Introduction of Global Biocommunities: Biocommunity Kansai “BiocK”

BiocK will form a virtual under-one-roof biotechnology community with the goal of "Creating an ultimate ecosystem for the bio-fields in Kansai”.

Currently, 36 organizations including economic organizations, local governments, academia, research institutions, bio-related organizations, and investment institutions are participating as committee members.
BiocK has established subcommittees to ensure that the most important activity, the promotion of innovation, is carried out in order to realize a bioeconomy society and form a bio-community that would be recognized worldwide by creating the ultimate ecosystem through activities aimed at solving social issues.

The subcommittees promote open innovation to solve social issues and take up the challenge of addressing themes that cannot be solved by a single company or single research institute. There are two types of subcommittees: those led by companies that promote open innovation with the commitment of corporate management, and those that are linked to national industry-government-academia projects. 24 subcommittees have been formed as of April 2023, with more to come.

BiocK’s executives believe that promoting the formation of networks is also important for the creation of a bioecosystem in the country, and they have therefore initiated partnerships with global and regional bio-communities throughout Japan.

In addition, many organizations have endorsed BiocK’s activities and joined as partners on the project. Not only Japanese organizations, but also foreign embassies, consulates general, bioclusters, etc. are participating, in total 31 organizations from 19 countries are registered as overseas partnering organizations(*). 

The European partner organizations planned and held a bio-related seminar in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Netherlands. Through the partner institutions, Biock is also promoting projects such as co-hosting international events with European companies, forming a global ecosystem and strengthening bio-industry partnerships.
 

(*) EU organizations supporting BiocK: Netherlands consulate-general in Osaka; IDA Ireland; Embassy of Sweden; Royal Danish Embassy in Japan; Embassy of Finland in Japan; Scottish Development International; Flanders Investment & Trade; Consulate-General of Germany in Osaka-Kobe; Consulate-General of France in Kyoto; Bioindustry Park Silvano Fumero - bioPmed Piemonte Innovation Cluster; Life Science Nord Management GmbH; Lyonbiopole.
 

Published: June 2023