Dis-organizing structure as a policy reform objective: public-private networks in Japan´s innovation system

Japanese innovation policy reform prescribes the creation of links between public research and industrial innovation, based on the assumption of a public-private disconnect. However, previous research indicates more prevalent university-industry links than conventionally assumed, placing in question the reform prescription. Based on Japan´s industrial development trajectory and organizational structure theory for innovation, the paper concludes that reform should encourage not simply the creation of new organizational linkages, but of a flexible system supportive of linkage creation and disbandment. Such dis-organization of structure befits the resource re-allocation demands of innovation today.