National Biotechnology Research Park (NBRP) signed 2 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on July 24, 2019 with Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark) and AstraZeneca to promote a next-generation biomedical research ecosystem, as well as to accelerate the development of Taiwan’s biomedical industry in NBRP.
Shonan iPark is the first open-innovative ecosystem led by a pharmaceutical company in Japan to cultivate biopharmaceutical, innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship partnering with business ventures, hospitals, academia, and government, while AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business and with innovative medicines used by millions of patients worldwide.
Enhancing collaboration with Shonan iPark
The former Chair of the Joint Committee of National Biotechnology Research Park (NBRP) and Vice President of Academia Sinca, Dr. Fu-Tong Liu, proclaims that the MoU between NBRP, the first next-generation research biomedical park in Taiwan, and Shonan iPark will enhance organizational operations and activities, such as exchange of information of park operations, events to promote joint researches and funding, utilization of both parks’ mutual services and contents, thus contribute to the success of tenants and achievement of the mission and vision of both Parks.
The niche of NBRP includes precision and translational medicine research, Taiwan Biobank, therapeutic antibody development platforms, comprehensive phenotyping as well as drug safety and efficacy evaluation facility using mice and rat models. Built with know-how and expertise of a global pharmaceutical company, Takeda, Shonan iPark has cutting-edge R&D technologies and facilities, as well as rich management and entrepreneurial experience in translating discovery to new drug approval, esp. in small-molecule drug.
Dr. Liu expects that with the alignment of both Parks’ strength and niche technologies, it will definitely raise the R&D momentum and shorten the commercialization timeline of the tenants, therefore increase the return on investment of both Parks.
Dr. Toshio Fujimoto, the General Manager of Shonan iPark, is grateful to sign the MoU with NBRP and be invited to give a presentation in the Bio Asia-Taiwan Conference. Shonan iPark has facilitated the alliance of industry, government, and academic organizations relating to healthcare, and venture capital segment, thus become a vibrant ecosystem that drives entrepreneurship and partnership. 47 Local and oversea companies and organizations with diverse technologies in drug discovery, pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, healthcare, as well as medical AI/robotics have arrived and in operation in Shonan iPark.
Dr. Fujimoto anticipates that with all-round collaborations with NBRP, it will enhance the resources, opportunities, success rate of the innovative R&D in life-science and medicine to commercialization and technology transfer, as well as the investment in both Parks, with the ultimate goal of providing more and better solutions to patients and human health in the world.
NBRP-AstraZeneca accelerator program
NBRP and AstraZeneca will combine their respective biomedical and start-up expertise to provide mentorship to the participants of the joint biomedical acceleration program. Given AstraZeneca’s proven strengths in the research, development and commercialization of medicines for cancer, respiratory disease and cardio-vascular-renal-metabolic disease, the company is uniquely placed to support Taiwanese innovative teams that seek to develop and/or commercialize new medicines, medical devices or digital solutions that can help patients around the world with diseases such as cancer, diabetes and asthma.
Dr. Han-Chung Wu, the acting-CEO of BioHub Taiwan in NBRP, said that a training program will be delivered by experienced teachers in Taiwan, and each team will be assigned a highly qualified AstraZeneca mentor based on its interests in e.g. science, R&D or commercialization, who will guide the team over the duration of the accelerator program.
“AstraZeneca is proud to partner with the National Biotechnology Research Park to support Taiwanese healthcare start-up companies and R&D teams. Taiwan has exceptional expertise in both basic research and applied biomedical innovation, and we strongly believe that there is great potential to develop healthcare solutions in Taiwan that make a difference to patients around the world”, said Dr. Justin Chin, Company President Taiwan, AstraZeneca.
Overall, The Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is conducted under the witness of representative officials and executives from Executive Yuan, Academia Sinica, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Industrial Development Bureau, NBRP, iPark, AstraZeneca, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company (Takeda) in Japan, Asia Pacific, and Taiwan, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Promotion Office, Development Center for Biotechnology, Biomedical Commercialization Center, and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, together with the Organizer and the guests of 2019 Bio Asia-Taiwan Conference.
Accelerator Program Registration Link: https://forms.gle/qynMtYbUz1WZRtTg8
Overview of National Biotechnology Research Park (NBRP)
NBRP located near the world-class research campus of Academia Sinica and the Nangang Biotech Plaza in Taipei city is a research-oriented biopark for clustering and promoting Taiwan biotech industry.
With the five missions in Translation, Innovation, Incubation, Global Connect, and Sustainability, NBRP is the first “innovative research biocluster” supported by the government that provides state-of-the art platform technologies for research-driven discovery and drug development, as well as fosters biotech entrepreneurship.
NBRP is opened in October 2018, with the Development Center for Biotechnology of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Drug Administration and Taiwan Food of the Ministry of Health and Welfare arrived and in operation.
Adding with the full operation of the Translational Medicine Center and Core Thematic Center of Academia Sinica, and the National Animal Laboratory Center of Ministry of Science and Technology coming in this year, NBRP will facilitate growth and employment rate of innovative biotech companies in Taiwan and expansion of the collaborations with international Pharma.
For more information, please visit https://nbrp.sinica.edu.tw/
Overview of Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)
Shonan iPark was conceived as an ecosystem to cultivate bio pharmaceutical, innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship in Japan. Takeda opened the Shonan research site and renamed it Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark) in April 2018. Shonan iPark is seeking partners, such as business ventures, hospitals, academia and government. Shonan iPark aims to accommodate at least 200 companies with diverse technologies by year 2022. Shonan iPark conducts activities based on the following 4 pillars:
- Become a next-generation global research ecosystem
- Become a place to co-create with various stakeholders across industry, academia, government and entrepreneurs
- Bridge innovative ideas and technology with business
- Contribute to the industry’s employment rate and development of the local area
For more information, please visit https://www.shonan-health-innovation-park.com/en/
Overview of AstraZeneca (AZ)
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.astrazeneca.com/country-sites/taiwan.html