Innovation Systems in Japan: Past Strengths and Current Problems

Growth of the Japanese manufacturing industry, throughout the 80s and 90s, was realized by enduring innovation processes, in which large diversified firms had persistently invested in projects surrounded by significant uncertainty.
What mechanism enabled this innovative endeavor in Japanese firms? What problems are Japanese firms currently faced with in pursuing innovative activities? These questions will be discussed by showing simple analyses of financial data. In addition, possible solutions will be introduced through a few recent examples of promising start-ups.

Yaichi Aoshima is Professor and Director of the Institute of Innovation Research at Hitotsubashi University. His research interests include the management of innovation and new product development, focusing on the justification processes of mobilizing resources for innovation, and co-evolution of industry, technology, and firm capabilities. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from MIT Sloan School. 

Moderator: Marie Söderberg, Professor and Director, European Institute of Japanese Studies, Stockholm School of Economics

Discussant: Ryoko Kondo,New Business Development, Stockholm Liaison Representative, Mitsubishi Corporation 

RSVP to nanhee.lee@hhs.se by March 19, 2019
         
The Japan seminar series is jointly organized by the European Institute of Japanese Studies at Stockholm School of Economics, the Asia Programme at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, the Department of Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish Studies at Stockholm University and the Swedish Defence University. It features monthly seminars on Japanese economy, politics and society. 

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