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University‐industry collaboration in Japan by technology fields

Masayuki Kondo (Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan)

Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China

ISSN: 1756-1418

Article publication date: 5 April 2011

1039

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify how university‐industry (U‐I) collaboration differs by technology fields in Japan.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of the research resource allocation in the Japanese national universities in the Japanese national innovation system is followed by the analysis of U‐I collaboration by technology fields. The fields analyzed are life science, information and communication technology (ICT), environment science, nanotechnology and material science, which have been designated as strategically important fields by the Second Japanese Science and Technology Basic Plan. The analysis was conducted in a quantitative way using government data of R&D expenditure, researchers, patent application, joint research, contract research and university spin‐offs.

Findings

Some characteristics of U‐I collaboration have been quantitatively found by technology fields. Though the national universities occupy large R&D expenditure shares in life science and nanotechnology/material science in the Japanese national innovation system, their joint research and contract research are fairly active in environment science as well as in life science and in nanotechnology/material science. For university spin‐offs, the national universities are active in life science and ICT.

Originality/value

This paper quantitatively clarifies U‐I collaboration by technology fields showing relative importance of U‐I collaboration by technology fields. The results provide information input to policy makers when they formulate policies to promote U‐I collaboration by technology fields and to corporate managers when they make U‐I collaboration strategies by technology fields as a part of open innovation strategies.

Keywords

Citation

Kondo, M. (2011), "University‐industry collaboration in Japan by technology fields", Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 15-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/17561411111120846

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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