More than 300 companies and organizations are clustered in Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster. Research institutes, hospitals, and companies are concentrated within a compact area, where close collaboration and partnerships foster diverse innovations. In addition, contract research organizations, testing institutions, CROs, CMOs, and animal research facilities are also clustered, enabling a wide range of R&D needs to be addressed.
Furthermore, strong support systems are in place for clinical research, including assistance provided by the Translational Research Informatics Center (TRI) and collaboration with a network of eight advanced specialized hospitals, creating an environment conducive to conducting clinical studies. In addition, active industry–government–academia--medical collaboration drives the development of medical devices, and under the “Kobe Vision for Future Medical Care,” led by Kobe City and Kobe University, many achievements have been realized, including the commercialization of developed medical devices.
In terms of startup support, assistance has been expanded through a variety of incubation facilities and acceleration programs. Moreover, Kobe City staff, together with dedicated coordinators, provide hands-on support for business development and tailored matching for companies entering the cluster. Additional support services include access to PMDA regulatory strategy consultations, offering a comprehensive support framework.