With research and development costs rising and discovery pipelines struggling, life sciences organizations are always looking for opportunities to increase revenue, while reducing overall costs, improving operational efficiencies and minimizing risks.

The recent conference, INTERPHEX Japan 2010, Asia’s largest pharmaceutical event, at Japan’s biggest exhibition center, Tokyo Big Sight, therefore provided an excellent opportunity for life sciences professionals to network for three days to source products, services and capabilities that drive scientific and process innovation for the life sciences industry. In its 23rd year, and organised by Reed Exhibitions, INTERPHEX Japan proved a huge success, attracting a record number of 1,564 exhibitors and 66,750 industry professionals from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetics R&D and manufacturing industries.

Like many of those involved in the M&A market, I started the new decade thinking that things could only get better after recent economic challenges, and it appears that there are grounds for optimism.