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Life Sciences

Life Sciences Market Overview 2021

According to the latest MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) figures, Japan’s medical expenditure in FY2021 totalled JPY 44.2 trillion, an increase of approximately JPY 2.0 trillion compared to the previous year. (GBP 260,300 million)  

As of 1 October 2021, the total population was 125.5 million.  According to the white paper on the aging society, issued by the cabinet office, those aged 65 and over accounted for 28.9% (36.21 million) of the total population. While population in total is declining, the number of people aged 65 and over is increasing, and the ageing rate will continue to rise, reaching 33.3% in 2036, when one in three of the population will be aged 65 or over.  

Japan is one of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world and home to a strong domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.  Most of the Japanese leading pharmaceutical companies such as Takeda, Astellas, Daiichi Sankyo and Otsuka have a global presence and a strong appetite for international collaboration.  The key areas of opportunity in the bio pharma market include drug discovery technologies, therapeutic pipelines and advanced therapies such as gene and cell therapies.  

Digital health is another key area of opportunity. The focus is being put on the digitisation of the economy. With the increasing healthcare needs of an aging society, there is pressure to accelerate improvement in areas such as electronic patient records, technology-assisted diagnostics and telemedicine.  

Japan’s medical device market remains one of the world’s largest, with a strong domestic sector, particularly in diagnostic devices. Japan has the highest MRI and CT scanners per capita by a significant However, the country is still a major importer of devices, particularly therapeutic devices, with imports accounting for approximately 49% of the total MedTech market.  

https://youtu.be/_wZrTXGY5tE
Event
Event
CPhI Japan / Pharma IT & Digital Health Expo
Each year CPhI brings more than 100,000 pharmaceutical professionals through exhibitions, conferences and online communities to network, identify business opportunities and expand the global market. Hosting events in ...
Event
Event
Medical Japan 2023 Tokyo
MEDICAL JAPAN is a specialised BtoB trade shows for medical, elderly care and pharmacy industry. The event consists of 6 shows; HOSPITAL Expo; CLINCS EXPO; PHARMACY SOLUTIONS EXPO; Elderly Care …
Event
Event
Bio Japan
Asia’s largest partnering event and consists of exhibition, seminar, and partnering program.  The event is constituted of three exhibitions – 1. BioJapan,  2. Regenerative Medicine JAPAN, aiming to accelerate an...
Event
Event
JACLaS Expo (Japanese Association of Clinical Laboratory Systems)
Japanese Association of Clinical Laboratory System (JACLaS)’s annual EXPO conference and exhibition. The event highlights new products and current trends in clinical laboratory devices, reagents, and systems.
Event
Event
HCR (International Homecare & Rehabilitation Exhibition)
In-person – 27-28 Sep 2023 @Tokyo Big Sight 50th International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition – H.C.R. 2023 is the largest international exhibition in Asia, bringing a wide range of …
Event
Event
Independent Ageing 2023
Expo and ConventionInnovative Solutions & Technologies for the Ageing Population As life expectancy is increasing the world population is ageing. Many ageing people wish to continue with their independent lifestyl...
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Event
ON Helix 
This one-day conference will address key bio innovation trends, from developments in life science and technology research to their translation into new diagnostics, prevention tools or treatments. Delegates and Suppor...
Video
Video
3rd Reverse Pitch Webinar: Collaboration Opportunities with Japanese Pharma Companies
Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Japan were delighted to host the 3rd webinar inviting speakers from pre-clinical stage R&D / Business Development of Japan’s leading pharmaceutical companies: Astellas Pharm...
News
News
Prime Minister acknowledges UK success in Japan
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in Tokyo this May, in advance of his visit to Hiroshima for the G7 Leader’s Summit. He addressed an exclusive business reception hosted by the …
Event
Event
Open Innovation – Open Network Lab
Open Network Lab Open Innovation is now accepting the 1st Batch of applications. Deadline: 2023/3/31, Noon (JST) | Program period: Early June to Late November, 2023 VISION: Designing our New …
Event
Event
Online reverse pitch event – Collaboration opportunities with Japanese companies
JETRO is holding an ‘online reverse pitch event’ to promote collaboration between European start-ups andJapanese companies. Nine leading Japanese companies will do reverse pitching: Astellas Europe | Shionog...
Video
Video
Webinar – Free Consultant Service by MEDISO
News
News
NEC Innovation Challenge
The Japanese IT and electronics giant, NEC, are launching an Open Innovation competition called ‘Agorize’. The deadline for applications for international SMEs is 4th December 2022. NEC are accepting applications &hel...
Event
Event
CPhI Japan
Each year CPhI brings more than 100,000 pharmaceutical professionals through exhibitions, conferences and online communities to network, identify business opportunities and expand the global market. Hosting events in ...
Event
Event
Advanced Therapy Showcase in Tokyo #3(ATST#3)
The Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J) launched the series of international partnering event “Advanced Therapy Showcase in Tokyo” (ATST) in 2021, and the event will be held in February …
Event
Event
Medical Japan 2022 Tokyo
MEDICAL JAPAN is a specialised BtoB trade shows for medical, elderly care and pharmacy industry. The event consists of 5 shows; HOSPITAL Expo; CLINCS EXPO; PHARMACY SOLUTIONS EXPO; Elderly Care …
Event
Event
Bio Japan 
Asia’s largest partnering event and consists of exhibition, seminar, and partnering program.  The event is constituted of three exhibitions – 1. BioJapan,  2. Regenerative Medicine JAPAN, aiming to acc...
Event
Event
JACLaS Expo(Japanese Association of Clinical Laboratory Systems)
Japanese Association of Clinical Laboratory System (JACLaS)’s annual EXPO conference and exhibition. The event highlights new products and current trends in clinical laboratory devices, reagents, and systems.
Event
Event
HCR (International Homecare & Rehabilitation Exhibition)
49th International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition – H.C.R. 2022 is the largest international exhibition in Asia, bringing a wide range of homecare and rehabilitation equipment from all over the …
Event
Event
OPEN INNOVATION | Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation
Application period: 5:00AM , Jan. 5, 2023 GMT to 8:00AM , Feb. 28, 2028 GMT ASAHI KASEI PHARMA OPEN INNOVATION is an open innovation platform started in 2018 to recruit …
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Event
UK – JAPAN Digital Health Virtual Trade Mission
The UK’s Government Department for International Trade, is excited to announce that we are partnering with Tech Nation and AstraZeneca Japan’s i2.JP to deliver a virtual trade mission to Japan …
Video
Video
Japanese Pharmaceutical Reverse Pitch Session 2022
DIT Japan hosted a webinar to facilitate collaboration between UK life sciences companies and universities and Japanese research based pharmaceutical companies. Speakers for this webinar are representatives from Astel...
Video
Video
Collaboration Opportunities with Ono Pharmaceutical in Non-clinical Stage or Late Stage of Drug Discovery Programs
Ono Pharmaceutical (Ono) is a medium-sized, R&D-oriented Japanese pharmaceutical company which first developed and launched Opdivo, a first in class PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. Ono focuses its research on th...
Podcast
Podcast
Overcoming Japan’s ‘Galapagos Syndrome’ with Dr. Lei Liu, AstraZeneca Japan
Japanese business is often compared to the ecosystem on the Galapagos Islands: unique due to its isolation. Can changes in regulation provide a shot in the arm for Japan’s economy?
Event
Event
OPEN INNOVATION | Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation
Application period: 5:00AM , Jan. 6, 2022 GMT to 8:00AM , Feb. 28, 2022 GMT ASAHI KASEI PHARMA OPEN INNOVATION is an open innovation platform started in 2018 to recruit …
Event
Event
Dementia Innovation Challenge – partnering opportunities with Eizai Co Ltd and Digital Garage
Eizai Co Ltd and Digital Garage will run “Open Network Lab BioHealth Dementia Innovation Challenge” for businesses that open up various opportunities to solve issues related to dementia in 2022. …
Event
Event
Advanced Therapy Webinar and Partnering Opportunity in Japan
LINK-J is organising an on-line event featuring live presentations and pre-arranged 1-1 partnering meetings in the Advanced Therapy area on 28 January 2022 (Japan time – 9 hours ahead of …
Video
Video
Partnership opportunity with leading Japanese pharmaceutical companies
DIT Japan hosted a webinar to facilitate collaboration between UK life sciences companies and universities and Japanese pharmaceutical companies on 18 November 2021. Speakers for this webinar are representatives from ...
Video
Video
RECORDED WEBINAR: UK-Japan Digital Health Regulatory Framework Webinar 2021
Digital health development is taking place in an increasing pace and it can be an answer to many of the challenges in global healthcare. Regulatory framework also needs to evolve …
Event
Event
Webinar: UK-Japan Digital Health Regulatory Framework and Support for Innovation
Digital health development is taking place in an increasing pace and it can be an answer to many of the challenges in global healthcare. Regulatory framework also needs to evolve …
Event
Event
Daiichi Sankyo Introduction Seminar
Join Dr Kunihiko Fujii, introduced by Professor Neil Carragher, to find out more about collaborating with Daiichi Sankyo, the global pharmaceutical company originating from Japan. This webinar is a great …
Event
Event
UK Japan Digital Health Virtual Mission 2021
Japan is the world’s 3rd largest economy by GDP and is well known as an innovation powerhouse. The Japanese government is keen to accelerate digitisation and the healthcare sector is …
News
News
Takeda: COCKPI-T Funding 2021
Since 2015, Takeda Pharmaceutical has led an open grant competition program called COCKPI-T, where the company invites innovative research proposals corresponding to Takeda’s Areas of Interest. Up to GBP 85,000 ...
Podcast
Podcast
The Healthcare Market in Japan with Harry Kang and Christina Scaduto
Harry and Christina are with EY-Parthenon’s strategy consulting practice, with a focus on life sciences and healthcare. Harry specializes in the life sciences industry in Japan & Christina specializes in &he...
News
News
Recorded Webinar: Exporting Health Tech & Life Sciences to Japan
This webinar is suitable for both new and existing exporters to Japan and will cover steps to start or further expand presence in the Japanese market. The focus of the …
News
News
Japan Life Sciences Market Overview 2021
The Department for Business & Trade (DBT) produced a document (back when it was DIT) which gives an overview of the Japanese Life Sciences market. The document is available here.
News
News
Landscape of the Japanese Regulations on Regenerative Medicines
Dr Yuki Sato, Head, Division of Cell-Based Therapeutic Products from National Institute of Health Sciences gave a presentation on the latest landscape of the Japanese regulations on regenerative medicines.  The &...
From the Archive
From the Archive
(Webinar) APAC Market Briefing for Healthcare and Life Sciences Sector
The Northern Powerhouse will run an International Market Programme focusing on doing business in APAC Market (Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) and welcome participation across all UK regions.  International Market …
From the Archive
From the Archive
Asahi Kasei Pharma Open Innovation
Asahi Kasei Pharma, a research-based Japanese pharmaceutical company, is calling for candidates for research collaborations related to drug discovery with universities, research institutes, and enterprises around the ...
From the Archive
From the Archive
Recorded Webinar: Collaboration Opportunities with Daiichi Sankyo in Early Stage Research and Technology
Daiichi Sankyo Daiichi Sankyo, the global pharmaceutical company with corporate origins in Japan is seeking research collaborations with UK entities in a number of key areas. The Department for International …
From the Archive
From the Archive
Recorded Webinar: Understanding the Medical Devices Market in Japan
To understand more about the developments in the medical devices market and the device categories most in demand, watch this webinar recording featuring Mr. Taiki Ishikura - Director & Chief Business Officer of Japan ...
From the Archive
From the Archive
Recorded Webinar: Opportunities In The Advanced Therapy Market In Japan
Watch this webinar to learn about the regulatory frameworks and opportunities in the Advanced Therapy market in Japan, including cell therapy, gene therapy, tissue engineering and related products. The size …
From the Archive
From the Archive
Business Trends In Japan From The C-Suite
Mark Dearlove, CEO of Barclays, Philippe Fauchet OBE, President of GlaxoSmithKline KK, and Magnus Hansson, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover Japan, participated in a panel discussion organised by the BCCJ …
From the Archive
From the Archive
UK Companies Impressive at BioJapan 2016
Life Sciences is a Priority Sector for Both Japan and the UK The Life Sciences team at DIT Japan organised a UK pavilion over three days at the BioJapan exhibition …
From the Archive
From the Archive
Opportunities in Analytical and Bioscience Market in Japan
Watch our free webinar and learn about opportunities in the analytical and bioscience market in Japan.   Background to the Webinar Progress in analytical measurement technologies has seen rapid development …
From the Archive
From the Archive
Build and Scale Business in Japan, Learn From Abcam
Watch our webinar to learn what steps may work for you regarding market entry and business development in Japan. Enter the Japanese Market and Build and Scale Your Business in …
From the Archive
From the Archive
Opportunities in Japan Pharma & Medical Device Market Entry
Watch our free webinar to learn about some of the regulatory challenges and market entry options as you consider your strategy for the Japan market. Different Market Entry Options Available …
From the Archive
From the Archive
UK Firms Ready to Share Medical Innovations with Japan
Japan’s silver market to provide numerous opportunities for UK firms to do business in Japan Japan’s reputation as one of the most rapidly ageing societies in the world precedes it, …
From the Archive
From the Archive
Japanese Legislation for Accelerating Drug Development
Watch our free webinar to learn about the new legislations introduced by Japan’s Health Ministry, which aim to support fast-track opportunities for orphan and innovative drugs for UK companies in …
From the Archive
From the Archive
DefiniGEN: Leading the Way in Drug Discovery
“We have used several of the services provided by UKTI Japan from the very start of our market entry strategy in Japan. They come highly recommended.” Dr. Masashi Matsunaga – DefiniGEN, …
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