A study on university-industry research collaborations of small-medium enterprises

The university-industry research collaborations (UIRCs) have been recognized as an important factor of the production of innovation and have been mainly conducted by large enterprises so far in Japan. Meanwhile, there are a lot of problems in the UIRCs of small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and almost of such enterprises except research and development type of SMEs have not taken a step forward the UIRCs. However, the intensity and extent of UIRCs are important for the support of SMEs and the activities of economy since the rate of SMEs is high in the regional area. In this paper, the characteristics of Niigata area that is one of the areas in which SMEs are almost occupied, approaches to the UIRCs in Niigata University, the joint researches between the university and industry in Niigata University, schemes to joint researches, and successful cases are analyzed and discussed.