Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM)
iCONM - Realizing a Dream of In-Body Hospitals
iCONM: Realizing a Dream of In-Body Hospitals
TheInnovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM) was established in 2013 as an integrated research hub of the Center of Innovation (COI) Program launched by JST/MEXT in cooperation with Kawasaki City. This open-innovation research center is operated by Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion. Among 18 COI hubs, this is the only one operated by non-university organization. The area is called “KING Skyfront” developed as an international innovation research hub of biotech and health-tech. iCONM is located beside a riverside with beautiful views and takes 15 minutes from Tokyo International Airport by foot.
iCONM is aiming at the realization of 'In-Body Hospital', in which sick signals are identified, possible diseases to be developed are diagnosed and the problems are solved before expressing any symptoms without knowing about them at all. The core technology is involved in designing “Smart Nano-Machine” that can deliver biomaterials including therapeutic genes to target cells. It is a grand ambition of iCONM to make this kind of system a reality by 2045.