Who we are

The Planetary Health Innovation Center (Phic) is an organization operating at the intersection of research support, innovation consulting, and venture creation, with a focus on life sciences and biosciences.

Guided by the concept of "Planetary Health" — which recognizes the interdependence of human well-being and the health of the Earth — Phic is committed to advancing sustainability at a societal scale and contributing to the realization of “Planetary Good.” Established within the Institut Pasteur du Japon (IPJ), Phic was founded under the France–Japan Special Partnership Declaration through a collaboration between the Institut Pasteur and the University of Tokyo.

By connecting the expertise of leading researchers from both institutions with the business incubation and consulting methodologies developed by Exa Innovation Studio,
Phic generates tangible value and new business opportunities for industry and society.

Our Expertise

We mobilize interdisciplinary expertise to address complex challenges in planetary health, bridging knowledge across research, industry, and innovation

TALENT & CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Post-doc exchange program,
Bioscience talent recruitment

GLOBAL RESEARCH ACCELERATION

Global project & grant application,
Grant for global researchers

INNOVATION CONSULTING

Bioscience innovation strategy & execution,
Scientific due diligence

INCUBATION

Support for university
spin-offs,
Coaching and fund raising

INVESTMENT FUND

Bioscience innovation fund management
Hands on support for bioscience ventures

Management

Kentaro Kata

President & Managing Director

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Prof. Anavaj Sakuntabhai

Managing Director

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Prof. Kiyohiko Igarashi

Managing Director

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Osamu Matsuda

Director for Public & Client Relations

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Our Challenge

Today, climate change, ocean pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the global spread of infectious diseases are converging into a single, urgent challenge: planetary health—the foundation of human life itself.

Addressing these challenges requires new approaches that transcend traditional disciplinary and industrial boundaries, with industry, government, and academia working together around the core of bioscience.

Japan, with its leading universities, companies, research institutions, and talent, holds the potential to lead this field. Yet, this potential has not yet been fully translated into tangible societal impact.

Phic’s challenge, therefore, is to connect fragmented knowledge and practice, bridging the gap between research and real-world application, and transforming scientific insight into meaningful value.