BioCentury
ARTICLE | Strategy

Translation in Asia

How J&J's new Asia Pacific Innovation Center in Shanghai will access innovation

November 3, 2014 8:00 AM UTC

The low concentration of entrepreneurs and venture money in the Asia-Pacific region means Johnson & Johnson's newest innovation center will initially go about making early stage deals and investments differently than its counterparts in Europe and North America do. Specifically, the new center expects to do more translation of academic work while it helps build a network of entrepreneurs across the region.

On Oct. 28, J&J announced the official opening of its Asia Pacific Innovation Center with headquarters in Shanghai and satellite offices in Japan, Australia and Singapore. The center also unveiled its first six deals - two in Australia and four in China. Five are with academic institutions, and one is with an incubator...