"Nature" introduces world-class biomedical universities and research institutes in Osaka.
In the special feature of "SPOTLIGHT ON OSAKA", issued on Sep. 17th 2009, the international weekly scientific journal "Nature" introduces the significant achievements of the world-class universities and research institutes in the Northern Osaka Bio Cluster, as well as Osaka Bio Headquarters' activities toward further growth of local bio industries.
Nature (The article is posted)
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2009/090924/full/nj0260.html
Fortune magazine's Global 500 lists seven corporations in Osaka.
According to the Global 500 listing for 2009 by Fortune magazine of the U.S., Osaka is home to seven of the world’s highest-earning corporations.
Osaka leads the nation in four manufacturing categories by value.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Osaka leads all prefectures in the nation in shipments of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metal products, and apparel and fiber products.
Kita Osaka Biocluster (Saito Life Science Park) is ranked at the top of the Japan Biocluster Ranking.
For the second consecutive year, the Japan Biocluster Ranking in the Nikkei BP Survey of October 2006 ranked Saito, the Kita Osaka Biocluster, in the top spot. This achievement resulted from the strong cooperation that exists between businesses and universities and their unique approach to research and development. Also contributing to this outcome was the presence of several prominent research establishments in Kita Osaka — including the Faculty of Medicine of Osaka University, the National Cardiovascular Center, and the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation — and the congregation of major pharmaceutical companies in Osaka City.
Team Osaka wins its fifth consecutive first-place finish at RoboCup 2008.
Team Osaka, a consortium of individuals from businesses and universities in Osaka, won its fifth consecutive first-place finish in the Humanoid League at RoboCup 2008 Suzhou in China. The team was formed to promote the concept of “Osaka, The Robot Technology (RT) City.”
Two professors of Osaka University became the first Japanese to win the Crafoord Prize.
Professor Tadamitsu Kishimoto and Professor Toshio Hirano of Osaka University won the Crafoord Prize in Polyarthritis 2009 with Professor Charles Dinarello, University of Colorado, USA. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded them the prize for their pioneering work in the study of the inflammatory diseases including rheumatism by discovering the signal substance interleukin-6 (IL-6). They are the first Japanese to win this prize.
A professor of immunology at Osaka University tops the “hottest researchers” list.
According to the March/April 2007 issue of Science Watch — a newsletter published by Thomson Scientific of the U.S. — Dr. Shizuo Akira, a professor of Immunology at Osaka University, topped the “hottest researchers” ranking for the second consecutive year. His research paper is one of the world’s most cited.
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University
http://www.biken.osaka-u.ac.jp/e/
Kansai International Airport is ranked among the world's top 10 airports for the sixth consecutive year.
According to the “Airport of the Year” ratings by Skytrax of the UK, Kansai International Airport was ranked among the world’s top 10 airports each year from 2004 to 2009. The airport was rated highly for terminal cleanliness, staff competency, and the efficiency of arrivals and departures.
