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Tucson's biotechnology industry could soon get a boost as the University of Arizona teams up with scientists from across the Pacific Ocean.

The UA and Osaka University in Japan will sign an international memorandum of agreement in coming months that will enable an exchange of professors, students and biotechnology research.

A delegation of researchers from Osaka University and the biotech industry there visited the UA Monday to tour its laboratories and listen to presentations.

Biotechnology is a young, growing industry, said Michael Katz, an associate professor in the UA's College of Pharmacy. It uses DNA and other components of cell structure to make substances and produce devices that can be used in medicine, agriculture and engineering, Katz said.

The agreement between the universities could have a broad impact on the region, contributing to an already-growing biotechnology industry here, said Lee Smith, the senior vice president of Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities.

"Bioscience is one of our targeted industries, and for us it's an opportunity to engage with Japan," Smith said.

Kiyoji Hanasaki, a professor at Osaka University, said researchers first visited the UA in November to explore the possibility of a collaboration.

"Before we visited we learned Arizona was a region that would be emerging as a leader in biotechnology," Hanasaki said.

They also visited the Bay Area in California because it already has a significant biotechnology industry, Hanasaki said. They ultimately chose the UA because they wanted to be part of the growth that's occurring here and because the university has the support of industry as well as state and local governments, he said.

Osaka University was also looking to team up with a U.S. university that would foster entrepreneurial and business development, Katz said.

The impact of the relationship wasn't immediately clear because the universities are only in the process of striking the agreement. But, among other things, it could result in the discovery and development of new drug products, Katz said.

The agreement between the universities is open to change, especially if the research leads to new moneymaking technologies or products. At that point new agreements would be drawn between the universities.

Neither is financially responsible for moving students or faculty members from one university to the other.

Osaka University is prominent in the bioscience field, and Tucson will benefit from the new industry connections this collaboration will bring, said John Grabo, the UA's director of marketing and international programs.

"It's the knowledge base and research base that drives the industry," Grabo said.