1/83 MITI FORMS BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY BODY - Industrial Policy - Targeted Industry

MITI has decided to establish an industry body from early 1983 to stimulate the development of biotechnology in Japan. It will be called the "Biotechnology Promotion Business Group." Already it is expected that more than 100 companies will join the body. Leading academics will also be invited to participate. The Ministry, in relation to this will be establishing a databank on essential biotechnology information such as DNA patterns and the molecular structures of protein. MITI's objectives are (1) eliminating dependence on technology imports from Western nations and the duplication of efforts by Japanese firms, (2) the promotion of information exchanges and the improvement of the efficiency of research and various projects, and (3) the promotion of the positive cooperation of the government for every kind of request, proposal or policy. MITI reports that around 157 Japanese firms are involved in biotechnology, spending from several hundred million yen to several billion yen in such areas as gene recombination, cell fusion, and continuous cultivation of enzymes for an industry with an expected market of 4.2 to 6.8 trillion yen by the year 2000.

THE JAPAN LAWLETTER. January 1983. By Roderick Seeman