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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001 >EDUCATIONAL REFORM Q&A Q15

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   Educational Reform for the 21st Century
   EDUCATIONAL REFORM Q&A
   Q15


QUESTION
It seems important to realize the smooth return to society of university research results through cooperation between universities and industry. What kinds of efforts are being made in this area?

Answer
Returning to society the excellent research results coming out of universities through cooperation and collaboration between universities and industry is very important. It will contribute to the revitalization of the Japanese economy and also lead to a higher level of academic research and an advancement of science and technology at universities themselves.   Based on that recognition, various efforts have been under way for institutional improvements and new projects, including assistance in establishing technology licensing organizations (TLOs).   Further, the Committee for the Promotion of Industrial, Academic and Public Cooperation was established under the Council for Science and Technology and is currently studying measures to further strengthen cooperation between universities and industry.

In the 21st century, having a social environment conducive to the creation and utilization of knowledge is said to be the key to enhancing the competitiveness of a country and realizing an affluent and comfortable society. Cooperation and exchanges among industry, academia and the public sector represent an effective system in pursuing that goal. This system is of great significance in that it facilitates the return to society of what has been produced in research activities at universities and brings in intellectually stimulating ideas from outside that could lead to new academic ideas and developments in university research activities.

  In recent years, MEXT has taken the following measures for institutional improvements to promote cooperation among universities, industry and government.

Promotion of joint research with private companies, etc.

When national universities accept funding from private-sector companies for joint research or commissioned research activities, contracts have to be renewed for each fiscal year. However, under the Law to Strengthen Industrial Technical Ability, enacted in April 2000, universities are now allowed to conclude multiple-year contracts for such activities. Further, the classification of uses of research expenses, previously required when companies disbursed expenses for commissioned research, was abolished. These measures allow flexible responses to changes in research plans and make it easier to use research expenses.

In addition, beginning from FY2001, universities were allowed to pay salaries commensurate to the abilities of part-time staff involved in joint research with private companies, though under certain ceiling limitations. This measure has enabled universities to secure talented staff who can immediately contribute to efficiently carrying out joint research with companies.

Support for the establishment of technology licensing organizations

TLOs are organizations that take out patents on the inventions of researchers, find companies to use those patented inventions and recycle a portion of the patent royalties to researchers and universities. TLOs are designed to help revitalize research activities at universities and create new projects by facilitating the efficient transfer of research results from universities to private-sector companies. With the authorization of the MEXT Minister, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry stipulated that under the Law for Promoting University-Industry Technology Transfer, TLOs were entitled to subsidies, debt guarantees and a reduction in royalty fees. As of August 2001, there were a total of 23 authorized TLOs.

Smooth transfers of state-owned patents

In order to help facilitate technology transfers from universities to industry, the "Researcher's Conference Regarding University-Industry Cooperation in the Future" was held from July 2000 to consider how to improve the mechanism for the attribution, administration and utilization of patents held by universities. The conference came up with a "Description of Discussion" in December 2000. Based on this report, problems were sorted out regarding such matters as the scope of optional contracts' partner (e.g., partner companies involved in joint research TLOs) for the purpose of facilitating the transfers of "rights to be patented" and "patent rights concerning joint ownership" originally belonging to the state. The results were communicated to national universities by the notice of MEXT.

  The Committee for the Promotion of Industrial Academic and Public Cooperation, created under the Council for Science and Technology's Committee for Technology and Infrastructure for Research is currently discussing how to shape a new system of cooperation among industry, academia and the public sector. The committee hopes that the new system will set off a chain of technological innovations and the creation of new industries based on those innovations through mutually stimulating interaction of both research and development results achieved by universities and other public research institutions and the commercial needs of industry.

  In an interim report released in July 2001, the committee cited the following four measures to establish the comprehensive system for cooperation among industry, academia and the public sector in Japan, with universities forming the core of such a system:

{1} Promotion of research and development in response to needs

In order to secure results from cooperation among industry, academia and the public sector, economic and social needs have to be taken into consideration from the initial stage of launching research activities. It is also important for people from the three sectors to exchange information on a daily basis and share the common awareness of problems involved.

{2} Encouraging the effective return to society of research results

In order to realize the return to society of the results of research activities at universities in an effective way, universities need to establish clear policies and plans for patents and other intellectual property rights and also improve systems for technological transfers. It is also important to create an environment that allows highly motivated individual researchers to bring their abilities into full play by clarifying the scope of permissible second jobs and administering such a system smoothly.

{3} Support and fostering of ventures growing out of universities

As an immediate and effective measure to facilitate the return to society of the results of research at universities, universities should take on an additional function of incubation to create an environment under which new businesses can be launched on the basis of technological seeds and human resources fostered by universities.

{4} Strengthening organizations and fostering personnel to support cooperation among industry, academia and the public sector

In order to help accelerate cooperation among industry, academia and the public sector, it is necessary for universities to create organizations for the promotion of three-sector cooperation and also to foster and secure specialists to be involved in such cooperation.


  On the basis of these recommendations by the committee, MEXT intends to implement measures conducive to the stepped-up promotion of cooperation among industry, academia and the public sector.


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