Proctor & Gamble's Darren Ji shares how JETRO met his 'top line needs' during BioMission Japan | Print |

December 2005 --

MISSION OVERVIEW
Business Matching in Japan The 2005 BioMission to Japan gave 60 North American biotechnology representatives the opportunities to meet future partners and see new business opportunities in the Japanese market firsthand.   This BioMission saw a shift in focus from "discovery" (of Japan's biotechnology-related market) to "deal-making," where JETRO matched participants with related Japanese firms that had compatible and complementary goals. As a result, over 70 percent of the participants participated in one on one meetings in Japan, with a total of 142 meetings arranged, over 4 meetings per company on average. 

Participant comments:
(Names have been left out to protect the confidentiality of the participating companies)

  • “I am overall impressed with opportunity for tech transfer with Japanese companies.”

  • “Extremely helpful JETRO team. Meetings were focused and worthwile. Interpreters were excellent. I intend to return if possible.”

  • “JETRO was very professional and thorough and very valuable to the success. I was very impressed and now know how to take more advantage of all the opportunites and possibilities available now that I know the 'ropes.'"

  • “Great mission. Very productive."

  • “You guys are the best! Ichiban! Mahalo nui for inviting the University of Hawaii to be part of your program." 

  • "I got new contacts, new companies, and a better appreciation of the Japanese pharma market."

Guest View

Darren Ji of Proctor & GambleBioMission Experience –
Maximizing Biotech Exchanges through Enriched
Personal Touch

Darren Ji
Director of Bioscience Business Development – East Asia
Procter & Gamble Company - Cincinnati, USA


I joined JETRO’s BioMission to attend BioJapan and related meetings with specific anticipation – to be more effectively connected to the Japanese Biotech Communities, to share P&G’s needs in Bioscience and to identify potential win-win co-development opportunities. I returned with gratification and gratitude for JETRO whose dedicated representatives helped making my trip a productive and enjoyable one.

As the biggest event of Japan’s biotech industry, Bio Japan was attended by people from all walks of life-the Japanese government, industry giants, and foreign agencies and start-up entrepreneurs. Naturally most of the discussions were around pharmaceutical development and marketing since Japan has 11% of total world market of pharmaceuticals (2004). Still I was pleased to see wider topics that are of strong interests to P&G, including biomaterials, nutraceuticals and disciplined applications to cosmetics, antimicrobials, and healthy food. More encouragingly, industry leaders have recognized that effective technology transfer is one of the key enabling conditions for the growth of Japan’s biotech industry. This was where JETRO came in with smiles and helpful hands. Half way through the trip, JETRO representatives had convinced me by their working ethics that proficient personal touch would be an essential component for an effective technology transfer in the busy and hectic world today, especially in the cross-culture settings.


From day one, JETRO helped making my trip an easy one, in spite of the fact that I don’t speak the local language. From the meeting registration, travel arrangement, to partnering events, I enjoyed the privileges of being personally assisted with questions and communications. I was impressed that my contact representatives were never a minute late for our arranged appointment. One of them even escorted me on a long train ride to another city for a personal visit just to make sure I would not get lost in the complicated subway system. Naturally it energized me to look for ways to reciprocate the hospitality and kindness received.

Prior to the meeting I shared with my JETRO contacts the top line “needs” of P&G in bioscience. In the short few days while I was at Yohohama and Osaka, I was able to meet up with more than 20 companies on an individual basis to explore collaborative opportunities. Most of these companies have technologies relevant to P&G’s needs, and a few showed good promises to allow active follow ups. Better yet, the 100+ more contacts generated through the trip will be a sustainable force for enhanced information flow and collaborative opportunities.

From the good job the JETRO members did, I got a glimpse of the significant dedication the Japanese government has placed in connecting to the world of science, technologies and foreign investment. I left the conference with a good feeling of being well connected to this dynamic land of science and community. More importantly, I was excited about further exploring the few potential opportunities identified which may lead to new P&G products that will improve the lives of the world’s consumers. For that I salute to many of the JETRO members who helped along the way, in particular my JETRO sponsors from the US: Ms. Mahoko Seko and Mr. David Peterson; and the local hosts: Mr. Shigeru Saito and Mr. Kenjiro Watanabe. See you next year!