Japan Delegation Visits Wisconsin to Explore Strength in Biohealth Innovation

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A high-level Japanese delegation focused on biohealth will visit two cities in Wisconsin, Madison and Milwaukee (November 5-7), strengthening ties between Japanese and U.S. leaders in the rapidly advancing field of biohealth. The delegation is comprised of 23 delegates from 19 Japanese companies and representing the following industries: trading company, banking institutions, R&D, medical device manufacturer, CDMO, and healthcare-related startups.

The delegation, organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), and the Japan America Society of Wisconsin (JASWI) will feature visits to key sites in the state’s biohealth ecosystem.

The U.S. bio-healthcare market is expected to grow to $2 trillion by 2034, about three times the current size, expanding to a diverse range of industries such as medical, agriculture and food, environment and energy, chemicals, and IT and data. In addition to existing locations such as Boston and the Research Triangle, Wisconsin has rapidly gained traction as a new biotech hub in recent years.

In 2023, Wisconsin was selected as a "Regional Technology and Innovation Hub" by the U.S. Economic Development Agency (EDA), leveraging approximately $49 million in federal funding to advance industry-academia-government collaboration centered on the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub. With the University of Wisconsin, GE HealthCare, Exact Sciences, and others at its core, next-generation medicine and life sciences research are accelerating. In addition, the presence of Japanese companies is increasing, such as Fujifilm's large-scale investment in cell therapy production bases.

This mission will allow the delegates to experience Wisconsin's strengths firsthand. A business matching and networking program with local universities, research institutes, and startup companies has also been arranged. This will be a valuable opportunity to deepen the understanding of the U.S. bio market and explore future collaborations and advancements.

To gain insight into the region's strength in the biohealth industry, the delegation will visit:

• Exact Sciences Corporation (a leading company in molecular diagnostics)
• Promega Corporation (a global company of reagents and instruments for life science research)
• GE HealthCare (a global leader in diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring)
• University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (a leading life sciences research hub in the United States)
• Medical College of Wisconsin (the largest private medical research institution in the state)

JETRO is looking to continue their relationship with the State of Wisconsin to build on the growing momentum between the region and Japan in the biohealth industry.

JETRO, together with Madison-based accelerator gener8tor, will host a pitch and networking reception on Thursday, November 6, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. For more details and registration, please visit: https://www.jetro.go.jp/usa/topics/wisconsin-j-bridge-event-2025.html