Corporate History
2002
March
Based on the successful results of the Millennium Project (MEXT, 2000-2002) , HiPep Laboratories was founded by Dr. Nokihara focusing on development of novel biodetection systems, designated PepTenChip®, using designed peptide arrays, which can be mimicked by proteins. HiPep Laboratories also provide contract research in discovery and screening, syntheses, analyses & characterization of bio-molecules. Additionally HiPep produces laboratory equipments and consumers fundamentally developed in house use. The core technology, designated HiPep® Technology, is the life work of funder.
May
Wet laboratories were completed in Kyoto-city.
November
Memorial conference on HiPep-opening was held and current collaborators and dealers were attended. The company’s home page was completed; http://www.hipep.jp.
2004
September
Okinawa bio-project was started and new additional laboratory was planned in the middle part of Okinawa-main Island.
December
Bio-Venture Project has been approved by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization and received a grant-in-aid.
2005
February
HiPep-Okinawa Laboratory was opened and opening conference was held.
April
The prize in the Bio-Business Competition was bestowed.
June
Laboratory space in Kyoto has been expanded and laboratory for protein characterization was newly opened.
2006
November
Celebration for five years anniversary and scientific conference was held with several invited speakers.
2007
March
Both office and laboratory spaces in Kyoto head quarter were further expanded in it’s 1.4 times lager.
July
A five years national project, Research and Development Program for New Bio-industry Initiatives National Agriculture and Food Research Organization was started with grants.
2008
May
The Program for Creating Okinawa Innovation was adopted by the Gant-in-Aid for Cabinet Office, Government of Japan and Okinawa Prefecture, and cell biology laboratories were completed in Kyoto and Okinawa.
2009
Started trial marketing for the novel biochip, PepTenChip®.
October
The Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-Driven R & D, Japan Science and Technology Agency, was bestowed.
2010
A novel application of PepTenChip® has been developed which can be used directly as a sample plate of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, thus the dual mode biodetection could be shown as a “hyphenated technologies”.
PepTenChip® sales was started. Immobilized peptide libraries were added on unique products lines.
2011
April
Taking in account of economical influences cased by tsunami and earthquake in Tohoku, Okinawa lab is closed and all activities were focused in Kyoto.
September
A clean room for biochip production is renewed to realize “class 100” level.
2012
The conference of 10 years anniversary-celebration of HiPep was performed and several invited speakers (scientific collaborators) gave their lectures.
2013
All fundamental technologies concerning novel biodetection system, PepTenChip®, consisting of libraries for captured molecules, chip-plate (novel material made from amorphous carbon, high through-put arrayer and fluorescent detector) have been almost completed and starting the business.
Renewal of HiPep web-site (both Japanese and English)