Announcement of Groundbreaking for Multi-Tenant Life Science R&D Facility 'iPark Kobe'

Mitsubishi Estate Development Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Noritsugu Morita) and iPark Institute Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Fujisawa, Kanagawa; President & CEO: Toshio Fujimoto) announce the commencement of new construction for the multi-tenant life science research and development facility 'iPark Kobe' in Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Completion is scheduled for autumn 2027.

' iPark Kobe' Completion Rendering (Exterior / Common Hall)

Location Features

The site is located in Kobe Medical Industry City on Port Island Phase 2, a nationally significant medical industry cluster that has attracted 333 medical-related companies. It will be directly connected via a link deck to the 'Computational Science Center' station on the Kobe New Transit Port Liner, offering convenient access—approximately 16 minutes from 'Sannomiya,' Kobe's largest commercial and transportation hub, and about 6 minutes from 'Kobe Airport' station.

About the Multi-Tenant Life Science R&D Facility 'iPark Kobe'

'iPark Kobe' is a multi-tenant life science R&D facility developed and operated jointly by Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Estate Development Co., Ltd., and iPark Institute Co., Ltd. The project aims to promote deep collaboration with fields highly compatible with life sciences—such as biomanufacturing and AI robotics—and to enhance the overall research and development environment.

Features of 'iPark Kobe'

Feature ①: The private areas are designed for multi-use, suitable for R&D and office functions. To support high-quality research and development, each unit is equipped with individual HVAC, water supply and drainage systems, dedicated duct spaces, and chemical-resistant raised flooring, reducing initial setup costs and construction time for tenants. Units range from approximately 55 to 156 sqm per block, with removable partition walls allowing for flexible layouts and scalability to meet large-scale requirements.

Feature ②: Shared facilities such as meeting rooms and co-working lounges are provided for tenant use, enabling private spaces to be fully dedicated to core business activities. This design delivers a researcher-first shared environment.

Feature ③: iPark Institute Co., Ltd., the operator of 'Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)'—Japan's first pharmaceutical company-originated science park—is managing this facility as its first external expansion under the 'iPark' brand. Additionally, the City of Kobe, Kobe University (a National University Corporation), RIKEN (a National Research and Development Agency), Kobe Organization for Medical Innovation (a Public Interest Foundation), Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Estate Development Co., Ltd., and iPark Institute Co., Ltd. have signed the 'Collaboration Agreement for Innovation Creation in Kobe Medical Industry City.' The parties aim to build an ecosystem that promotes collaboration, exchange, and innovation among research institutions and enterprises.

'iPark Kobe' Project Page: https://www.mcud.co.jp/project/2772

About the Brand Logo

The six undulating dots above the 'iPark Kobe' logo text, similar to the 'Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)' logo, symbolize the idea that 'even small ideas, when resonating together, can grow into large waves of innovation,' expressing a commitment to open innovation.

About Mitsubishi Estate Development Co., Ltd.

Mitsubishi Estate Development promotes real estate and urban development beyond conventional frameworks, with its purpose 'Cultivating the Future of Cities through Vision and Execution.' The company focuses on the Industrial and Retail & Entertainment sectors.

In the Industrial sector, in addition to dry logistics warehouses, the company is actively developing cold and frozen warehouses (including automated warehouses), multi-tenant manufacturing and R&D facilities (innoba), and multi-tenant life science R&D facilities (iPark Kobe). In the Retail & Entertainment sector, it develops urban commercial facilities, NSCs (Neighborhood Shopping Centers), and hotels, and also operates events at venues such as the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. Furthermore, the company is engaged in large-scale urban developments centered on arenas.

Going forward, Mitsubishi Estate Development will continue to leverage the comprehensive strengths of the Mitsubishi Corporation Group, which has broad industrial and customer touchpoints both domestically and internationally, to unlock the potential of cities together with customers and partners.

Mitsubishi Estate Development Co., Ltd. 1-5-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 7th Floor, Toho Hibiya Promenade Building President & CEO | Noritsugu Morita https://www.mcud.co.jp

About iPark Institute Co., Ltd.

iPark Institute Co., Ltd., with Industrial Innovation Fund (IIF), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and Mitsubishi Corporation as major shareholders, launched operations in April 2023. In 2023, the company succeeded the operations of the Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark), which had been managed by Takeda since 2018. iPark Institute now manages and operates the facility, while also promoting innovation, facilitating technical exchange and research collaboration, and building and activating a life science ecosystem.

iPark Institute Co., Ltd. 2-26-1 Muraoka-higashi, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa President & CEO | Toshio Fujimoto https://www.shonan-ipark.com/company/

About Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)

The Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark) was established in April 2018 when Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited opened its internal research institute to external partners, making it Japan's first pharmaceutical company-originated science park. Now independently operated by iPark Institute Co., Ltd., it aims to accelerate health innovation by bringing together diverse industries, government, and academia of various scales. Currently, around 220 companies and organizations—including pharmaceutical firms, next-generation medicine developers, cellular agriculture startups, AI companies, and government agencies—have gathered, forming a life science ecosystem of approximately 3,500 people (as of July 2026).