Partnership with KOWA Company Japan
Dec 12, 2024 | TTBDO
The Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO), together with the Office of the Chancellor, represented by its OIC Dr. Armacheska Mesa-Satina, And the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Administration, Leo Manuel Estaña, warmly welcomed officials from Kowa Company, Ltd. and the Philippine-Japan Active Carbon Corporation (PJAC), a subsidiary of Kowa.
KOWA Company Ltd., is a global company originating from Japan, that provides innovative solutions across various industries, including healthcare, chemicals, machinery, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. As a diversified conglomerate, the company focuses on sustainability and technological advancements, with a broad portfolio that spans medical devices, industrial products, and biotechnology.
Kowa General Manager Mr. Yasuharu Mishina and Manager Mr. Takashi Tokumori, met with Dr. Melvin S. Pasaporte, Chief Researcher of TTBDO, to discuss potential partnership on global sales and marketing of Lactic Acid.
Dr. Pasaporte presented the current status of the lactic acid technology development, focusing on recent milestones, including the university's undertakings to establish a Pilot Plant Facility for the Lactic Acid scale-up production. He also discussed the timeline of the technology development including other potential market applications and the commercialization roadmap. Mr. Mishina discussed the Japanese market for the Lactic Acid and the potential of the Philippines to penetrate the said market citing the intent of company to further diversify its import sources of Lactic Acid.
Mr. Alvin Ang of the Phil-Agro Industrial Corporation, the industry partner of UP Mindanao for raw materials, also joined the meeting and shared information regarding the cassava starch production capacity and its sustainability. He also shared some strategies to reduce production costs further at the raw materials side, aiming to enhance the technology's commercial viability.
As a result, the KOWA Company Japan has expressed interest to become a sales and marketing partner of UP Mindanao for the Lactic Acid technology. Both parties agreed to move forward by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the partnership.