Ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology of japan supports collaboration between japanese universities and foreign corporations

From 2007 the Japanese Government will be planning the strategy how to more efficiently provide support in collaboration between Japanese universities and foreign companies. Currently the details are being worked on to balance out the situation in research investment, where the Japanese corporations invest in foreign universities research more than foreign companies invest in research of Japanese universities. There are 16,936 university research projects funded by corporations, out of which only 41 projects are funded by foreign companies to Japanese universities, which is 0.24% of the total investment.    

 To facilitate the balanced international collaboration, the Ministry will select 10 universities to which they will provide funding of $ 100,000 each per year in order to help university TLOs to create organizations within the universities encouraging synergistic relationships with foreign corporations. Within these organizations they would like to place professionals holding Ph.D. degree with a scientific background and having knowledge of patent system of specific countries, which would be trained at university TLO departments abroad. Additionally, for outside support and negotiations with foreign corporations on behalf of universities the consulting companies will be used.

Therefore, new strategy and support of universities by the Japanese Government will promote the cooperative relationship as well as enhance the productivity and effectiveness of partnering opportunities between Japanese universities and foreign corporations.

(Posted November 30, 2006)