous environment for fostering creative research still remain in question. Yokohama City Mayor Hiroshi Nakata then made an enthusiastic speech entitled "Yokohama City's approach for the bioindustry." Mayor Nakata, an active advocate for transforming Yokohama City into a bio-city, showed eagerness in recruiting young talents to his city. Dr. Yoshimi Endo, who is Visiting Researcher at National Cancer Institute spoke about the status of the Japanese researchers at National Institutes of Health (NIH). Finally, Dr. Hiroshi Yagi at IMCA America shared his view on how job-change awareness among bio leaders differs between Japan and the U.S.

Japan-US Bio Exchange Meeting ended in an immense success where a heated discussion was unfolded among the participants. The event venue was packed with a total of 115 attendees exceeding the seating capacity, thanks to the network of Japanese Bioinformatics Interest Group (J-BIG), a group of Japanese researchers. Participation included biotechnology researchers from Japan and Japanese researchers from Institutes of Health (NIH)-related institutions.

H[Outline of Japan-US Bio Exchange Meeting: Perspectives
H on Bioindustry in the U.S.A. and Japan]
HEvent name: Perspectives on Bioindustry in the U.S.A. and Japan
HDate: Monday, June 23
HVenue: Hilton Washington & Towers, Washington D.C.
HAttendance fee: Free of charge
HOrganizer: Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA)
HSupported by: Nikkei BP Emerging Technology Information Center
HSponsored by: Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., IMCA America, Inc., Osaka HPrefectural Government, JTB Corp., PSS Bio Instruments, Inc., Bio-HInfo-Design, Inc., Marubeni Corporation, Yodosha Co., Ltd., City of HYokohama

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