Governor’s East Asia Mission Resulting in Partnerships

On Oct 17, 2023

More academic and business partnerships were announced today as Gov. Murphy continues his nine-day economic mission in East Asia (Oct. 14-22), including visits to Japan and South Korea.

Today, a Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) was signed between New Jersey and Japan’s top research universities and a prominent manufacturing company. The MOUs were signed between Rowan University, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), and global plastics manufacturer, Sekisui Chemical and between Kean University and the Osaka University of Economics, along with a reaffirmation of an MOU between Princeton University and the University of Tokyo. The partnerships will expand research and development capabilities for New Jersey students in the manufacturing sector and commission new joint research projects in the technology sector.

“These agreements will expand opportunities for researchers at one of New Jersey’s world-renowned universities, Rowan University, to partner with some of Japan’s brightest minds in the private sector and academia,” said Murphy. “New Jersey is the gateway into the American marketplace and we are eager to welcome our friends from Japan to join us in building a better, greener future—and creating generations of good-paying jobs in the process.”

The first MOU was signed by Anthony Lowman, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rowan University and Katsunori Mukai, Executive Officer, Director, Corporate R&D Center, Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd., which has a presence in Secaucus. The institution and leading plastics manufacturer have worked together for 20 years. The MOU formalizes an existing agreement to collaborate on research and development projects, with Rowan University providing ongoing support for laboratory services.

The second MOU was signed by Tony Lowman, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rowan University and Jun Yamada, Ph.D., President, Shibaura Institute of Technology. The MOU will establish a student and faculty exchange program, commission joint research projects and create pathways to share interdisciplinary research, innovation and technology in areas of mutual interest to both universities.

In other developments, CMIC CMO USA Corporation, a subsidiary of Japan’s top contract development and manufacturing organization, CMIC CMO Co., Ltd., and Rutgers University have joined forces to establish a Center of Excellence in Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, co-located at CMIC’s 224,000-square-foot facility in New Jersey.

CMIC CMO, a joint venture between DNP Group and CMIC Group, boasts 18 years of industry experience and a global presence with six sites worldwide, including four in Japan, one in South Korea, and one in the US.

Takahiro Ueda, CEO of CMIC CMO USA Corporation ambitions, “Rutgers brings expertise in advanced and continuous manufacturing, while our suppliers provide the latest technological advances in equipment. This expertise allows us to integrate state-of-the-art infrastructure for rapid product and continuous process development in both non-GMP and GMP environments, giving CMIC unique capabilities to accelerate manufacturing of investigational and commercial products for the benefit of patients around the world”.

Makoto Matsukawa, CEO of CMIC CMO, added, “We are very excited about this partnership. CMIC and Rutgers’ shared commitment to innovation and excellence fully aligns with our vision. Together, we can enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and processes, contributing to the industry’s global advancement.”

Francine Conway, Chancellor Rutgers–New Brunswick, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Rutgers–New Brunswick is the nation’s number 15 top public university and a home to interdisciplinary research—where the life sciences, engineering, and other fields come together to solve problems and discover new knowledge. This partnership will yield vast and important benefits for health and wellness.”

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