An analysis of diversification dynamics  of R&D activities and external  collaboration in major manufacturing  industries in Japan

Noriyuki  Shikata; Hiroshi  Imahashi; Kiminori  Gemba

doi:10.23762/FSO_VOL9_NO4_4

Published : 2021-12-28

Vol. 9 No. 4 (2021)

An analysis of diversification dynamics of R&D activities and external collaboration in major manufacturing industries in Japan

Noriyuki Shikata

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2695-7460

Hiroshi Imahashi

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1561-8618

Kiminori Gemba

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0309-0764

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23762/FSO_VOL9_NO4_4

Abstract

Numerous studies have been conducted on diversification, but few have analysed diversification dynamics in the manufacturing industry. Open innovation has recently drawn attention, yet few empirical studies have demonstrated the trend in R&D collaboration among business enterprises. This study quantitatively analysed a substantial amount of statistical data regarding the R&D expenses of Japanese manufacturing industries to crosslink the study fields of diversification and R&D collaboration so as to fill the research gap in the preceding studies. The findings of the analysis were as follows: (1) the automobile and accessories manufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries have focused on their core business and actively collaborated with external parties to acquire fundamental technologies from outside; (2) the other seven major manufacturing industries exhibit high levels of R&D diversification but relatively low rates of external expenditure; (3) the science-based automobile and accessories manufacturing industry and pharmaceutical manufacturing industry have built up a long-term collaborative relationship with partner organisations through academic–industrial collaboration or the effective utilisation of R&D investment to encourage partner companies to acquire new technology from outside. This study successfully visualised the relationship between the 21 years of R&D diversification and R&D collaboration in nine major manufacturing industries in Japan. It thereby contributed to the academic study of diversification by providing a better overall understanding of the R&D diversification of major manufacturing industries in Japan seeking to enter new fields.

Keywords:

Diversification dynamics, R&D collaboration, open innovation, manufacturing industries

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Shikata, N. ., Imahashi, H. ., & Gemba, K. . (2021). An analysis of diversification dynamics of R&D activities and external collaboration in major manufacturing industries in Japan. Forum Scientiae Oeconomia, 9(4), 79–97. https://doi.org/10.23762/FSO_VOL9_NO4_4

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