In February Iwatani established an R&D center for Regenerative Medicine in its Research and Development Center.

Iwatani has so far been engaged in the development of technology and equipment to preserve cells and provide a low temperature transportation system applying cold energy by liquid nitrogen using the research center as well as the facilities of Osaka University and Kyoto University who are partners for joint research. The establishment of the new center has been triggered for the purpose to accelerate the development of technologies and create new business in the life science area.

The newly installed clean room provided in the facility is equipped with a cell culture device, an analyze and a cryopreservation container. They make it possible to simulate a series of processes (cell culture, freezing, storage and transport) in a cell producing plant, which enables verification and evaluation for various assumable conditions in actual use like temperature or other factors. In addition, the facilities are also utilized for technical development in the business partners and universities.