U.S. biotech lead dependent on links with Japan

Abstract

The U.S. is at risk of losing its leading position in biotechnology by the end of the decade unless technology exchanges between the U.S. and Japan become a two-way street. This is the view taken in a new report, U.S.-Japan Technology Linkages in Biotechnology: Challenges for the 1990s, from the National Research Council's Committee on Japan. Cochaired by Hubert J. P. Schoemaker, chairman and chief executive officer of Centocor, and G. Steven Burrill, national director for high-technology industry services at professional services firm Ernst & Young, the committee evaluated current relationships between Japanese and U.S. firms, universities, and research institutions to assess their long-term impact. The U.S. is considered to be the world leader in biotechnology in both basic and applied science, the latter having been demonstrated through the commercialization of new products. Biotechnology also is an area of tremendous anticipated growth. Product sales for the industry were $2 billion in 1990 and are ...