Current trends in Germany’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector
Opportunities for Japanese and German companies for collaboration and expansion
In this seminar, LINK-J and Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), which supports business expansion in Germany, will collaborate to present the up to date trends in Germany's pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. Representatives from BioM, a network organization based in Munich, Bavaria; the Japanese subsidiary of major German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim; an independent knowledge and technology transfer company Ascenion based in Germany; as well as life sciences officials from various German federal states will be speaking or participating.
We hope this opportunity will help foster collaboration and business expansion for companies in both Japan and Germany.
There will also be networking opportunities, so we look forward to your participation at the in-person venue.
*Language: English
*English captions are available (you can choose to turn them on or off).
*Please note that LINK-J and GTAI are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the captions.
How to use captions: Managing and viewing closed captioning
Date: 4:00pm - 6:30pm (3:45 Door opens, 5:30~Networking), Thu, May 22nd, 2025
In-person：Nihonbashi Life Science Building 2nd Floor Room 201
Virtual：Zoom Webinar
(Opens an external site)
Registration due date
On-site participation: Until 11:55pm, Wednesday, May 21st, 2025
Online participation: Until 5:30pm, Thursday, May 22nd, 2025
Program
| 時間 | 内容 |
| 3:45pm | Door Opens |
| 4:00-4:05 | Welcome and Introductions Dr. Shunichi Takahashi (President & COO, LINK-J / Visiting Professor, University of Tsukuba) |
| 4:05-4:10 | Welcoming Address Mr. Christian Glenz (Deputy Head Economic Section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Japan) |
| 4:10-4:15 | Presentation "Introduction to GTAI and services for Japanese companies" Mr. Hiroshi Iwamura (Director, Representative of Japan, Germany Trade & Invest) |
| 4:15-4:35 | Presentation "Germany’s biopharmaceutical market, industry trends, and investments" Dr. Marcus Schmidt (Director of Chemical & Healthcare Division (CHC), Germany Trade & Invest) |
| 4:35-4:50 | Presentation "Pharmaceutical R&D and production in Germany and Japan" Dr. Jan Stefan Scheld (Representative Director, Chairman and President, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd) |
| 4:50-5:05 | Presentation *online "German Innovation clusters, international programs, and partnering" Ms. Ariane Doischer (International Relations Manager, BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH) |
| 5:05-5:20 | Presentation *online "IP protection, licensing, start-ups, and technology transfer" Dr. Christian Stein (CEO, Managing Director, and General Manager, Ascenion GmbH) (tbc) |
| 5:20-5:25 | Closing Remarks Dr. Shunichi Takahashi (President & COO, LINK-J / Visiting Professor, University of Tsukuba) |
| 5:30-6:30 | Networking Reception *In-person only |
*Speakers are subject to change without any notice.
Speakers
.png) | Mr. Christian Glenz (Deputy Head Economic Section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Japan) Christian Glenz was appointed to his current position in 2025. Beforehand, he was an officer in the Division for Comprehensive Energy Law and Renewable Energy Sources Act at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWk, previous BMWi). Glenz has been a consultant at the BMWk since 2013 and in Division IIIB2 (Comprehensive Energy Law and Renewable Energy Sources Act) since 2014. His responsibilities included direct marketing. Prior to joining the BMWi, he worked for two years as a lawyer specializing in energy law, focusing on renewable energies. |
 | Mr. Hiroshi Iwamura (Director, Representative of Japan, Germany Trade & Invest) A managerial professional whose background lies in the economic development agency of the German Federal Government (GTAI), economic analysis firm, risk advisory firm (Control Risks), and global risk management in the world's largest financial group (HSBC), but allied with considerable management experience working for over 20 years in the UK researching clients' needs and providing tailored risk management solutions for investment projects across European, Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries. Since joining GTAI in January 2019, Iwamura has set up strategies for sourcing FDI new businesses for healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing, and retailers in Germany. Iwamura obtained an MBA from the University of Oxford. |
 | Dr. Marcus Schmidt (Director of Chemical & Healthcare Division (CHC), Germany Trade & Invest) As an executive leader of industrial consultants in GTAI, Dr Schmidt has been taking the initiative of supporting foreign companies to invest in Germany in the fields of medical technologies, e-health, pharmaceutical, bioindustries, healthcare, and geriatric care. During the coronavirus pandemic period, his team worked with German Federal Government for the procurement of medical devices and support for manufacturers to produce medical masks and ethical drugs locally in Germany. In 2023 he was seconded to the Directorate for Innovation and Industry at the Federal Chancellery and continues to serve as an advisor. Schmidt obtained the diploma of Master of Law from Muenster University, an MBA from Esslingen University and a PhD at the University of Innsbruck. Before joining GTAI, he had worked as a lawyer. In his young days, he was an intern in Japan. |
 | Ms. Ariane Doischer (International Relations Manager, BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH) For over 25 years, BioM has been the central network organization of the biotechnology industry in Munich and Bavaria, creating a unique ecosystem for innovation, growth, and value creation in medicine and biotechnology. As International Relations Manager, Ariane Doischer fosters global networks and collaborations, supporting Bavarian SMEs in their internationalization through joint booths, delegations, and networking events. With a background in international economics and deep experience in the healthcare sector, she advises companies on market entry and global partnerships, ensuring strong connections between Bavaria’s biotech cluster and the international life sciences community. Doischer obtained an MA in Business Administration from the Nuremberg Institute of Technology (Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm). Doischer also graduated from the University of Bayreuth and obtained a BA in International Economics and Development. |
 | Dr. Christian Stein (CEO, Managing Director, and General Manager, Ascenion GmbH) From 2020 to 2022, he was Chairman of the Board of TransferAllianz, the German Knowledge and Technology Transfer Association, representing the TTOs of around 100 scientific institutions. Christian is also a chairman of the MGC Foundation and a member of the International Strategy Committee of the American Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM). From 2014 to 2016, he was President of ASTP, the European Association of Knowledge and Technology Transfer Professionals and Board Member of the global Association of Technology Transfer Professionals (ATTP) from 2012 until 2015. Christian Stein has founded several companies in and outside the biotechnology field. He is a consultant and advisor to various EU programs as well as regional and national expert groups, serves as a member of the Supervisory Board of ISAR Bioscience in Munich and is on the advisory board of a number of biotechnology companies. In 2022, he initiated the CARMA FUND and is now a member of its Investor Advisory Board. The fund invests in early-stage projects and start-ups in the life-science sector. Christian holds a PhD in molecular biology from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and obtained a Master of Science (MSc) in Management of Intellectual Property Law from QMW in London. |
Participation Fee
Free
Capacity
In-person: 80 people
Virtual: 1,000 people
*First come first served basis
Organizer
Organizer：LINK-J, Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI)
Contact
LINK-J
contact@link-j.org
