Singapore, April 2 -- Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development (MCUD), and iPark Institute Co. (iPi) have announced joint development of a new, rental-lab-type R&D facility in Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC).

The facility, which has been tentatively named "iPark Kobe," will augment progress being made in KBIC to establish a community based on institutions dedicated to research and development. MCUD has signed an agreement with Kobe's municipal authorities to purchase land for the facility's construction on Kobe Port Island, which is owned by Kobe City.

Growth in semiconductors, medical treatment and other cutting-edge industries has accelerated in recent years, which has given rise to the formation...