Industrial ( white ) biotechnology in Japan Rolf D Schmid Webinar May 12, 2016
1. Japan a high-tech nation without raw materials nor energy base 2. Three major and some minor targets of industrial biotechnology, and companies involved 3. Government support, and public-private partnerships 4. Opportunities for VBU stakeholders and how to get connected
127 million people: a large market an urban, even metropolitan population an information society (example: e-commerce) an ageing society (29 % older than 64, 57 % between 40 and 64) an affluent, but conservative society a highly regulated society very limited farmland (arable land: 11 %) compensation through early industrialization and export of products with high added value R&D expenditure ~ 3,5 % of GDP, 80 % in industry
Biofuels Biopolymers Specialties
USDA Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) Report 2014 Bio-Ethanol In Japan, there are four refineries producing bioethanol for fuel. Production in 2013 was 24,000 kl and is likely to continue at the same level for the coming years. Three refineries are producing bioethanol for fuel under MAFF s supervision. Two of those refineries are located in Hokkaido, Japan s agricultural heartland, and the other is in Niigata Prefecture. Biodiesel Japan s production of biodiesel is small, estimated at 14,000 kl. Post estimates that the production will remain stable at this level, as the consumption of biodiesel is not expected to grow. The most common feedstock for bio-diesel production in Japan is used cooking oil. It is said that the total amount of used cooking oil discharged annually in the country is about 450 thousand metric tons, from which about 410.000 klof bio-diesel could be produced if there was sufficient demand.
Initiatives for Next Generation Fuels INAF Members: IHI Corporation ITOCHU Corporation Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Kawasaki Heavy Industries Green Earth Institute Advanced Industrial Science and Technology JFE Engineering Corporation Shell Japan Sumitomo Corporation Japan Petroleum Exploration All Nippon Airways Sojitz Corporation Chiyoda Corporation University of Tokyo Toyo Engineering Corporation Toyota Central R&D Labs Narita International Airport Corporation JGC Corporation Nikki-Universal Japan Asia Investment Company The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan Nippon Cargo Airlines Japan Airlines Neo-Morgan Laboratory Incorporated Nomura Research & Advisory Hitachi Zosen Corporation Phoenix Business The Boeing Company Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute Mitsubishi Research Institute, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries/Mitsubishi Hitachi Power System Euglena Corporation INAF Observers: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry of the Environment Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Biofuels Biopolymers Specialties
> 200 members scpolylactic acid Polyhydroxyalkanoic acids Bio-Nylon Bio-Polyurethanes Bio-Polyethylene Bio-Polypropylene Bio-Polycarbonate biopolymers replace 20 % of all plastics produced in Japan by 2019
Breeding of GEM silkworms producing blue and orange silk to start in Gunma Prefecture As announced by the National Intitute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), various genetically modified silks will be produced in Gunma Prefecture starting from around June 2016. The first products are fibroins into which fluorescent proteins are engineered, followed by silks which can be better stained through the incorporation of highly repetitive sequences, and by silks which are engineered to contain spider fibroin.
Biofuels Biopolymers Specialties
Nisin, a natural component of Lactobacilli
Fibryxa, a water-soluble dietary fiber enzymatically produced from starch It consists of 95 % maltodextrin α-glucan. Various types of starches can be used as starting material for this.alpha.-glycosyl transferasecatalyzed process. The product is claimed to have a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora.
Government support, and public-private partnerships
Ministries Agencies Research Organizations
Opportunities for European stakeholders - and how to get connected Japanese companies are always hungry for innovations!
Many other possibilities... Chambers of commerce
Conclusion Japan has mature markets forproducts of industrial biotech Japanese companies are always hungry forinnovations foreuropean SMEs: spot-markets through Japanese trading houses or through JETRO s TIPP for a consolidated market entry: long-term strategy required support is available from the EU-Japan desk, JETRO, trade missions, consultants...