I want to elucidate the functionality of spices and connect them to "self-medication."
First of all, please tell us about your business.
Sbee Foods Sakata: We are a manufacturer of instant, spices, instant foods and other products, mainly spices and harps. This year marks the 100th anniversary of our founding, and with the power of spices, we hope to contribute to the health of our customers by elucidating the health functions of spices in order to respond to the health issues of our customers. The results generated by this laboratory will also be widely disseminated and linked to new product development.
What kind of research is being conducted at Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1?
Sbee Foods Onda: Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 is in charge of exploring the ingredients contained in spices and exploring the health functions of those ingredients. Specifically, we are focusing on basic research such as the creation of spices extracts, component analysis, and evaluation of health function using cells. In addition, we are prototyping tablets (tablets) using spices, and we are examining what products our research results can be used for. For highly specialized research, such as mechanisms of action and clinical trials, we are promoting research in collaboration with external organizations such as academia.
In the future, we would like to use the research data obtained in-house to develop functionally labeled foods that use the spices function. Spices are not a very impressive ingredient in Japanese dietary habits, so in the future we will appeal to that point more and prove that "spices are delicious and have a good effect on the body." I want to go.
Sbee Foods Sakata: Furthermore, in the future, we aim to realize “self-medication by food” using spices. I want to aim for a world where the health function of spices is widely recognized, more spices are incorporated into everyday meals, and we want to aim for a world that remains healthy without relying on medicines. Our company will continue our research with the goal of realizing such a world.
Access from the head office was good, and it was convenient for researchers to work.
Please tell us why you decided to move into Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1.
Sbee Foods Onda: In order to relocate our research lab, we needed a laboratory for biosafety level 2 due to cell experiments. In addition, our research facility was originally located in Itabashi Ward, and our head office is located in Nihonbashikabutocho, so we needed to consider the convenience of researchers to commute and access to the head office. Therefore, we selected Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 that meets these conditions, both facilities and location. The fact that Mitsui Link Lab facilities are easy to change the interior of Mitsui Link Lab facilities to handle biosamples and organic solvents, which was also a decisive factor in moving in.
What kind of impression do you have when you actually moved in?
Mr. S&B Shokuhin Onda: Since the previous research base was located in our own facilities, there were almost no opportunities to interact with outsiders. At Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1, various companies are located in the same building, and they are always aware of their existence, so it is a good stimulation. Until now, social gatherings were usually involved in the same food industry, and the range of exchanges tended to be narrower, but at Mitsui Link Lab, residents' exchange meetings are held irregularly, and there are opportunities to interact with people from different industries, so this is also very interesting, and I think it was good to move into Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1.
Also, in the case of our company, preparing all the equipment necessary for research on our own will be a huge investment, but it is also a great advantage because common equipment can be used at the nearby Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 2.
Are you developing from interaction between residents to further collaborations?
Sbee Foods Onda: That's right from now on. There are companies that are exchanging information, so I hope that it will be interesting if it leads to a new job.
In the future, I would like to send more information to know what kind of power spices have.
Do you have any requests or expectations for Mitsui Link Lab?
Sbee Foods Sakata: After all, I would like to actively deepen exchanges with people from different industries and create new innovations, so I hope that you will be able to excite them through bridging opportunities such as social gatherings.
Sbee Foods Onda: For example, it would be nice to have a place where tenant companies can exhibit and discuss their own business, such as a poster presentation venue at academic conferences.
Mr. S&B Shokuhin is also a member of LINK-J, right?
Sbee Foods Onda: Yes, there are many events that you can participate for free, such as online events at LINK-J, so it's a lot of study. Communication lounges and conference rooms available to LINK-J members are also very useful for meetings with academia and so on. When traveling in Osaka, I often use Life Science Hub West (Bingo-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi) is often used. In the future, I would like to use it in a wider range of situations. I also participated in an event held in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, but it has a different atmosphere from Mitsui Link Lab, so this is also interesting.
Sbee Foods Sakata: For example, if there is a place for research presentations via LINK-J, I would definitely like to participate in it. Our company is also actively working on disseminating information, but I feel that it has only reached some people. Through LINK-J, we will disseminate our research results to various companies, academia, and even consumers, and to know, "whether food manufacturers are doing this kind of research?" I would be happy to get interested in our business and create a new collaboration.
Thank you very much. Finally, could you tell us about your future prospects.
Sbee Foods Sakata: We are currently conducting joint research with universities and research institutes to develop functionally labeled foods. We hope to take on the challenge of collaborative projects in the medical field, such as pharmaceutical companies. As I mentioned at the beginning, we are now aiming to "realize self-medication with spices." In the future, I hope that various challenges will be realized by using various frameworks to create connections with many people.