This article series tries to shed light on the characteristics of Japan’s Science and Technology system. We begin with a historical view to see how science and technology developed, the implications for the current Science and Technology system and especially the transfer of knowledge from science into industry. A very basic characteristic of Japan is its ability to learn from […]
Japanese high-tech firm QD Laser Inc. and the Medical Faculty of German University of Duisburg-Essen have signed an agreement for cooperation at The University of Tokyo today. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, the Eye Clinic of Essen University Hospital will perform clinical studies and research with the innovative retinal imaging laser eyewear (LEW) model developed by QD Laser […]
These days, news are full of multinational companies accused of shifting their profits to low tax jurisdictions. But with a corporate income tax rate of 36%, Japan is not really a location where companies want to artificially transfer their profits to. More often than not it will take time and patience to break even and make profits in Japan. This […]
The CxO’s Headache In March 2006, I was in a meeting room with a local CFO of a leading European company. My colleague and I were invited to discuss how they can increase their profit by improving the way they buy things. There were two issues causing a headache to the firms CFO. First, no one in the procurement team […]
Japan is better prepared for the next industrial revolution than it seems at first sight. But the companies have to embrace change to stay in the race. Do you know the Borg, the cyborgs from the science-fiction universe Star Trek, who assimilate civilization after civilization? For years the German industry warns its colleagues abroad, that the dawn of the Internet […]
It is no secret that many small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) in Japan often have excellent technologies at their command. Yet many are focusing more or less on their domestic market. But as promotion by the government or private initiatives is stepping up, they attract higher attention from overseas. And as they become increasingly open themselves, foreign companies have more […]
As one result of a globalized economy and a declining population the “war for talents” has reached Japan. The first generation of baby-boomers also is going into retirement and the rate of unemployment, 3.6% as of January 2015, is shrinking. Together this leads to a shortage of manpower. A low birth rate and an over-aged society will play its part […]
