Overview
2007 - 2009
How can product innovation based on university research be achieved? The global trend is to adopt policies to facilitate the creation of many "New Technology-based Firms" (NTBFs), and to generate hi-tech industries in the geographic vicinities of universities through growth and agglomeration of these NTBFs. However, in Japan, this approach has not yet yielded successful results. Indeed, a pioneering project referred to as the "Sapporo Valley" is said to be losing its growth momentum. Against this backdrop, this project addresses the following two questions about Japan: Why has the model for the establishment of hi-tech industries based on innovation generated through the process of NTBF creation, growth and agglomeration failed to function even in the areas with prominent research universities? What factors are obstructing the process of NTBF creation, growth and agglomeration? The purpose of this research project is to analyze these questions from both empirical and theoretical perspectives, and to formulate benchmarks for the building of eco-systems in the regions.
July 9, 2007 - December 31, 2009
