News/Osaka Growth Strategy

The “Umekita” area is a core base of the “Kansai Innovation International Strategic Comprehensive Special Zone” and the “Designated Urban Renaissance Urgent Redevelopment Area” designated by the national government. Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, and the business sector have been making concerted efforts to develop this area.

The advanced development zone of the Umekita area, “Grand Front Osaka”, opened in April 26th. “Grand Front Osaka” offers world-standard urban functions including business offices, commercial facilities, a hotel and condominiums. The core of this area is an intellectual creation base or “Knowledge Capital” where business people, researchers, creators and users create “new values” by fusing technology with their creativity.

At the “Knowledge Capital”, Osaka City provides a “venue” and a “mechanism” to create and support projects leading to new products and services by making maximum use of the potential of Osaka and Kansai and attracting people, information and capital from all over the world. To do that, the “Osaka Innovation Hub” is set up as a base within the Knowledge Capital and the following will be implemented;

In order to attract innovative human resources from all over the world to build global business networks, we will hold international innovation conferences, internationally promote Osaka by disseminating information in English and other means, have an exchange between human resources and hold workshops to encourage entrepreneurship of young personnel.

With human resources who can find potential needs, appropriate technologies and ideas across the world (super producers) at the core, we will form a platform for innovation creation and implement a support program for industry-academy partnership projects.

In March, 2012, six prefectures in Kansai received the recognition of the first program of the special zone project, after which the special zone project is being launched full scale. The second program of the special zone project was recognized on July 27, 2012.

The second program of the special zone project consists of 15 projects that utilize tax, private and public financial support measures. Adding these to the first program will add up to * 26　projects that have been recognized.

* The first program of the special zone　project : 14 projects
    The second program of the special zone project:15 projects
    (3 of 15 projects were also recognized in the first program of the special zone project.).

【Project cases recognized in the second program of the special zone project in Osaka Prefecture】

＜Tax Support Measures＞
l  New establishment of the next generation vaccine fundamental research facility (North Osaka District)
l  New establishment of PET drugs  manufacturing facility (North Osaka District)
l  Construction/management of

future-oriented medical checkup center in Umekita Knowledge Capital (Osaka Station surrounding district)

＜(Private) Financial Support Measures＞
l  Electric power supply system verification project utilizing various energies including solar power

(Yumeshima/Sakishima districts)

＜(Public) Financial Support Measures＞　
l  Development of the functions of the Battery Strategy Research Center
 (Yumeshima/Sakishima Districts)
l  Support for smart community verification in the Sakishima district      
(Yumeshima/Sakishima districts)

The Special zone project is steadily expanding. Kansai will produce innovations and industry, academia and government will continue to work together and promote special zones to contribute to the growth of the Japanese economy.