Abstract
The purpose of this study is to discuss the role that industry-university-government collaboration plays in industrial agglomeration by investigating the realities of such collaboration and transformation of actors' relations in a company town. This is a case study of the city of Ube, the company town of Ube Industries.
Traditionally, the core of actors' relations in Ube was Ube Industries. Many SMEs are subcontractors of Ube Industries. Relations between Yamaguchi University and actors were built gradually. Industry-university-government collaboration overcame air pollution in the 1950s. In the 1980s, Ube and its neighboring region were selected to become a technopolis. At that time, the basis for industry-university-government collaboration was solidified. In addition to attracting the university and a laboratory, exchanges between local enterprises and Yamaguchi University started.
With the progress of industry-university-government collaboration, Yamaguchi University and Ube Industries became the core of actors' relations in Ube. The university interacts with large enterprises that have local connections and local governments in a form of inclusive cooperation. Ube Industries uses the collaboration for the high value-added product development. SMEs acquire new seeds and have increased the number of customers. Subcontractors are supported in being independent. Such collaboration can unlock locked-in industrial agglomeration.
