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Why Has Japan Launched A $420m Fund For Bioventures?

Application For VCs Opened In Ecosystem Bid

 
• By Lisa Takagi

A new national project to support bioventures and the venture capital funds investing in them has started in Japan. The strategic aim of the JPY50bn initiative is to enhance the speed of development and trials of new drugs and vaccines for infectious diseases, the lack of which became obvious since the breakout of COVID-19. 

Japan's Bio Venture Supporting Project
Bioventure Funding Project Part Of Bigger Japan Scheme For Self-Sufficient Drugs, Vaccines Ecosystem • Source: Alamy

The Japanese government has started a new funding project for pharma bioventures in the country with a new JPY50bn ($420m) budget, aiming to strengthen the domestic ecosystem for drug and vaccine development. The project will support both selected domestic venture capital funds and bioventures themselves.

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