Japanese Retro-Modern Engines of Innovation

Abstract

This paper highlights the important role played by central research institutes, also known as “corporate R&D, ” in acquiring external knowledge and expanding the scope of the application of research outputs in Japanese electronics companies. To illustrate this, the paper uses six mini cases as examples to prove that Japanese retro-modern engines of innovation continue to work and contribute to business growth. While R&D in the U. S. can be categorized as market-oriented, that in Japan is organization-oriented. Further, this paper discusses the pros and cons of the open innovation model. It can be stated that the advantage of the market-oriented open innovation model is that it enables a search of various technologies, but it falls short in terms of its ability to integrate them. On the other hand, the organization-oriented model is advantageous because it enables the integration of various technologies, but it is deficient with respect to the promotion of conducting research to search various technologies.