New institutional policies for university–industry links in Japan

This paper reports on changes in Japan's national and private universities for promoting university–industry links (UIL). The paper is shaped by the body of literature that has observed factors that may support university ‘entrepreneurialism’. This includes organizational capacity, personnel, policies, incentives and institutional background. Drawing on interview and survey fieldwork, the measures adopted following changes to the governance of the national universities in 2004 are reviewed. Through comparison with private universities it is observed that the reform has had an influential effect on the university system. The policy implications of the paper relate to broadening the range of areas for collaboration with industry, reducing the limitations for personnel transfer and skill development, and expanding the range of incentives at universities.