Comparative Analysis of Enterprise Data

This Internet site contains information on the CAED symposium that will be held on the afternoon of October 2, 2009. The symposium is part of a three-day international conference from October 2-4, 2009. Please visit the official CAED Internet site for information on the other events in the CAED conference.

Since the start of the 21_st century, a number of countries have industrialized to the point where they can be added to the group of developed nations. On the other hand, the financial crisis that originated in the United States and the collapse of General Motors are two events symbolic of existing developed countries that have been losing their growth drivers and suffering from erosion in their leadership positions in certain industries. Developed countries are now finding it more difficult to maintain the living standards they previously enjoyed and are facing the need to transform their industrial structures and create new industries.

During the first half of this decade, Japan achieved a certain level of economic growth, mainly attributable to manufacturing exports. However, with Japan's economy contracting more than any other developed country during the present global recession it has become apparent that relying on a small number of industrial sectors for economic growth is a very risky and unreliable strategy.

For this reason, Japan must improve productivity across a broad range of industries, especially given its aging society and falling birthrate. In the manufacturing industry, investments in research and development have been recognized as key drivers of innovation. However, to achieve innovation, including service-sector innovation, it is necessary to use a wide range of intangible assets that include research and development. From this perspective, restructuring corporate organizations and improving human capital are also critical factors that bolster business performance.

This symposium will address the concept of intangible assets, including various measurement techniques and their contribution to corporate performance. Leading experts such as Dr. Carol Corrado of The Conference Board, Dr. Ron Jarmin of the U.S. Census Bureau, Professor Eric Bartelsman of Free University (Vrije Universiteit), Amsterdam, and Professor Kuen Lee of Seoul National University will exchange theories and share their ideas on the application of intangible assets in policymaking and management. Presentations and discussion groups will include academic researchers, administrators and operational managers. The Conference will provide a forum for examining appropriate business management and economic policies for the future.