TRIPLE HELIX noms.pmd

O-004The Development of Regional Innovation system in Tohoku area, JapanMichi Fukushima, Tohoku University, JapanIntroductionIn this paper, we will examine how the regional innovation system in the Tohoku region has been developed in the past 40 years.The Tohoku region is located in northern part of Japan. It has been thought of as a hinterland due to its location (far from urbanareas) and climate. In fact, Tohoku was famous for abundant land and rich natural resources. However, when World War II endedand the Japanese economy expanded rapidly in the 1960s, the Tohoku region missed the boat and failed to change theirindustry structure. In order to catch up with other advanced regions, science and technology (S&T) and innovation have beenthought of as the key factor for the revival of Tohoku.State of the art about the topicWe will focus on four projects conducted in Tohoku area in the 1980s -the 2000s; (1)Technopolis policy (1983-1989), (2)TohokuIntelligent Cosmos (TIC) plan(1987-), (3) the formation of triple helix model(1987-), and (4) Cluster strategy (Intelligent clusterand Industrial cluster project)(2001-). There has been some excellent and detailed research that highlight and analyze just aproject (Ito et al., 1995, Ito, 1998, Abe, 1998, Tanaka, 1996, Fukushima, 2007). However, there is few research that see fourprojects in chronological order and at a regional level. By seeing things through times, we could see how the region could learnand accumulate knowledge on how they should manage projects.Research focusWe will focus on four major projects conducted in Tohoku region as previously stated. Our purpose is to make clear what kindof abilities have been accumulated in the region through projects, how they have accumulated and how they have been handedon to the next, and what kind of obstacles made the projects stagnate.MethodologyWe use case study approach for achieving our purposes. We consult some papers dealing with these projects, archival data,such as articles of magazine and newspapers, and interview data to the person who have been concerned with these projects.FindingsThe first, the region has not always been passive, but parts of it have sometimes behaved actively and wisely. Seemingly mostof the S&T and innovation policies were initiated by the central government, while regions just followed its orders, no matter whatthe ideals were. However, in the middle of the process, we saw endogenous initiatives appear in some parts of the Tohokuregion. The TIC was the representative case. The plan was conjured and initiated by local people, as a backlash against thecentral government report that neglected the Tohoku region. In addition, triple helix models, such as INS, were also started bypeople who had a strong feeling of crisis about their situation.The second, the Tohoku region has accumulated knowledge and procedures for economic development in the areas where thereare endogenous initiatives and they are eager to enhance their S&T level for the purpose of their economic development. Inthese areas, the roles of universities are especially important factor in handing knowledge, network, and skills for managingprojects on to the next.The third, the problem with regional innovation system in the Tohoku region consists of excess egalitarianism. S&T policies inJapan are related to national land development and relocation policies, which insinuate that every region in Japan should growat the same pace and implement the same kinds of policies. As a result, limited resources were dispersed by the centralgovernment and no program could yield satisfactory results due to the inefficient usage of resources. These things have beenseen in the Tohoku region. It is difficult for all prefectures to proceed at the same speed and in the same direction, because thesituation surrounding each region and the resources possessed by each region are quite different. We need to take account ofthis fact. We should have learned from experience that excessive egalitarianism sometimes makes everything fall apart.Contribution and implicationRegional innovation policies in Japan are in jeopardy due to the new ruling party’s policy on S&T and regional innovation. Underthe circumstances, we need to know how to facilitate improvement of regional innovation abilities. The case of Tohoku wouldgive some ideas for this matter.Madrid, October 20, 21 & 22 - 2010102