Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development and iPark Institute Break Ground on Multi-Tenant R&D Facility in Kobe
Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development and iPark Institute Co., Ltd. broke ground in July 2026 on "iPark Kobe," a multi-tenant life science R&D facility on Port Island in Chuo Ward, Kobe City. The facility will be developed and operated by three companies, including Mitsubishi Corporation, with completion scheduled for fall 2027 and opening in November of that year.
The building rises eight stories above ground, with a gross floor area of approximately 3,630 tsubo (approx. 129,200 sq. ft.). Individual units range from approximately 17 to 47 tsubo (approx. 600 to 1,700 sq. ft.), and units can be combined to accommodate large-scale demand. Exclusive areas are equipped with individual air-conditioning and plumbing systems, dedicated duct space, and chemical-resistant free-access flooring, aimed at reducing tenants' initial costs and construction time upon move-in.
The project site is located within the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, which is home to 333 companies related to the medical industry. The facility is planned to be directly connected via a pedestrian deck to Keisan Kagaku Center Station on the Kobe New Transit Port Liner, offering access of approximately 16 minutes from Sannomiya Station and approximately 6 minutes from Kobe Airport Station.
iPark Institute Co., Ltd. began operations in April 2023, with Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and Mitsubishi Corporation as its major shareholders. The company operates Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark), which it took over from Takeda, and this project marks the first "iPark" facility the company has undertaken outside of Shonan.
Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development has opened "innoba," a multi-tenant manufacturing and R&D facility, in Ota Ward, Tokyo, and is also pursuing development in Kawasaki City and Higashi-Osaka City (see related article: Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development Breaks Ground on Multi-Tenant Manufacturing and R&D Facility in Kawasaki). Through this project, the company aims to expand its R&D real estate portfolio into the life sciences field and bring the operational know-how developed at Shonan iPark to the Kansai region, aiming to create an R&D hub that fosters collaboration among tenant companies, universities, and government.
Key Facts
- Facility Name: iPark Kobe
- Developer: Mitsubishi Corporation / Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development Co., Ltd. / iPark Institute Co., Ltd.
- Location: 6-3-1 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
- Nearest Station(s): One-minute walk from Keisan Kagaku Center Station on the Kobe New Transit Port Liner
- Construction Start: July 2026
- Completion: Fall 2027 (scheduled)
- Number of Floors: 8F (steel-frame construction)
- Site Area: approximately 919 tsubo (approx. 32,700 sq. ft.) / Gross Floor Area: approximately 3,630 tsubo (approx. 129,200 sq. ft.)
