Title: An exploratory study of Japanese company Research and Development links with British universities

Authors: Lee Woolgar

Addresses: Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), University of Tokyo Komaba 4-6-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; National Institute of Science and Technology Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Marunouchi 2-5-1, Chiyoda-ku, 100-0005, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract: This exploratory paper looks at the range of links between Japanese companies and British universities. Drawing on survey, interview and documentation, the paper observes that there are a number of different types of relationships but the significance of these for firms or universities is not clear, nor is it possible to grasp the number of links and their significance vis-a-vis more prominent laboratory investments. The paper makes an empirical contribution to the literature on overseas R&D and suggests pointers for further research, in particular, how foreign firms engage in host innovation systems and how host innovation systems draw upon and seek to capitalise on foreign-hosted firms.

Keywords: overseas R&D; research and development; industrial collaboration; university-industry links; UILs; Britain; Japan; UK universities; United Kingdom; Japanese companies; laboratory investment; innovation systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2007.017808

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2007 Vol.6 No.2/3/4, pp.235 - 249

Published online: 16 Apr 2008 *

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