Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and representatives from LifeSciKY and Mitsui Chemicals America, a Japan-based supplier of high-performance polymers, for the ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the strategic partnership between LifeSciKY and its first international lab resident at the OneNKY Center in Covington.
“The power of collaboration is what fuels innovation and helps create a better future for Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “This partnership between LifeSciKY and Mitsui Chemicals highlights the good that comes from working together. Not only do we welcome another quality Japan-based company to their New Kentucky Home, but we’re also using our resources with LifeSciKY and the OneNKY Center to further strengthen Kentucky’s position as a leader in life sciences and business development.”
The operation will focus on research and development activity in life sciences innovation and advanced biomedical research – areas that closely align with Mitsui Chemicals’ focus on next-generation materials and cell culture technologies. The partnership will allow Mitsui’s new InnoCell platform to leverage the power of its proprietary chemicals with LifeSciKY’s labs to develop a new plastic product for cell culture.
The project represents an exciting new addition to LifeSciKY, which celebrated its grand opening in September 2025. During the 2022 regular legislative session, the Governor supported, and the General Assembly allocated, $15 million to go toward LifeSciKY’s lab in the OneNKY Center. The OneNKY Center is the home of 10 Northern Kentucky growth organizations focused on business development, tourism, innovation and community support.
“This milestone marks an important step for Mitsui Chemicals as we further integrate into the global life science innovation ecosystem through our InnoCell technologies,” said Osamu Hashimoto, president & CEO of Mitsui Chemicals Inc. “We are honored to collaborate closely with LifeSciKY in Kentucky and look forward to driving meaningful innovation together.”
“The United States is a global leader in life sciences innovation, drug discovery and advanced biomedical research—areas that closely align with Mitsui Chemicals’ focus on next‑generation materials and cell culture technologies, including its InnoCell platform,” said Mehrdad Tabrizi, senior vice president at Mitsui Chemicals America. “LifeSciKY offers a strong ecosystem for life sciences research, including access to talent, academic and industry collaboration opportunities and a supportive environment for innovation and growth. These factors made it an attractive location for advancing Mitsui Chemicals’ U.S. life sciences activities.”
“LifeSciKY’s lab facilities provide day-one operational ability for innovators like the R&D team from Mitsui Chemicals,” said Dr. Christin Godale, executive director of LifeSciKY. “Access to a fully equipped lab – without the time and expense of building one – means experiments start faster, data comes sooner and capital lasts longer. We’re proud to welcome Mitsui Chemicals and its brand InnoCell to the commonwealth and to support their next phase of discovery. Their decision to locate here is a testament to Kentucky’s growing momentum in the life sciences sector. Every company that chooses LifeSciKY strengthens our innovation ecosystem, creates high-quality jobs and helps position Kentucky as a competitive, global hub for life sciences.”
Mitsui Chemicals America Inc. is an arm of Japan-based Mitsui Chemicals Inc., which produces and supplies specialty chemicals and high-performance polymers used in demanding applications across life and health, mobility, packaging, electronics and industrial markets. InnoCell is the brand name for Mitsui Chemicals’ cell culture products, services and research surrounding solutions for drug discovery.
LifeSciKY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation accelerating science, entrepreneurship, education, and economic development in Covington. LifeSciKY provides affordable lab space, state-of-the-art equipment, and essential resources to empower innovators and advance groundbreaking work. The lab also offers educational and workforce training opportunities that connect students, researchers and the broader community to hands-on experiences in the life sciences.
BE NKY Growth Partnership President & CEO Lee Crume noted the Cincinnati region is home to a significant number of Japanese companies and Mitsui Chemicals joins a high growth life sciences cluster in the region: “We are proud to join LifeSciKY in welcoming Mitsui Chemicals to Northern Kentucky and its newest location in the OneNKY Center. We are committed to fostering the growth and success of the life sciences companies that are developing new therapies and products in the LifeSciKY lab incubator.”