Life Science

Nihon Kohden Opens First U.S. Facility in Cambridge

Cambridge, MA – Japan-based Nihon Kohden has announced the opening of the company’s first U.S. facility in Cambridge, Mass. The facility is approximately 1,600sf, and the company plans to hire five people in the first year. Nihon Kohden is a global company with a total of 4,500 employees worldwide. Nihon Kohden Innovation Center will be the company’s first overseas research center which focuses on basic clinical research. The aim of this center is to research and develop innovative healthcare concepts with universities, institutions, and hospitals throughout the United States and work together on translational research projects that will improve global medical care.

Governor Patrick’s life sciences delegation met with executives from Nihon Kohden during the governor’s 2013 partnership innovation mission to Asia.  During the meeting, representatives from Massachusetts discussed why the state is a great place to do business and how the state has become the global leader in life sciences.

“The innovation mission to Japan sought to further strengthen relationships between two leading regions in life sciences, and we are pleased to see Nihon Kohden coming to Massachusetts as a result,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “We look forward to their contributions to our thriving life sciences community.”

“Massachusetts has many world-class universities and hospitals that are working actively on basic and clinical research of medical devices, and we believe this is an ideal environment for the development of new medical technologies and devices,” said Nihon Kohden president, Dr. Shinji Yamamori.

“I’m happy to welcome Nihon Kohden to the robust biotech community in Massachusetts,” said Representative Tim Toomey. “Governor Patrick and Speaker DeLeo’s commitment to public investment in innovation has cemented the commonwealth’s position as a global leader in the life sciences, and I am confident that Nihon Kohden will create even more high-skilled jobs in Cambridge and Somerville.”

“Cambridge extends a most hearty welcome to Nihon Kohden, Japan’s leading manufacturer of patient monitoring and other crucial clinical products, to this vibrant growth sector of our exciting city where so much of the innovative life sciences activity in the United States takes place,” said State Representative Marjorie C. Decker.

Nihon Kohden worked closely with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center when developing their plans for their Massachusetts office.  Through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Massachusetts is investing $1 billion over 10 years in the growth of the state’s life sciences supercluster.  These investments are being made under the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, proposed by Governor Patrick in 2007, and passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Patrick in 2008.

“We are excited to welcome Nihon Kohden to the Massachusetts Life Sciences community,” said Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. “This company’s presence in Massachusetts will strengthen both our life sciences ecosystem and the growing business ties between Massachusetts and Japan. We look forward to partnering with Nihon Kohden as the Company thrives and grows in Massachusetts.”

“We are pleased to join our partners from the Life Sciences Center and Governor Patrick in welcoming Nihon Kohden to Massachusetts,” said Richard Elam, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment. “After a successful trade mission to Japan in December 2013, and two MOU’s signed with Japan, we are further gratified that the relationship between Massachusetts and Japan is growing in the life sciences sector where there is so much innovation from both sides. Our economies and global healthcare will surely be the beneficiaries.”