Nationwide Analysis of Innovation Creation Sites and Flood Inundation Risk Using Japan’s Patent Application Information from 1980 to 2018

Abstract

Innovation drives economic growth and is more crucial than ever. However, despite Japan's susceptibility to natural disasters, particularly floods, it has not been clarified to what extent innovation creation sites are at risk of stagnation due to flood inundation. This study aims to evaluate the potential risk of flood inundation on innovation creation sites in Japan, using patent application information from 1980 to 2018 as a proxy for innovation creation. By overlaying spatial dataset of innovation creation sites and flood inundation risk areas, this study conducted spatiotemporal analysis to clarify the actual conditions of flood inundation risks on innovation creation sites on a nationwide scale. Approximately 40% of innovation creation sites (267, 746 of the 715, 997 sites in 2018) have flood inundation risks nationwide. The Osaka metropolitan area is particularly vulnerable because of the extensive flood inundation risk areas along the Yodo River. Furthermore, the study demonstrates increasing trends in the percentage of innovation creation sites with flood inundation risks in regional areas, highlighting a potential hindrance to future regional development. Additionally, Tokushima Prefecture has the highest proportion of innovation creation sites with flood inundation risks. These results offer valuable insights for a comprehensive understanding of the innovation vulnerability to flooding in Japan and provide perspectives to improve disaster preparedness measures from an innovation viewpoint.