Role of Japanese Biotechnology Today

摘要

Recent years have seen the emergence of a global trend whereby governments, on a national level, are now focusing on life science research and promoting biotechnology-centered industrial development. In Japan as well, from last year, the Biotechnology Strategy Guidelines were implemented, as the nation as a whole, embarked on a full-scale initiative to promote the industrialization of the biotechnology industry. However, while biotechnology is a topic that seems to be featured almost daily in newspapers and the media, public understanding as regards biotechnology is still vague and limited. A understanding of the type of technology biotechnology refers to and what sorts of industries are considered part of the biotechnology industry, for example, is essential if we are to gauge how and in what direction biotechnology is to develop in the future.