LINK-J Renames Organization to Mark 10th Anniversary, Formulates Vision and Mission for the Next Decade

The General Incorporated Association LINK-J (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Hideyuki Okano; hereinafter "LINK-J") and Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shun Ueda; hereinafter "Mitsui Fudosan") announce that LINK-J will celebrate its 10th anniversary in March 2026.

LINK-J was established in March 2016 by Mitsui Fudosan and volunteers from industry and academia, based in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, with the aim of promoting open innovation in the life science field through industry-government-academia collaboration and supporting the creation of new industries. Currently, it promotes collaboration and exchange among industry, government, and academia, including domestic and international life science ventures, supports members' business growth and overseas expansion, and has been selected as a promoter for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's startup support program, thereby driving the construction of Japan's life science ecosystem and the creation of innovation.

On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, LINK-J will change its official name from "General Incorporated Association Life Science Innovation Network Japan" to "General Incorporated Association LINK-J." Additionally, it has formulated a vision and mission for the next decade. Under the new structure, LINK-J will accelerate open innovation and implement the future of life sciences from Japan to the world.

New Name

General Incorporated Association LINK-J (Former Name: General Incorporated Association Life Science Innovation Network Japan)

Formulation of Vision and Mission

LINK-J has formulated its vision and mission for the next decade. To realize its vision, LINK-J will expand the chain of co-creation through the creation of highly specialized communities and the promotion of collaboration among diverse players, with "community building," "strengthening trend dissemination," and "innovation support" as the pillars of its activities, as stated in its mission.

Vision:

"From Japan, the next wave of life science innovation"

To create a chain where challengers connect, knowledge circulates, and capital flows, constantly generating innovations that give hope to the world. LINK-J will continue to accelerate open innovation as a catalyst to create the next "wave" in the ecosystem, implementing the future of life sciences from Japan to the world.

Mission:

"To create the future of life sciences as a catalyst for social implementation"

・Accelerate collaboration and co-creation by supporting community building and activation aligned with themes

・Support those who challenge innovation

・Widely disseminate the voices of diverse players and create a starting point for future creation

Structure

・New Structure (Effective April 1, 2026)

Position

Name (Affiliation)

Chairman

Hideyuki Okano (Director, Keio University Center for Regenerative Medicine / Professor, Keio University)

Vice Chairman

Masaru Ishii (Dean, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University / Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University) Kazunori Yamashita (Managing Executive Officer, Head of Innovation Promotion Division, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.)

Director

Miki Ando (Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University / Chief Professor, Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University / Assistant Hospital Director) Hiroshi Suzuki (Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo)

Executive Director

Shunichi Takahashi (General Incorporated Association LINK-J) Takashi Shioya (General Incorporated Association LINK-J)

Secretary General

Ikuo Hayashi (General Incorporated Association LINK-J)

Founder

Yoshiki Sawa (Hospital Director, Osaka Police Hospital / Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University) Shun Ueda (President and CEO, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.)

10th Anniversary Special Page

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, a special page has been opened on the official website. Past initiatives and voices from stakeholders will be posted sequentially. URL: https://www.link-j.org/10thanniversary/

About General Incorporated Association LINK-J

LINK-J is a general incorporated association established primarily by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. and volunteers from industry and academia. Based in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo, where pharmaceutical-related companies are concentrated, its purpose is to promote open innovation in the life science field through industry-government-academia collaboration and support the creation of new industries. LINK-J will promote human and technological exchange across various scientific fields within the life science domain, which is a complex area encompassing medicine, science, engineering, ICT, and artificial intelligence. (https://www.link-j.org/)

Mitsui Fudosan Group's Sustainability

Based on the "& mark" philosophy of "creating new value through coexistence, co-prosperity, and co-creation, and continuing to challenge for that purpose," the Mitsui Fudosan Group views "creation of social value" and "creation of economic value" as two wheels of a cart. We believe that creating social value leads to creating economic value, and that economic value enables the creation of even greater social value. When the new Group Management Philosophy was formulated in April 2024, six "GROUP MATERIALITY (issues to be addressed intensively)" were identified: "1. Contribution to industrial competitiveness," "2. Coexistence with the environment," "3. Health and vitality," "4. Safety and security," "5. Diversity & Inclusion," and "6. Compliance and governance." We will contribute to sustainability by addressing these materialities through our core business.

【Reference】

・"Group Long-Term Management Policy" https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/corporate/innovation2030/

・"Group Materiality" https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/esg_csr/approach/materiality/

Reference Materials

Recent New Initiatives

①Holding a large-scale conference bringing together top R&D executives from major domestic pharmaceutical companies

Since 2024, LINK-J has been hosting the new "LINK-J Conference -R&D×Investment-". This conference supports the creation of a Japan-originated drug discovery ecosystem and innovation by featuring lectures on research strategies by top R&D executives from major domestic pharmaceutical companies, facilitating discussions among pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and VCs, and providing opportunities for interaction with startups.

②Opening of "BioLabs Tokyo," an incubation hub by BioLabs, USA

In September 2024, LINK-J, together with BioLabs and Mitsui Fudosan, was selected for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "TIB CATAPULT (Global Innovation Cluster Creation Project)" and began operating "LINK-BioBAY TOKYO," a life science startup incubation cluster in Shin-Kiba and Nihonbashi, Tokyo, through a three-party collaboration with proven track records in Japan and the US. In the summer of 2026, "BioLabs Tokyo," an incubation hub by BioLabs, will open at Mitsui Link Lab Shin-Kiba 2, promoting the global growth of startups and strengthening connections with overseas ecosystems.

③Development of "Places"

Regarding the development of "places" as the foundation for its activities, LINK-J has promoted the expansion of the "Nihonbashi Life Science Building" series and the opening of "Mitsui Link Lab" in collaboration with Mitsui Fudosan, creating an environment where diverse players can gather. Furthermore, by concluding a memorandum of understanding for mutual cooperation in the life science field with Osaka Prefecture, LINK-J has expanded its activity bases to the Kansai region, including opening LINK-J hubs in Doshomachi, Osaka, and the "Future Medical International Hub" in Nakanoshima, Osaka.