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2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Acomparative and empirical study on establishing innovations by SMEs in industrial disticts

Research Project

Project/Area Number 13680091
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Human geography
Research InstitutionHosei University

Principal Investigator

YAMAMOTO Kenji  Hosei University, Faculty of Economics, Professor, 経済学部, 教授 (50136355)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) MATSUHASHI Koji  Meiji University, Faculty of Letter, Professor, 文学部, 教授 (30165849)
Project Period (FY) 2001 – 2003
KeywordsIndustrial district / Innovation / Tacit knowledge / Coded knowledge / milieu / SMEs / network
Research Abstract

The aim of this study is to reexamine several theories on establishing innovations by SMEs in industrial districts on the basis of a comparative and empirical research. We conducted intensive interviews with entrepreneurs including managers for technical development of SMEs at three industrial districts along the Chuo free way in Japan, namely Suwa-Okaya, Iida and Kofu. We arrive at the following conclusions.
(1) SMEs of machine, metal, plastic and rubber goods manufacturing in Japan have established piecemeal innovations on process technology. (2) In our case study districts, there were SMEs which could establish product innovations as well. (3) Innovative SMEs often transact with customers which are located outside the industrial district where the SMEs are locatede. (4) In order to establish innovations, it is important to transform tacit knowledge into coded ones and vice versa. (5) This spiral transformation of tacit and coded knowledge is to be realized by means of endeavor to minister the needs of the customers. (6) Social networks of SMEs and supporting institutions within the district is useful for establishing innovations, especially when they try to develop a new market or to find new customers. (7) Innovative SMEs contribute to develop social networks within the district. (8) The discourse on innovative milieu has closer affinity with our case studies than the discourse on industrial cluster by Porter. (9) Hiring of retired engineers is important for establishing innovations by SMEs. (10) Location of innovative SMEs does not necessarily lead to the economic growth of the district as a whole. It is, therefore, necessary to innovate effective policies for the regional economies.

  • Research Products

    (12 results)

All Other

All Publications (12 results)

  • [Publications] 山本健兒: "知識創造と産業集積-マスケル&マルムベルイ説の批判的検討"人文地理. 55. 554-573 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 山本健兒: "産業クラスター計画の論理の批判的考察"経済志林. 72巻1号. (2004)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 山本健兒: "学習する地域としての長野県諏訪・岡谷地域-機械金属工業技術の学習と革新-"経済志林. 69巻4号. 271-302 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji, (Braun, Gaebe, Grotz, Okamotoとの共著): "Regional networking of small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan and German evidence from a comparative study"Environment and Planning A. Vol.34. 81-99 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji(Fluchterとの共著): "Automobilindustrie in Japan"Geographische Rundschau. Jg.54,H.6. 18-26 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 山本健兒: "P.クルーグマンとA.マーシャルの産業集積論"經濟學研究(九州大学経済学会). 67巻4/5号. 1-25 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji: "Knowledge creation and industrial clustering"The Human Geography (Jimbun Chiri). Vol.55. 554-573 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji: "A critical review on the logics of the Industrial clustering"The Hosei University Economic Review (Keizai Shirin). Vol.72(forthcoming). (2004)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji: "The Suwa-Okaya district of Japan as a learning region : learning and innovation in technology and machine and metal manufacturing skills"The Hosei University Economic Review (Keizai Shirin). Vol.69. 271-302 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji: "Regional networking of small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan and Germany : evidence from a comparative study."Environment and Planning A (co-authors : Braun, Gaebe, Grotz and Okamoto). Vol.34. 271-302 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji: "Automobilindustrie in Japan."Geographische Rundschau Jg. (co-author : Fluchter). 54,H.6. 18-26 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yamamoto, Kenji: "A critical and comparative study on theories of industrial localization by Paul Krugman and Alfred Marshall"Journal of Political Economy (Keizaigaku -Kenkyu) (Kyushu University). Vol.67,No.4/5. 1-25 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2005-04-19  

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