Abstract
Many expect that university spin-off venture businesses will lead Japan's high-tech growth in the 21st century. The number of university spin-off venture businesses in Japan is increasing rapidly these days. The Government has launched a plan to create 1,000 university spin-off venture businesses in the next three years. This paper first discusses their needs, definition and types. Then, it clarifies their current situation based on the first survey of university spin-off venture businesses in Japan. It reveals: 1) National universities spin off a considerable number of venture businesses despite their constraints, 2) Half of the founders are faculty members, 3) The initial capital and staff size are larger than their German counterparts, 4) The major motive is to put invented technologies to practical use and many of Japanese university spin-off venture businesses are in manufacturing, 5) The largest issue is financing at the time of start-up but the issues of staff recruiting and patent protection increase in importance later on, and 6) Japanese university spin-off venture businesses receive assistance from their home universities even after spin-off. Finally, some policy recommendations are made.
