Singapore: "BIOtech 2013 in Japan", which recorded significant growth both in the scale and the quality, concluded in huge success. It witnessed 603 exhibitors from 25 countries (up from 490 exhibitors from 15 countries in 2012), 10,362 visitors from around the world, 237 presentations, and 4,845 attendees to the keynote and special sessions.

Japanese bio industry showing signs of recovery and further growth gave a boost to the event. Nobel prize winner Dr Shinya Yamanaka's, director of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University, creation of iPS cells not only generated the new market for iPS cell research and regenerative medicine, also became a cause for the government to enhance its support toward the bio and pharma-related research.

Growing interests toward the Japanese market also resulted in an increased number of attendees from overseas. Due to the economic stagnation in Europe, more overseas biotech companies have chosen to exhibit at the show, setting their target to Japan. Partly because of that, the number of overseas exhibitors almost doubled from the previous show. Also, increased numbers of overseas visitors were seen having active business talks, attracted by the latest research achievements and products presented at the show.

Also, the number of appointments set through "Bio Partnering System" increased significantly, especially between academics and the industry sector. As many as 176 academic presenters participated in Bio Partnering System and presented their latest research achievements at Academic Forum on-site. Many pharmaceutical companies (including the world's leading companies represented as sponsors) actively participated in partnering, choosing BIOtech Japan as the best way to find prominent platform technologies and seeds. The show was joined by many newcomers from other industries and venture/start-up companies, especially at the new "Table-top exhibiting area".

Keynote session and 10 lines of special sessions attracted 4,845 attendees in total, covering the hot topics such as stem cells, regenerative medicine, orphan drug, antibody drug, personalized medicine, and so on. The plans have already been put in place for the next year's event. BIOtech 2014 Japan will take place from May 14 to 16, 2014 at Tokyo Big Sight.