The NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series titled “From Innovation to Expansion: The Power of Biotech and Global Investment” was held in cooperation with the Japan-America Society of North Carolina (JASNC) in Durham, North Carolina.

Mr. David Robinson, Honorary Consul of Japan in North Carolina and JASNC Board Chairman, opened the event with remarks and introductions of each of the speakers.

Mr. Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) opened by highlighting the importance of Japanese investment in North Carolina and went into some detail about recent investments and expansions by local Japanese firms including Morinaga and Kyowa Kirin.

Ms. Sarah Gaskill, Head of External Relations of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, explained FUJIFILM’s long 30-year history in North Carolina and stressed the importance that the talented NC workforce in North Carolina has had on the success of the company.

Ms. Becky Levine, Director of Community Engagement and Public Affairs of Kyowa Kirin, shared that while Kyowa Kirin is new to NC, having their groundbreaking in September of 2024, they are not new the US market, as they have their US headquarters in Princeton, NJ. They currently have 33 employees in NC and expect to increase to 100 employees next year, many of whom are local residents.

Mr. Chung then moderated a panel with Ms. Gaskill, Ms. Levine, and Mr. Kiyoshi Tanigawa, the Executive Director of Keidanren USA, where he proposed questions for each of the panelists. The audience also asked questions throughout the panel portion of the conference.