Representatives of the biotech cluster organizations of Munich and the Japanese city of Kawasaki have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote economic exchange.
The cooperation program includes an exchange of information on new technologies, industrial developments, and the academic potential of each region, as well as an exchange of best practices in technology transfer and support for biotech companies. The memorandum is intended to facilitate partnerships between businesses and universities in the two regions. The Mayor of Kawasaki City, Norihiko Fukuda, says:
“In February, the delegation from Kawasaki City visited the Munich-based cluster organization BioM, an excellent example of a world-leading biotech cluster management organization.”
The goal of the spring visit was to gain a deeper understanding of BioM's management structure, activities, and functions. Fukuda continued:
"Since then, both parties have continuously deepened their exchange, which has now led to the conclusion of this agreement. In collaboration with BioM, which has a 20-year history of cluster management, we would like to further advance our joint efforts to support collaboration between stakeholders from both regions—with the goal of creating international innovations."
BioM Managing Director Prof. Dr. Horst Domdey says:
"Following our meetings in July with the Mayor of Kawasaki City, Keio University, the Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, and innovative companies such as RIKEN Genesis and Sysmex, we are convinced that the Kawasaki region has great potential for our planned collaboration with Japanese academia and industry in the healthcare sector. Therefore, we will do everything in our power to initiate collaborations between our local biotechnology industry and suitable partners in Kawasaki City."
“Innovative startups are concentrated in the region”
The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs established contact between the two clusters with a meeting in February of this year. The Ministry welcomes the cooperation agreement and Dr. Manfred Wolter, Head of Innovation, Research and Technology, says:
"Japan and Bavaria boast excellent research and highly innovative technology companies, particularly in the future fields of digitalization, Industry 4.0, smart cities, mobility, and life sciences, including medical technology. I am convinced that the cooperation between BioM and Kawasaki City will further intensify relations between Bavaria and Japan and strengthen the innovative power of both economies."
Tetsuya Kimura, Consul General of Japan, said at the signing of the memorandum in Munich:
"Both Kawasaki and the Munich region are leading biotech hubs in their respective countries. In Kawasaki, "King Skyfront" has established itself as an international hub for life sciences by leveraging the industrial development of the Keihin Industrial Zone. Excellent academic institutions such as the Max Planck Institutes, LMU, and TUM are located in the greater Munich area, and innovative startups are concentrated in the region. I hope this agreement provides a wonderful opportunity for further close cooperation in biotechnology between Japan and Bavaria, as well as Germany."
