| An outstanding transportation infrastructure ensures easy access to Kobe Airport (5 minutes), downtown Kobe (12 minutes), and Kansai International Airport (29 minutes via the Kobe/Kansai International Airport Bay Shuttle).
The Project’s shovel-ready industrial sites for companies involved in medical fields are only the most visible part of the ideal business environment found here. Port Island, a government-designated Special Advanced Medical Industry Zone, is working to deregulate the medical industry.
Medical research institutions and universities have gathered at the Project’s cluster. Available support services include joint research and development, business matching, and human resource development.
About 200 companies involved in fields such as pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, medical equipment, biomedicine, and health have established a presence at Port Island, signaling the formation of a community that transcends individual companies’ boundaries.
National and local government is supporting the development of the medical industry in a variety of ways, including public funding of research, tax cuts, and subsidies. A well-developed support network provides other services such as commercialization assistance, consulting on pharmaceutical issues, patent assistance, and financing (investment and borrowing) consultation. |
| Port Island is unique in all of Japan in the number and scope of its research and development organizations. Institutions like the RIKEN Kobe Institute, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, and Translational Research Informatics Center are involved in every aspect of their respective fields―from basic science to clinical applications―in an effort to make collaboration between talented researchers and doctors a reality.
Pharmaceutical development and regenerative medicine ventures are joining other up-and-coming companies in the pursuit of medical industry innovation. A number of pharmaceutical development support companies are able to meet outsourcing needs in an extremely responsive manner with services including biomarker discovery, product formulation development, and clinical trial support.
Facilities are available for rental to accommodate a variety of biomedical testing needs such as RI and animal experimentation, and the Project’s GMP-revel Cell Processing Center aids in the commercialization of regenerative medicine. |
| A number of research laboratories operated by medical and biomedical companies are concentrated nearby, broadening the potential for developing new types of medical equipment such as devices that combine regenerative medicine and pharmaceuticals.
Pharmaceutical Affairs Law experts at the Medical Equipment Support Plaza provide free consulting services addressing the entire product development timeline, from planning to application for regulatory approval.
Kobe Medical Device Development Center (MEDDEC) offers services including discounts of up to 20% on the use of animal experimentation facilities, priority reservations up to six months in advance, and consulting on medical equipment development.
One after another, companies that play an essential role in the development and commercialization of medical equipment―for example third-party certification authorities for medical equipment and medical equipment contract research organizations (planned)―are joining the cluster.
Many local small and medium-size companies are entering the medical equipment field, broadening the opportunities for prototype creation, part supply, and join research and development. |
