The government's Biotechnology Strategy Council deEfines biotechnology as a pillar industry of the 21st century along with information technology. This perception, expressed in the council's "outline of bioEtechnology strategy" issued last week, should serve as an important guide for Japan. Such a national biotechnology strategy was launched by the United States in the 1990s, and a large number of biotechnological venture businesses were creEated. The new industry achieved rapid growth and came to support the buoyant U.S. economy in that decade.
Inaugurated in July at the initiative of Prime Minister JunEichiro Koizumi, the council has come up with the biotechnology strategy report in less than half a year. As a result, the report is too much of a hodgepodge of topics scraped together from various ministries and industries.
Nevertheless, rather than harping about principles, it does state clearly that biotechnology is going to change the world and poses the question of what Japan should do now. In an acEtion plan, it clearly sets concrete achievement objectives for the years ahead. Undoubtedly the outline will serve as an impeEtus for investment in biotechnology.