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One message came through clearly at BioJapan 2026: Japanese life sciences companies are looking for partners who can help accelerate end-to-end clinical development, and Australia’s broad and advanced ecosystem continues to be one of its strongest points of differentiation.
That message was evident across Australia’s largest presence at BioJapan in more than a decade. A record 23 Australian organisations exhibited under the Team Australia banner at the premier event for the biotechnology industry in Asia.
The delegation travelled to Japan as part of the Australian Clinical Trials Initiative (ACTI), supported by the Accessing New Markets Initiative and delivered in partnership with Trade Diversification Network member AusBiotech, Investment NSW and Global Victoria. Austrade CEO Dr Paul Grimes also attended the event to help elevate Australia’s profile and support commercial engagement opportunities for participating companies.
Strong interest in long-term partnerships
Japan has one of the world’s largest life sciences sectors. It usually ranks among the top 3 to 5 globally depending on the metric. It’s a major market in Asia, second only to China. Global pharmaceutical companies have a strong local presence. Large Japanese companies also compete for market share.
Australia’s high-quality research and strict regulations mean our medical biotech products and services are in demand. The strongest interest from Japanese stakeholders centred on building sustainable, long-term partnerships across Australia’s clinical trials ecosystem.
The breadth of the Australian delegation proved a key advantage. Together, Team Australia showcased a comprehensive offering spanning regulatory approvals, clinical trial delivery, bioanalytical services and manufacturing, enabling Japanese companies to see how Australia can support their global strategies for clinical development at every stage.
The ACTI Clinical Trials Seminar attracted more than 200 registrations, reflecting strong interest in Australia’s life sciences capability.
The depth of Japanese interest in Australian life sciences was reflected in the large turnout for the ACTI Clinical Trials Seminar, which attracted more than 200 registrations and featured 6 Australian industry speakers.
The seminar generated a strong pipeline of follow-up opportunities, highlighting the growing appetite among Japanese organisations to explore partnerships spanning clinical development, R&D collaboration, licensing and investment.
‘Japan is booming in clinical trials. It’s now our second largest market, which represents growth compared to this time last year,’ says a representative from Scientia Clinical Research.
Translating opportunities into outcomes
BioJapan 2026 demonstrated that Australia’s reputation as a trusted research and clinical trials partner continues to grow. The interest generated through ACTI, combined with a high volume of meetings and stakeholder engagement, has created a solid pipeline of opportunities for Australian organisations seeking to expand in Japan and across the region.
The event also demonstrated the value of industry and government partnering to support Australian businesses and strengthen connections across Northeast Asia’s life sciences ecosystem.
Austrade will maintain engagement with life sciences companies across the region to help convert BioJapan connections into commercial outcomes and long-term relationships, strengthening Australia’s position as a partner of choice for clinical development in Asia.
Find out more about exporting biotech to Japan.
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