UK and Japan biotech associations sign landmark deal to accelerate innovation

October 13, 2025 | Monday | News

To promote economic growth through exports and investments

The UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) and Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), agreeing to work together to connect the two countries’ life sciences and biotech ecosystems to accelerate medical innovation and the commercialisation of engineering biology.

The two countries are among the largest and most significant life science and biotech hubs outside of the United States, and the governments of both have prioritised the sector in their respective industrial strategies to drive economic growth.

Under the MoU, BIA and JBA will work together to establish new links between British and Japanese biotech businesses through events and other projects.

The activities the two organisations will undertake as part of the MOU may include:

Organising delegations to each others’ countries and major conferences
Producing online information on the UK and Japan ecosystems and showcasing existing strong links between the two
Working together on global policy impacting the sector

A full programme of work will be set out in due course to support business development, create jobs and economic growth, and ultimately ensure that innovative new medicines and biotechnologies benefit society.

The goal of this is to promote economic growth through exports and investments. It is very important to create new value in bio-based materials, biopharmaceuticals, and sustainable production through collaboration between our two countries. I hope this MOU will deepen our cooperation for the benefit of both nations and for the international community.