About Ibaraki
Where is Ibaraki?
Basic parameters of Ibaraki Prefecture
| Population | 2,877K | 11th in Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 6,097km2 | 24th in Japan |
| Inhabitable Land | 3,975km2 | 4th in Japan |
| Area of New Factories* | 1,087ha | 1st in Japan |
| Number of New Companies* | 304 | 1st in Japan |
*Total from 2007 to 2016
Well-balanced industries
Primary industry
- Gross agricultural product for 2017 was 496.7 billion yen, the 3rd largest in Japan.
- Ibaraki is Japan’s number one producer for many products, such as melon, lotus root, green pepper, and mackerel.
Secondary industry
- Tsukuba City is a center for science and technology related industries including the robotics industry (more details below).
- Hitachi City, where the global enterprise HITACHI was founded, has many electric and electronics related companies.
- The Kashima coastal industrial area is a center for heavy and petrochemical industries such as Nippon Steel (former Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal).
Tertiary industry
- By taking advantage of the transportation network and the population density, the service industry is well provided all over Ibaraki Prefecture
Easy access to capital city Tokyo and to Narita International Airport
- 45 minutes by train to Tokyo from Tsukuba
- 55 minutes by expressway bus to Narita International Airport from Tsukuba
- Expressway network extending in all directions
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An Ideal environment for R&D
Research hub for Innovation
One-third (29) of Japan’s research Institutions are located in the Tsukuba Science City in southern Ibaraki.
Multiple research institutions offer collaboration research program or shared access to facilities.
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High concentration of highly skilled scientists(as of June 2017)
- Number of Researchers : 20,758
- −Number of Ph.D : 7,995
- −Number of Foreign researchers : 7,277
After holding the 2016 G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting, Tsukuba hosted the 2019 G20 Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy
3 research institutions with bases in Tsukuba were selected into the National Research and Development Agency
- Based on a national strategy, these 3 research institutions are aiming for the highest global standard
- With the possibility of increasing the salary of successful researchers
Innovation Hotspot
- More than 250 academic and research venture companies
- Incubation offices that support venture companies and startup companies
- Various networking organizations supporting disciplines of science such as natural science and robotics
Tsukuba International Strategic Zone
Within the Tsukuba International Strategic Zone, 9 science related projects are in presently the works. This Zone offers support programs such as easing of regulations, financial aid for R&D companies and tax aid.
Life-Innovation
①Development and implementation of BNCT
②Living with Personal Care Robots
⑤Drug Discovery
⑥Domestic production of medical radioisotope (technetium-99m) in Japan
⑦Creation of the global hub of innovative medical robots and medical devices
Green-Innovation
③Practical use of algal biomass energy
④TIA A platform for open Innovation
⑧Practical development of a recycling system for strategic urban mines
⑨Commercialization of Functional Components Production Systems Using Plant