Keynote Lecture

Prof. Makoto Yano
Presentation Title: High quality markets – A prerequisite for an innovative society
Abstract
In Yano (2009), I introduced market quality theory by formulating a new concept of transactional fairness. The theory implies that high quality markets are indispensable for healthy growth and that a well-designed body of market infrastructure is indispensable for high quality markets. In order to formulate the theory accurately, it is necessary to explain what are meant by healthy growth and well-designed market infrastructure mean, which have not been treated in the existing literature. The theory also opens a new way to bring fairness considerations into economics, which have largely ignored in the conventional literature. In this talk I will explain the concepts of transactional fairness and market quality. I will also discuss past incidences that show what might happen if market quality is to be reduced and the design of market infrastructure to overcome those incidences. I will also explain how market quality may be measured and data that are needed to make accurate measurement. Towards this end, I will cover several new research results that may serve as a foundation for empirically testing market quality theory.
Bio
Makoto YANO is a professor of economics at Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University; He also serves as the President and Chief Research Officer for the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI), which is a semi-governmental economic research institute affliated with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Yano received a BA from the University of Tokyo in 1977 and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Rochester in 1981. He taught at number of universities, including Cornell University, Yokohama National University, and Keio University before joining Kyoto University. He was the president of the Japanese Economic Association in 2008/2009. Yano ‘s major work includeds “the Transfer Paradox in Small Countries”, American Economic Review, 1999 (with J. Nugent), “On the Dual Stability of a von Neumann Facet and the Inefficacy of Temporary Fiscal Policy,” Econometrica 66-2, 427-452, March 1998, and “Non-Linear Dynamics and Chaos in Optimal Growth: An Example,” Econometrica 63-4, 981-1001, July 1995 (with K. Nishimura).

Session 1

Moderator

Prof. Kaoru Takara
Bio
Professor Kaoru Takara has been interested in physically-based stochastic hydrological analysis, using state-space modeling of river basins with advanced technologies such as the Kalman filter, rain radar, satellite remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and computer intensive statistics (CIS). Modeling and forecasting of heavy rainfalls, floods and landslides are key to prevent and reduce disaster risks in river basins. His current interests include: probable maximum precipitation (PMP), probable maximum flood (PMF), frequency analysis of meteorological and hydrological extremes with parametric and non-parametric methods, climate change impacts, downscaling of global climate model (GCM) outputs for applications at basin scale, and disaster risk governance. Prof. Takara published 23 co-authored books, 194 peer-reviewed papers, and 132 articles in annuals and journals. He has been contributing to international cooperation research activities through UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP), Asia Pacific Association of hydrology and Water Resources (APHW), International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), International Water Resources Association (IWRA), International Consortium on Landslides (ICL), ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net), and Global Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes (GADRI), as well as through a role as an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Flood Risk Management (JFRM)..

Speakers

Prof. Eiichi Yamaguchi
Presentation Title: Role of government in promoting small business innovation
Abstract
The purpose of the present work is to prove without any doubt that the U.S. federal program of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) has given rise to a remarkable effect on transferring state-of-the-art scientific knowledge especially to the bio-medical industries. The American SBIR started in 1982 through the Small Business Innovation Development Act is the subsidization program for encouraging scientists to become entrepreneurs. The eleven Federal agencies are required to set aside 3.2 percent of their extramural research funds for SBIR. Japan started its own SBIR program in 1999 inspired by the American SBIR program. We compared the SBIR programs between U.S. and Japan from a viewpoint of scientific field in which the SBIR winners have specialized. Through various quantitative data analyses, it was concluded that Japan’s SBIR program has not been able to function at all to encourage scientists to be entrepreneurs. We also compared the performance of bio-medical industries in U.S. and Japan in terms of the SBIR, and found that the SBIR start-ups have played an essential role on developing a new paradigm of value chain in U.S. We then discuss the importance of “abduction and transilience” in order for scientists to create new science-based industries.
Bio
Dr. Yamaguchi is Professor of Kyoto University. He graduated Department of Physics, University of Tokyo in 1977, and received Doctor of Science degree in 1984. He joined NTT Basic Research Laboratory in 1979. He served as Invited Scientist of IMRA Europe, France, from 1993 to 1998. He joined 21st Century Public Policy Institute as Executive Fellow in 1999. He was appointed Professor of Doshisha University in 2003, and from 2008 to 2009, he served as a Visiting Fellow of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge. Since 2014, he has been incumbent. He founded venture companies, ArcZone (1998), Powdec (2001) and CONNEXX SYSTEMS (2011). He published “Innovation: Paradigm Disruption and Fields of Resonance” (NTT Publishing) in 2006, “Science of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy – Evaluation of SBIR and Creation of The Future Industry” (University of Tokyo Press) in 2015 and “Why Innovation Ceased: Crisis of Scientific Japan” (Chikuma Publishing) etc.

Prof. Shuichiro Kuwajima
Presentation Title: Creation of innovation through industry-university collaboration: The case of Kyoto University
Abstract
Collaboration between industry and university attracts attention as effective means for creation of innovation, and the scale of collaborative research with companies is used as one of benchmarking for innovation in Japan. In this presentation, relation between university and innovation is shown focusing on collaborative research between Kyoto University and companies. Both the number of collaborative research projects and the amount of accepted budgets show an increasing trend, mainly due to the increase in projects involving large budgets in the field of life science, such as drug discovery. Meanwhile, as a trend of other fields, even in the automobile field, which is a representative Japanese major industry, the total budget has relatively remained very small. This indicates that needs for university in collaborative research are changing drastically. As spreading the concept “open innovation”, the needs of Japanese companies, especially manufacturing, that have shown interest in the superiority of technologies so far are shifting to not only new technologies but also the search for various values that can be added to their products and/or services. In order to establish an innovation ecosystem by organizational industry-university collaboration, it is indispensable for universities to have worldwide industrial analysis functions and proposal capabilities in the early stage of exploring research themes.
Bio
Dr. Kuwajima is professor and a head of the National Project Section at Office of Society-Academia Collaboration for Innovation (SACI) of Kyoto University. He graduated with a Bachelor and a Master in Physics, and received Ph.D in Physics from Kyushu University. He has a carrier in both a researcher of material analysis field (AIST, NIMS, Kyoto University) and a policy maker as Deputy Director for Innovation Strategy Planning at Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Currently his work field is innovation management for national project based on industry-university collaboration.

Dr. Masahito Ambashi
Presentation Title: Innovation policy in and for ASEAN
Abstract
The main objective of the presentation is to argue what innovation policy is needed in ASEAN member states (AMS) and for ASEAN as a whole. While existing studies point to the importance of enhancing innovation capability in each country to achieve innovations, AMS have not developed it much, which heightens a concern about some AMS being caught in the middle-income trap. The important thing for them is to steadily step up development stages of innovation where they are placed and to formulate appropriate policies in accordance with the typology of the stages. To this end, national innovation systems (NIS) employed by countries could be an effective policy tool toward home-make innovation, in that such systems organise innovation policy in a systematic manner, emphasizing an active coordination role of governments. Furthermore, it is important to examine ASEAN region-wide innovation policy that pushes back individual AMS from the perspective of liberalisation, free movement of natural persons, and the peer review system of innovation policies. Finally, it is required for ASEAN to address innovation gaps not only among countries but also among individuals.
Bio
Dr. Masahito Ambashi is an Economist at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and a Consulting Fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI) of Japan. He graduated with a Bachelor in Economics and a Master of Arts in Economics from Kyoto University and received a Master of Science with Distinction in Economics and PhD in Economics from the University of Essex. His research interest encompasses industrial economics, applied microeconomics, applied econometrics, innovation and technology, and economic development. He publishes papers in Asian Economic Papers, Journal of Economics, and CEPR Discussion Paper Series. Dr. Ambashi first served for Macro Economic Affairs Division of Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Asia Pacific Division of Trade Policy Bureau, and Multilateral Trade System Department under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, and Economic Forecast Division under the Cabinet Office (CAO) of Japan.

Dr. Yanfei Li
Presentation Title: What enables Chinese firms in leap-frogging in technologies in the recent decades? Empirical and anecdotal evidence
Abstract
A generalized framework or model to understand the innovation and technological catching-up policies of China is discussed. First, this study comprehensively review the theories on this topic in the literature. Second, the policy framework and phenomena of rapid progress of technological catching-up and innovation in China is summarized. This is followed by the proposal of a new theoretical framework to explain the phenomenally accelerated catching-up process in China. Empirical methods are subsequently applied to provide evidence and support the proposed theoretical framework. Both data analysis and case studies are applied. An empirical model is developed to analyze the main driving forces of such technological progresses in China. At micro-level, case studies on CGN, a leading nuclear energy company which is state-owned, as well as Huawei, a prominent Chinese private company in telecommunication industry, are conducted to provide further insights on what firm-level strategies, in combination with or leveraging on state-level policies, enable a successful story in reality.
Bio
Dr Yanfei Li is an Energy Economist of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), an international economic policy think tank. He is also currently a senior scientist adjunct to Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He specializes in energy markets, energy policy, and economics of technological change, serving the interests of both academic and public sectors. Dr Li’s current research covers oil prices, regional natural gas trade and market integration, regional power infrastructure planning and electricity trade, economic and environmental assessment of energy technologies, and energy-economy-environment modelling. His academic research appears on top journals such as Energy Economics and Energy Policy. He also regularly contributes opinion articles to public media such as South China Morning Post, the Diplomat, and the Nikkei Asian Review. He acquired PhD in Economics from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Peking University in Beijing.

Session 2

Moderator

Dr. Yasushi Ueki
Bio
Yasushi Ueki is an Economist at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Prior to joining the ERIA in 2014, he worked for the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE). His research interest lies in information and knowledge flows. He has conducted researches on industrial and technological development at IDE Bangkok Research Center in Thailand and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in Chile. His current researches at ERIA focus mainly on capacity building for business development in Southeast Asia. He holds a Ph.D. in international public policy from Osaka University.

Speakers

Dr. Tomohiro Machikita
Presentation Title: Firm-to-firm technology transfers within and across borders: Direct evidence from production networks data
Abstract
Who does disseminate technology to whom, how? This ongoing paper examines the technology transfers of manufacturing firms in Southeast Asia in several origins and destinations, including domestic and cross-border transactions by collecting buyer-producer-supplier network data. Using firm-level self-reported data on incoming and outgoing technology transfers in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam), this paper studies following questions. First, this paper asks how much embodied incoming and outgoing technology transfers can occur within and across borders. Second, this paper asks how much inter-firm technology transfers can occur from which countries to Southeast Asia, and vice versa. Third, this paper asks investigate how in-house R&D and adoption of modern management practices (as organizational absorptive capability) can interact with technology transfers from firm’s production partners (suppliers and buyers) and why. Fourth, this paper asks how embodied and disembodied technology transfers are elastic to geographic distance from these production partners. Finally, this paper asks how much incoming technology transfers can generate product development and process improvements to manufacturing firms. Based on these empirical understanding of how technology transfer occurs within and across borders, this paper estimates an empirical model of supplier choice with technology transfers. This work enhances our understanding of the role of FDI along with vertical production chains and cross-border knowledge flows with trade.
Bio
Tomohiro Machikita is the researcher of the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), Japan. His research has focused on labor economics, spatial economy, immigration, traffic accidents, and industrial development with a special emphasis on production chains. In particular, he investigates acquisitions of managerial capabilities, firm-to-firm matching with technology transfers, and building relationship specificity along the local and global supply chains. He received Nikkei Prize Best Economic Book of the Year by Immigrant Worker in Japan: Economic Analysis (in Japanese, Nihon no Gaikokujin Roudouryoku- Keizaigaku kara no Kensyo, The Nikkei) with his coauthors in 2009. He has visiting experiences to Copenhagen Business School in 2012-2013 and the Department of Economics, Stanford University in 2013-2014. Before he joined IDE-JETRO in 2006, he spent two years in Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University as a research fellow in 2004-2006. He received his Doctorate from Kyoto University in 2007.

Prof. Chawalit Jeenanunta
Presentation Title: The case study on impact of Thailand Industry 4.0 policy in automotive firms
Abstract
Thai government set up the Thailand 4.0 policy in hope to get out from the middle income trap. The knowledge based economy is emphasize. Moreover, the government stimulate the manufacturing industry to introduce Industry 4.0 following Germany and Japan. In this study, multiple case studies were conducted with Thai automotive companies. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the management and senior staff from each company to elicit in-depth information regarding their company’s history, key events, strategies, and operational highlights that significantly contribute to the company’s business and innovations. The questions also emphasized the relationships and certain activities carried between each company and their business counter parts. Some site visits were also conducted at the companies’ plants to observe the actual work environments. The comparison of various aspects of these firms, inter alia, governance type, type of knowledge flow, learning mechanisms, effect of government policy and upgrading results. The detailed relationships between the three companies and their business partners and customers will be discussed. The emphasis on the development of Thailand 4.0 and Industry 4.0 that impact in these companies will be discussed.
Bio
Chawalit Jeenanunta is an associate professor of School of Management Technology (MT), Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Thailand. He received a B.S. degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, and M.Sc. in Management Science from University of Maryland and he received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His Research interests are in area of applications of operations research, simulation, large-scaled optimization and supply chain management. Moreover, his research has focused on industrial innovation with an emphasis on activities within Supply Chains.

Dr. Yoshio Kimura
Presentation Title: Demand for the ASEAN car parts manufacturers
Abstract
Since 1996 Akebono has acquired equity interest in PT. Tri Dharma Wisesa in Indonesia, currently PT. Akebono Brake Astra Indonesia. It established plants in ASEAN – in Thailand in 2006 and in Viet Nam in 2011. It also established a casting plant in Thailand in 2014 to supply casting parts in ASEAN, instead of providing them from Japan. In fiscal year 2016, the sale of Akebono plants in ASEAN was \22.9billion – it is approximately 8.6% of the whole Akebono’s sales – and its operating profit was \1.8billion – 43% of the whole Akebono’s operating profit. Clearly, the plants in ASEAN and ASEAN business have a very important position in the Akebono group. These financial data show that it is worthwhile to have plants and business in ASEAN. However, but we cannot take our business easily, because there are some things to be worried about, which may affect our ASEAN business in the near future. We may need to increase R&D and sales or significant changes in purchasing or human resource (HR) management in ASEAN to meet the strategies or plans of car manufacturers or mega parts manufacturers. Many companies, organizations, and even universities could face ‘big game’ changes, where the conventional way would have lost its value to the automotive industry. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is one of the hottest topic in the automotive industry. It might lead to a drop in the volume of cars and car parts produced, or completely change the appearance and function of parts. It might be helpful for some elements in the automotive industry to not be old-fashioned.
Bio
Dr. Yoshio Kimura is a member of Akebono Brake Industry, Japan, and a visiting researcher of the Research Institute of Automobile and Parts Industries, Waseda University, Japan. He has been improving the efficiency of white-collared workers as a member of the corporate planning department in Akebono. He has been studying in Waseda University the economic, technological, and other aspects of the car and car parts industry to understand Japanese and other area’s car parts industries for them to grow, survive, or have more power and energy.

Dr. Truong Thi Chi Binh
Presentation Title: Catching up the electronics global value chain: Resources of Vietnam network
Abstract
The electronics industry in Vietnam has been flourishing since 2010 with an annual growth rate of 29%, more than triple the overall Vietnam’s industry growth of about 9%. However, the local networks of this sector remain in the primitive stage of development and are fundamentally dependent players among global value chain in Vietnam. Why there are only few local firms participating in the electronics in Vietnam? The paper attempts to discover the differences innovation methods among local companies in order to be able to participate in the electronics industry. What are their backgrounds, characteristics and innovative learning mechanisms? How did they overcome obstacles and move up in the value chain? The paper identifies the important factors and resources that local networks utilized to move up in the global value chains. As the results, strategy to step inside the chains and the backward and forward linkages are focal factors. The new ICT application investment and internal and external human resource training systems play crucial roles in upgrading activities. Meanwhile, the most common innovation methods for local network are changes in production management, standard and quality. The findings of the research help suggesting, the Vietnam government policy in promoting manufacturing firms.
Bio
Binh is a researcher at the Institute for Industrial Policy and Strategy, with a concentration in industrial development and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). She researches and consults on public policies for the manufacturing industries for the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Truong is also the Founder and Director of the Supporting Industry Enterprises Development Center (SIDEC), a pioneering organization that promotes and assists private manufacturing firm in Vietnam. Additionally, Truong was recently elected to be the Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Industry. Specifically, from 2014 to 2017, she led European Union sponsored project titled “Vietnam supporting industries to Europe,” which aimed to enhance capability of local manufacturing enterprises to then match them with global buyers. Truong obtained her PhD. In Economics from the Hanoi National Economics (2010) and a Master in Small Business Studies from the University of Leipzig, Germany (2002).

Session 3

Moderator

Prof. Seio Nakajima
Bio
Seio Nakajima is Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University. He has conducted organizational analyses of the Chinese film industry, as well as ethnographies of Chinese film audiences and consumption. His articles include “Prosumption in Art” (American Behavioral Scientist, 2012), “Re-imagining Civil Society in Contemporary Urban China: Actor-Network-Theory and Chinese Independent Film Consumption” (Qualitative Sociology, 2013), and “The Genesis, Structure and Transformation of the Contemporary Chinese Cinematic Field: Global Linkages and National Refractions” (Global Media and Communication, 2017), He is currently working on a book manuscript, tentatively entitled Dream Factory, Chinese Style: Institutional Change in the Film Industry, 1978-2017. He is embarking on a new project on the socio-technical analysis of safe driving and autonomous driving technologies, serving as the Director of the Research Institute of Automobile and Parts Industries (RIAPI), Waseda University. He has recently expanded his research interest to Japanese popular culture and creative industries.

Speakers

Mr. Fusanori Iwasaki
Presentation Title: Supply chain vertical integration: Case studies of Japanese apparel SMEs
Abstract
This presentation aims at understanding how some firms have vertically integrated their supply chains from manufacturing to retail sale, by introducing the case examples of Japanese small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), especially on Apparel Industries. Several studies have shown the structural transformation of Japanese economic circumstances since 1980’s, which has been driven by the strongly appreciated Japanese Yen. Plaza Accord in 1985 or Japan-U.S. Structural Impediments Initiatives started this trend, and has affected the market and production of Japanese manufacturing companies. The studied SMEs have promoted vertical integration of value chains covering from manufacturing side to sales side, retaining domestic production in Japan. By entering into the final market, the successful SMEs could have access to reliable market information, based on which they could realize proper production planning, lead time management, and use of multiple production bases in and outside Japan with different comparative advantages to satisfy Japanese consumers’ requirements for timely supplies of low-price products. By comparing with the conventional style of Japanese apparel industry, this presentation highlights characteristics of the selected SMEs and tries to indicate a kind of strategies of survival.
Bio
Fusanori IWASAKI is Senior Research Associate, and Executive Assistant to the President, of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Jakarta, Indonesia. He joined ERIA in 2015. His research interests are International Political Economy, International Relation and International Business. He is now Ph. D student of the graduate school of law, Kyoto University, and Graduate School of Advanced Leadership Studies, Kyoto University (Shishu-kan). He was the Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (DC1). He had a master degree from the graduate school of law, Kyoto University.

Prof. Hideo Kobayashi
Presentation Title: Japanese car and electronics makers’ strategy to East Asia: Differing policy in ASEAN and China
Abstract
Japanese car and electronics industries need to take different strategies for China and ASEAN that are the two main markets in East Asia. Carmakers focus on EVs/PHEVs (electric vehicles/plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) in China and fuel-efficient gasoline and hybrid vehicles in ASEAN. Electronics companies have established development centers for product localization and specialize in high-end segment in a specific product to acquire market share in the two markets. The main role of the headquarters in Japan in the two industries is in the management of their international business with the strategic emphasis on localizing development and production activities in the two markets. A company from each industry will be selected to explain the current situation of the international business operation by these Japanese industries.
Bio
Hideo Kobayashi is an Emeritus Professor of Waseda University. He researched Asian Economies for many years and has taught at Komazawa Univrsity of Economics Faculty and Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies of Waseda University. Received B.A. in 1966, M.A in 1968 and Ph.D. in 1978 from Tokyo Metropolitan University. Also he was President from 1998 to 2014 and is currently adviser of Research Institute of Auto Parts Industries, Waseda University. He is a specialist for Auto Parts Industries, especially now focusing on New Eco Vehicles, such as Electronic, Plug-in Vehicles and Driving Assistant System in China and South East Asia Countries.

Prof. Martin Schröder
Presentation Title: Implications of Industry 4.0 for automotive SMEs in East Asia
Abstract
The anticipated 4th Industrial Revolution, commonly called Industry 4.0, gradually shapes. Industry 4.0 can be characterised by the introduction of virtual information into production (processes and machinery) and products which are “intelligent”, i.e. capable of communication. While there is still much uncertainty concerning the scope of Industry 4.0, implementation examples will be discussed. From today’s perspective, the impact of Industry 4.0 for these firms is likely to occur in three interconnected fields, namely logistics, production, and products. Based on this overview, likely consequences for automotive SMEs in East Asia will be explored.
Bio
Martin Schröder is Associate Professor at the Department of Automotive Science, Graduate School of Integrated Frontier Sciences, Kyushu University. He used to do research at the Research Institute of Automobile and Auto-parts Industries at Waseda University. His research analyses the impact of regional economic integration on the development of the automotive parts industry in ASEAN. Together with colleagues, he cooperated with JICA and the Industrial Policy and Strategy Institute, Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. He holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from Trier University and a Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies from Waseda University.

Prof. Kaoru Nabeshima
Presentation Title: Regulation similarity across countries in automotive industry: Perspectives from the Japanese automotive exporters
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest on assessing the impact of regulations on international trade. This reflects the fear that the global trading system is moving more towards protectionism rather than pushing forward for freer trade. However, systematic comparison of regulatory system across countries were not conducted because of the lack of regulatory data that are internationally comparable. This paper utilizes newly created data by UNCTAD on the regulatory information across major countries (that accounts for more than 80% of global trade) to calculate the degree of similarity across country in an industry. We choose the automotive industry as one of the example in this paper since the automotive industry is an important industry both domestically and internationally. Because of the nature of the product, the automotive industry tend to face many kinds of regulations such as safety requirements as well as environmentally focused ones. In this paper, we assess the degree of regulatory similarities across countries using Japan as a base country and explores differences in regulations faced by Japanese exporters to other countries.
Bio
Kaoru Nabeshima holds a Ph.D. in Economics from University of California-Davis, and a BA in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University. Prior to joining Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University in 2015, he worked for the Institute of Developing Economies-Japan External Trade Organization and for the World Bank. Some of his publications include Meeting Standards, Winning Markets: Regional Trade Standards Compliance Report East Asia 2013 (IDE-JETRO/UNIDO 2013), Tiger Economies under Threat (co-authored with Shahid Yusuf, 2009); Some Small Countries Do It Better: Rapid Growth and Its Causes in Singapore, Finland, and Ireland (co-authored with Shahid Yusuf, 2012). His research interests lie in examining the relationship between regulations and international trade, the issue of middle income trap and the innovation capabilities of firms in East Asia.

Prof. Masatsugu Tsuji
Presentation Title: How do SMEs upgrade their innovation processes?
Abstract
This study aims to characterize the upgrading process of SMEs’ innovation based on author’s various in-depth interviews and empirical analyses on firm-level survey data conducted in ASEAN economies as well as Japan. The factors for upgrading are summarized as (i) external linkages, (ii) R&D, (iii) HRD, and (iv) policy. This study focuses mainly on R&D and HRD. R&D is categorized into two types: traditional R&D and non-R&D. The former is R&D conducted by specific R&D units, whereas the latter is implemented without explicit or formal units. The research question is whether there are differences in the performance and conduct of innovation between two types of R&D. HRD is another key factor for innovation and upgrading. The skill formation of SMEs includes OJT and OFFJT, and actual practices take different forms according to SMEs’ technology, product, size of firm, and so on. Various types of HRD practices and their effects to upgrading are discussed.
Bio
TSUJI, MASATSUGU, Ph.D.; Professor of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Kobe International University, and Professor Emeritus of Osaka University. Received B.A. from Kyoto University in 1965; M.A. from Osaka University in 1967; and Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University, US in 1976. His serves include visiting professors of Carnegie Mellon University, US and National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; President of the Japanese Association of Product Development and Management; Board of Director, ITS; Editorial Board, JISfTeH. Current research focuses on identifying factors promoting innovation in Japan and ASEAN economies. Publications include Industrial Clusters, Upgrading and Innovation in East Asia, Edward Elagr, 2011, From Agglomeration to Innovation: Upgrading Industrial Clusters in Emerging Economies, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009, Industrial Agglomeration and New Technology, Edward Elgar, 2007, and “Characterizing R&D and HRD in the Innovation Process of Japanese SMEs,” Asian Journal of Technology and Innovation, in press..