Abstract
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are important actors in cooperative research in the provinces. However, SMEs lack resources (e.g., human resources, know-how or informational sources). Furthermore, SMEs are facing some difficulties when they join in cooperative research with academia and the government. However, the proper operation of local support systems can help them. This paper focuses on the regional differences in the utilization of a research fund called "Chiiki needs sokuou gata (research fund for local needs)" that was provided for SMEs by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. The author believes variations in regional support resources and activities caused such differences. A correlation analysis and a multivariable linear analysis were used to examine factors of these differences. The results showed that the following factors influenced the utilization of research funds for SMEs.
1) Increasing the number of researchers in a region.
2) Improving the system for receiving external funds at regional support organization.
3) Support from the regional office of funding agencies.
