Renewing its commitment to innovation in Japan and to Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark), Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical has announced the creation of a new company, effective April 1, 2023, together with Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment (IIF) and Mitsubishi Corporation, to manage Shonan iPark.

 

In addition, IIF and Mitsubishi Corp. have agreed to acquire a portion of the shares of the new company and together with Takeda, will oversee operations for Shonan iPark.

 

The companies will collaborate to execute on a shared vision to further develop Shonan iPark and the surrounding area’s ecosystem in a multifaceted manner.

 

Shonan iPark opened in April 2018 when Takeda transformed its research site into Japan’s first pharma-led science park opening its doors to the world. In 2020, the assets (land and facilities) of Shonan iPark were placed in trust and the trust beneficiary rights were acquired by IIF in 2020 and 2021, but Takeda has continued to operate Shonan iPark on an outsourced basis.

 

Since its opening, Shonan iPark has been operating its facilities and conducting open innovation promotion projects with a mission of “Building a life science ecosystem that is open to the world,” and a vision of “Social implementation of innovative ideas.” The number of tenants has grown from 20 at the time of opening, to more than 150 companies, universities and other organizations from a variety of fields, including pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence (AI), and venture capital.

 

To support its aim of further developing this life science ecosystem, Shonan iPark has decided to shift to the aforementioned new management structure.