Nakanoshima Qross and Biolabs Establish Partnership to Strengthen Japan–Global Life Science Collaboration

【Summary】

Nakanoshima Qross and BioLabs, one of the world's largest life science organizations, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen international collaboration in the life sciences sector. This will further strengthen the links between the Japanese and overseas life science and innovation ecosystems.

Nakanoshima Qross, operated by the Organization of Future Medicine, and BioLabs, based in Cambridge in the USA, will cooperate in education, research and support for startups in the field of biotechnology. BioLabs has offices in key bioclusters around the world and has thus far supported the growth of more than 1,200 life sciences companies.

The pillar of this collaboration will be the "BLA-TAP (BioLabs Academy Therapeutic Accelerator Program)," a drug discovery education program led by the BioLabs Academy. In addition to jointly planning program sessions, sharing expertise and supporting its operation, both entities will work to strengthen cooperation with related organizations in Japan. Going forward, the two entities will consider expanding the scope of collaboration, such as supporting the overseas expansion of startups and developing international joint programs.

About Nakanoshima Qross

Located in the heart of Osaka, Nakanoshima Qross is a unique hub for the industrialization of future medicine that brings together medical institutions, companies, startups, support organizations, and other entities all under one roof. The Organization of Future Medicine, a general incorporated foundation established in 2019 by 21 private companies and other entities as well as the Osaka Prefectural Government, plays a central role in the formation of the hub.

Nakanoshima Qross has three functions: human resource development focusing on entrepreneurship, incubation to help startups grow internationally, and open innovation where companies, including those overseas, cooperate with each other, and is working on the creation of an ecosystem in which industry and medicine collaborate and cooperate with each other.

Through these activities, Nakanoshima Qross aims to drive forward the industrialization of cutting-edge future medicine that rapidly incorporates advances made henceforth in medical technology such as genomic medicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and the use of IoT, with a base of regenerative medicine, and to promote international contribution through the provision of future medicine to patients both in Japan and overseas.

The Organization of Future Medicine (OFM), operator of the international healthcare innovation hub Nakanoshima Qross (NQ) in Osaka, Japan, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Biolabs, a Cambridge, MA, the USA headquartered international, membership based network of shared lab and office facilities located in key biotech innovation clusters, to strengthen international collaboration in the life sciences sector. Biolabs is a membership-based network of shared lab and office facilities located in key biotech innovation clusters across several sites in USA, Europe, Canada and Japan. Since its launch in 2010, BioLabs and its affiliates have supported over 1200 life science companies, by providing innovators with access to transformative resources including state-of-the-art laboratory spaces and office working space, concierge services and connecting them to a network of leading pharma and life science companies, investors and venture capitalists.

The MoU was signed during a ceremony held at Nakanoshima Qross in Osaka. The partnership aims to advance biotech innovation and drug discovery education in Japan by promoting cooperation between the two entities in support of BioLabs Academy Therapeutic Accelerator (BLA-TAP), a program hosted and led by BioLabs Academy GK. Under this partnership, the two organizations will jointly plan program sessions, including BLA-TAP, share networks and expertise, coordinate venues and operational logistics, and facilitate collaboration with relevant stakeholders in Japan’s life science ecosystem. Going forward, based on mutual interest and agreement, the Parties will explore opportunities for knowledge and network exchange, codevelopment of programs, engagement with domestic and international ecosystems, and soft-landing support.

Professor Yoshiki Sawa, Chairman of the Organization of Future Medicine, commented:

“This partnership will leverage the complementary strengths of two world-leading life science ecosystems and accelerate the commercialization and social implementation of outstanding scientific discoveries. Our organization has been a pioneer in promoting innovation in regenerative medicine and supporting acceleration of domestic startups. By working together with BioLabs through BioLabs Academy, we look forward to sharing knowledge and expertise to acceleration the drug discovery process of our innovators.”

Dr. Johannes Fruehauf, Founder and President of Biolabs commented:

“We are announcing this new partnership at an exciting time, as we grow our BioLabs presence in Japan with the recent opening of BioLabs Tokyo. We look forward to expanding our activities in the Kansai area in collaboration with the Organization of Future Medicine / Nakanoshima Qross, in addition to Kyoto University and other KSAC affiliates. BioLabs Academy was created as part of our mission to accelerate the growth of biotech entrepreneurship in Japan. We will achieve that through education, access to connections and funding networks and we are excited for the opportunity to play a role in this bright future."

Through this partnership, Nakanoshima Qross and BioLabs will promote early-stage biotechs and pharmaceutical innovators in Japan through the BLA-TAP, further strengthening the life science innovation ecosystems not only in Japan but also in the broad network of the BioLabs in Europe, the United States and Canada.

More information: https://www.nakanoshima-qross.jp/en/

Conclusion

Osaka’s Nakanoshima is evolving into a new hub linking global research networks and investment resources. Innovation in field of life sciences accelerated through international collaboration will create attractive business opportunities for overseas companies and investors. Developments indicating the kind of role that Osaka will play on the forefront of R&D and commercialization in Asia going forward are being closely followed.