Innovation Policy in Japan

ITPS, Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies
http://www.innovation.lv/ino2/publications/japan.pdf

The large apparent difference in economic performance between the USA and Japan during the last decade has been seen as evidence that the American innovation system today is more effective than the Japanese. Especially two differences have been emphasized. One is the creation of new high tech venture companies in such fields as IT and biotechnology, of which there has been very little in Japan. The other concerns the internationally leading position of American research universities and their seemingly effective system for transfer of technology and knowledge to industry. p.9

This is the concern about innovation for Japan for long time, but it might be difficult to change the situation because it would be strongly connected with conservative aspects of Japanese business culture.

Innovation Leaders

http://www.bcg.com/impact_expertise/publications/files/Innovation_Aug_2008.pdf

One of our lecturers recommended us to read the report about innovation issued by BCG (Boston Consulting Group). I couldn’t get around to reading it for a while, but our presentation just finished and I had a bit of time for reading, so I finally read it.

The first half of that was not so interesting, but the chapter named “Becoming more innovative Enterprise” was very meaningful.

The author shows five common characters of the best innovation leaders:

-The Ability to Tolerate Ambiguity
-The Ability to Assess and Be Comfortable with Risk
-The Ability to Balance Passion and Objectivity
-The Ability to Change
-The Ability to Command Respect, Even from Those Who Are Skeptical.

Maybe it means being innovation leaders is very tough and stressful. We should expect there ARE troubles and overcome them instead of avoid them.
These abilities are a little bit too abstract, but they could be some of the core abilities which I have to acquire.