Research on the Interactions Between the Business Strategies of Excellent Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and their External Environment

With respect to the SME policy, the revision made to the Small and Medium Enterprises Basic Act in 2000 changed its focus towards supporting enterprises that create new value through their unique creativity and mobility. Ten years later, a more advanced policy initiative is called for in order to secure the tangible results of the previous gains. This project will focus on the relationship between the business strategies that gave rise to the success of the excellent SMEs and the systems of interactions present between them and the various players surrounding them. This project will analyze cases of global niche top manufacturing enterprises as well as content-related SMEs that drive "Cool Japan" among other cases and, based on these analyses, make recommendations with respect to the nature of future appropriate support schemes and the like.

August 23, 2011 - March 31, 2013