JGC and NTT COMWARE have set up a venture company to operate an online purchase site targeting life science companies such as pharmaceutical manufacturers. Using the Internet to obtain purchase order information collected via client intranet systems, the venture company handles purchasing, system operation, system support, and bill payment activities on behalf of clients. By 2005, or five years after the start of operation, the company projects sales amounting to US$50 billion, reaching out to a diversified clientele that includes universities and hospitals.

The venture company started in October 2000 by providing life science companies, including pharmaceutical companies and research institutes, a service called Pharma-X, which is a type of application service provider. The service is managed by the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system called Smart EDI developed by NTT COMWARE.

JGC and NTT COMWARE signed a memorandum of understanding with Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd., a leading Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer, making Takeda the first subscriber of the service. The purpose of the move was to enable the venture company to launch the online purchase service as the de facto standard site by receiving know-how from Takeda as a buyer.

JGC has been aggressively seeking new business ventures, particularly stock type businesses, which differ from its EPC services for industrial plants and facilities. This venture is among the most promising of the IT businesses targeted by JGC.

NTT COMWARE is playing a central role in Japan's advanced telecommunication systems. With its large capacity data centers, NTT COMWARE is operating APS businesses for various kinds of customers. NTT COMWARE positions the venture company as a new production solution business for pharmaceutical manufacturers.