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| April 3, 2002 |
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| Japan's First Think Tank on Bioethics and Medical Ethics Established |
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Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences |
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Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Kanji Shono) and Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President Yoshitaka Nagai) have jointly established the Center for Life Science and Society. The Center, which opened April 1, is Japan's first private think tank on bioethics and medical ethics.
Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences was established in 1971 and has since conducted primarily basic research in the life sciences. For over 30 years it has been one of Japan's leading research institutions.
As the life sciences have developed, the program on Life Science and Society of the Knowledge-based Civilization Research Department of the Institute has been dedicated to research to comprehensively analyze and study various social problems, guided by the belief of the late Dr. Fujio Egami, the first president of the institute, that "Life science should include not only natural sciences but also social sciences." The program pioneered research on the social and ethical issues of biotechnology and modern medicine, as well as in science technology. It also examined such areas as the development of public involvement in environmental decision making.
At the beginning of the 21st century, questions are increasingly being asked that involve judgments from the viewpoint of ethics and life sciences, thereby raising awareness and thus the social importance of the field of ethics.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, as it strengthened its research and development capabilities in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, recognized the importance of these emerging relationships between new technologies and society's values. The company considered it important to expand its research in non-experimental fields and to use the results for the benefit of society. It therefore decided to establish an independent think tank as a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences.
In Japan, the study of bioethics and medical ethics is still evolving. In the initial phase of its work, the new Center will focus on systematizing the accumulated information and the training of researchers. In the near future, however, it plans to accept assignments for various research projects in bioethics, medical ethics, and science technology policies as well as to offer consulting services.
In the US and Europe, the research of private research institutions in the field of bioethics has already had a substantial influence on research activity in the field of natural sciences and research policies in medical research. Japan's new bioethics think tank will also address the issue of the harmonization between technology and ethics that society will face in the very near future, based on the accumulated research results at the Institute of Life Sciences.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation has a substantial commitment to initiating this research activity in the private sector in what is still a relatively new field in Japan, following the pioneering research of the Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences.
Outline of the Center of Life Science and Society is as follows:
| (1) Name |
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Center of Life Science and Society |
| (2) Paid-in capital |
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 10 million (100%
owned by Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences) |
| (3) Head Office |
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1-1-1 Manpukuji, Asao-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| (4) Line of business |
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To conduct research on bioethics for its clients |
| (5) President |
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Shohei Yonemoto (General Manager, Knowledge-based Civilization Research Dept., Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences) |
| For further information, please contact |
| Public Relations and Investor Relations Dept., |
| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
| Tel: [+81]-(0)3-3283-6274 |
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