Exploring effective new industry creation and support policies for the revitalization of old industrial areas in non-metropolitan areas

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20724
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 4:Geography, cultural anthropology, folklore, and related fields
• Research Institution: Shizuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Masashi 静岡大学, 教育学部, 准教授 (00599912)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 瀬川 直樹 宮崎大学, 地域資源創成学部, 准教授 (80883248)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 旧産業地域（OIA） / 製紙業 / セルロースナノファイバー / 地域産業政策 / 産業集積 / 経路依存性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study explored support measures for restructuring the industrial structure of old industrial areas by examining efforts to commercialize cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and difficulties involved in the paper cluster. While CNF research and development in Japan has been primarily led by large corporations and academic research institutions in metropolitan areas, efforts in non-metropolitan industrial clusters have not progressed significantly. In the case study of the paper industry cluster in the Fuji region, support measures such as matching and seminars have been evaluated as effective in facilitating access to knowledge and understanding of CNF-related technologies. However, practical application faces challenges due to factors such as human resource shortages, funding constraints, and technical barriers. To facilitate structural transformation, support measures that encourage regional companies to invest in technical assistance and equipment are required.

Free Research Field

経済地理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、これまで議論の少なかった東アジア型の産業構造転換やその困難性を論じた。製紙業はデジタル化の進展などによる需要の低迷が続くため、集積地域ではその構造転換が求められる。構造転換を図る策として、新素材の生産や利活用が挙げられるが、現実には既存の産業の生産からの脱却や技術水準への対応、実用化に向けた設備・人材投資が重要になる。産業集積内の中小企業では、これらの対応が困難な状況に置かれており、その対応をどのように図るかが重要になる。そのため、進化経済地理学でのロックイン等の議論に加えて、地域イノベーションシステムや支援政策をめぐるスケールといった地理学からの概念を深化させることが重要になる。