AusBiotech strengthened its international partnerships in regenerative medicine, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the peak Japanese industry body.
AusBiotech signed the MoU with Japan’s peak regenerative medicine body, Forum for Innovative Regenerative Medicine (FIRM) last week) under the MOU between Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and FIRM, in relation to the collaboration in advancing regenerative medicine and cell and gene therapies within Australia, Japan and worldwide.
FIRM is a Japanese general incorporated association with a mission to accelerate research and commercialisation of regenerative medicine in Japan. FIRM was formed in 2011 and has more than 220 members of Japanese companies from various fields with diverse expertise in such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, manufacturing, transportation, insurance and related supporting areas for regenerative medicine.
FIRM's goal is to establish a social structure to safely and continuously deliver the regenerative medical products. FIRM works closely with the Japanese government and academia for the goal.
AusBiotech and FIRM will collaborate in advancing their individual and common missions by sharing information, encompassing technology, policy, laws etc., and assist each other in co-sponsoring meetings or through other cooperation based on common concerns.
In particular, AusBiotech sees FIRM as an important international partner and the representative of the regenerative medicine industry in Japan, and FIRM sees AusBiotech as an important international partner and the representative of the regenerative medicine industry in Australia.
AusBiotech CEO, Mr Glenn Cross said: “This memorandum mark an important milestone in building the foundations for strong industry engagement between Australia and the key industry organisations in Japan.”
“The MoU will drive our already aligned goals with FIRM to devise tactics that will deliver real-world, positive outcomes to the Australian regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical sectors. Congratulations to all concerned.
Mr Cross said: “Regenerative medicine is a growing area of research, offering the potential to treat disease and disability that have remained off-limits to intervention and may one-day become treatable.”
The FIRM MoU builds on commitments with Korea’s Council for Advanced Regenerative Medicine (CARM), signed last year, to advance regenerative medicine capabilities and indicates that collaboration is essential to leveraging our combined innovative potential.”
AusBiotech has been working with Austrade over several years to promote the Australian biotechnology around the world, with particular focus on regenerative medicine, clinical trials, medical devices and diagnostics, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.