Innovation 25: A New Strategy for Medical Devices

In September 2006, when Shinzo Abe succeeded Jyunichiro Koizumi as prime minister of Japan, he proceeded to develop an idea for medical innovation that he had announced earlier as part of his nomination phase. This year, the country finally is seeing his ideas bear fruit.

On May 25, Abe’s administration made public a groundbreaking project called “Innovation 25: Create Our Future, Challenges for Unlimited Possibilities.” This plan is a long-term strategy for the creation of innovation that will contribute to the growth of the Japanese economy and potentially change industrial structures toward the year 2025.

For the government to intensively promote Innovation 25, a minister in charge of innovation was appointed and a special task force was organized in the Cabinet Office. At the first meeting dated October 26, 2006, of the Innovation 25 Strategy Council, Abe commented, “I see innovation not merely as new breakthroughs and technological inventions but as encompassing a broad spectrum of possibilities including new initiatives and technical ideas. Up until now, Japan has tended to pursue ad hoc policies to realize very near-term goals and profits. I very much encourage all of you to discuss, from a long-term perspective and from a variety of angles, what kind of society will be achieved through new visions and innovation, how we should prepare for that, as well as recommend policies we should consider toward this end.”

Since then, Innovation 25 has been examined by experts from various fields, including academia, industry and other relevant sectors. After a series of meetings, the final report was released to the public on May 25. In this report, the life-sciences industry was highlighted, with strategic emphasis focused on IT technology, the environment, nanotechnology/new materials, energy and social infrastructure. Innovation 25 is expected to be used as an overall guideline for both the Japanese Government and industry in approaching the future.

Yoshio Mitsumori is the president and CEO for Tokyo-based ADMIS, a consultant specializing in the medical device industry. He has more than 25 years of experience in the medical industry, including positions with the Itochu Corp., U.S. Surgical, National Medical Enterprises and Century Medical. A member of RAPS, he has spoken at many industry events and worked extensively in international trade of medical products and technologies. He can be reached at [email protected].