• High-quality scientific publications from Japan decreased by 17%between 2015 and 2019, while China's increased by 80% during the same period.
• Women make up only 15% of the R&D workforce, and foreignresearchers account for only 5.6% of the R&D workforce in Japan vs. 28% inthe US
• Investment in R&D in Japan is far below that of the US orChina (US$18.1bn vs. US$179bn and US$100bn, respectively).

TOKYO,JAPAN - Media OutReach- 29 September 2020 - Medical innovation in the lifesciences requires a holistic policy and market access environment that supportseverything from basic science to product research and development (R&D)and, ultimately, commercialization. Though North America and Europe arehistorically leaders in innovation for the life sciences, Japan has been aleading contributor from Asia for decades. However, emerging life sciencesectors in South Korea, and more recently China, are quickly catching up afterinvesting heavily in infrastructure, human capital, and R&D, as well asenacting national policies to further bolster their life sciences ecosystems.

Supporting an innovative life sciences ecosystem in Japanis a report by The Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by Pfizer. Itdescribes findings from a research project to investigate the enabling factorscontributing to an environment prioritising innovation in the life sciencessector and how Japan compares to global peers. The research consisted of abenchmarking scorecard exercise conducted between December 2019 and January2020 covering four countries: Japan, the US, South Korea and China.

Overall, while Japan isstill producing life science innovation at a high level, it appears to bestagnating while the US remains ahead, and regional competitors are either catchingup to or surpassing Japan.

• High-quality publications fromJapan's life sciences sector decreased by some 17% between 2015 and 2019,whereas China's increased by nearly 80% in the same period, according to datafrom the Nature Index. Meanwhile, patents granted for pharmaceutical or medicaltechnology innovation are trending upwards in South Korea and China but remainbroadly stable in Japan and the US.  While Japan remains far ahead ofregional neighbours South Korea and China in receiving new drug approvals fromthe US Food and Drugs Administration, it is notable that these all come fromlarge, established biopharmaceutical companies in comparison to smallerrelatively new biotech firms prevalent in the US. 
• Japan's R&D workforce is alsounder pressure, with universities shifting to employ researchers undershort-term contracts, a small proportion of women researchers (15%),  anda lower number of international students or foreign researchers compared withthe US (5.6% vs. 28%, respectively).
• Finally Japan is also fallingbehind in terms of financing R&D; with US$18bn funding assigned in the lastfinancial year where data were available, behind China's US$100bn and US$179bnin the US. 

Several priority policyareas were identified that should be addressed for Japan to maintaincompetitiveness on the innovation global stage. These include: maintaining andexpanding a strong workforce (by encouraging more women into the R&Dworkforce, supporting foreign research scientists to work in Japan and reskillingexisting employees); increased government spending on R&D and betterincentives for business enterprise; clarifying regulations around IP dispute;encouraging technology transfer; and a clear and transparent policy for pricingand financing innovative medicines.

Jesse Quigley Jones, editorof the report, said, "Japan has a tradition of innovation in the life sciencesand many strong contributing drivers in this field. However, progress appearsto be stagnating and, like with many countries, areas for improvement exist. Inorder for Japan to maintain and strengthen its global position as a leadinginnovator in the life sciences, a renewed investment in basic research,supporting technology transfer and commercialization, and bolstering the lifesciences workforce are areas for priority."

About the research

Supporting aninnovative life sciences ecosystem in Japan is a report by The Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by Pfizer. Itdescribes findings from a research project to investigate the enabling factorscontributing to an environment prioritising innovation in the life sciencessector and how Japan compares to global peers. The research consisted of abenchmarking scorecard exercise conducted between December 2019 and January2020 covering four countries: Japan, the US, South Korea and China.

About The Economist Intelligence Unit

The Economist IntelligenceUnit is the world leader in global business intelligence. It is thebusiness-to-business arm of The Economist Group, which publishes The Economistnewspaper. The Economist Intelligence Unit helps executives make betterdecisions by providing timely, reliable and impartial analysis on worldwidemarket trends and business strategies. Moreinformation can be found at www.eiu.com or

About Pfizer

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bringtherapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. Westrive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery,development and manufacture of health care products, including innovativemedicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed andemerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures thatchallenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibilityas one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, wecollaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities tosupport and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world.For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who relyon us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on ourwebsite at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.pfizer.com（global）and www.pfizer.co.jp (Japan)