On May 22, 2025, the “Japan-Germany Life Science Seminar 2025 - Current trends in Germany’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector - Opportunities for Japanese and German companies for collaboration and expansion -” was held at Nihonbashi Life Science Building and online.
LINK-J and Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), which supports business expansion in Germany, collaborated to present the up-to-date trends in Germany's pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector.
We had nearly 120 participants joining both on-site and online.
The recording is available on LINK-J's YouTube channel. (Language: English)
*Please note that some editing has been applied.
Welcome and Introductions
Dr. Shunichi Takahashi (President & COO, LINK-J / Visiting Professor, University of Tsukuba)
Welcoming Address
Mr. Christian Glenz (Deputy Head Economic Section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Japan)
Presentations
"Introduction to GTAI and services for Japanese companies"
Mr. Hiroshi Iwamura (Director, Representative of Japan, Germany Trade & Invest)
"Germany’s biopharmaceutical market, industry trends, and investments"
Dr. Marcus Schmidt (Director of Chemical & Healthcare Division (CHC), Germany Trade & Invest)
Dr. Schmidt is an officer of German Federal Chancellers' Office and a Director for GTAI Healther Division, who have supported foreign companies including Japanese to develop businesses in Germany.
"Pharmaceutical R&D and production in Germany and Japan"
Dr. Jan Stefan Scheld (Representative Director, Chairman and President, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd.)
Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim is the Japanese subsidiary of a major German pharmaceutical company.
He stated the individual features between Japan and Germany in R&D and production based on his experience for many years in business development and management in Japan.
"German Innovation clusters, international programs, and partnering"
Ms. Ariane Doischer (International Relations Manager, BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH)
BioM is a Bavarian government-owned network organization based in Munich, Bavaria.
"IP protection, licensing, start-ups, and technology transfer"
Dr. Rebecca Engels (Industry Liaison & Project Manager, Ascenion GmbH)
Ascenion is an independent knowledge and technology transfer company based in Germany.
Pitch by Life sciences officials from various German federal states in Japan
Baden-Württemberg
Mr. Masaki Teraoka
FDI Representative for the German State of Baden-Württemberg
JAPAN
Bayern (Bavaria)
Ms. Noe Tayama
Project Manager
State of Bavaria - Japan Office
Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony)
Mr. Makoto Sekikawa
Representative
Representative Office of the German State of Niedersachsen in Japan
Sachsen (Saxony)
Mr. Fumihiro Asano
Representative, Japan,
Saxony Trade ＆ Invest Corporation
Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Ms. Noriko Kamimura
Project Manager
NRW.Global Business Japan
Closing Remarks
Dr. Shunichi Takahashi (President & COO, LINK-J / Visiting Professor, University of Tsukuba)
Networking Reception
After the seminar, an onsite networking reception was held. Speakers and participants from Germany and Japan mingled in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Thank you very much to everyone who participated.
*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of the event.
