Examining the university industry collaboration policy in Japan: Patent analysis

This study is a quantitative analysis of Japanese patent information to examine the changes in the nature and the outcome of university–industry collaborations (UICs) following the enactment of UIC policies in the late 1990s. By considering UIC patents not only in joint university–industry patent applications but also in joint inventions organized by university personnel and corporate researchers, we discuss the status of UICs before the incorporation of national universities. Our analysis indicates that these policies increased the number of UIC patents in the late 1990s, while the quality of UIC patents does not fall over this period. Our study indicates that Japanese UIC policies in the late 1990’s provide favorable results in general. However, strong IP policies pursued by universities may reduce the incentive for firms to commercialize inventions resulting from UIC collaborations, so that patent policies at university should be re-examined.

► We quantitatively analyzed the outcome of university–industry collaborations (UICs) following in the late 1990s.
►  The policies increased the number of UIC patents in the late 1990s, while their quality does not fall over this period.
►  Strong IP policies by universities may reduce the incentive for firms to commercialize inventions from UIC collaborations.