Abstract
This paper is to clarify how university-industry collaboration differs by technology fields in relation to university research resources in Japan, after analyzing university research resources by technology fields. The technology fields studied were the four priority fields designated by the Second and the Third Science and Technology Basic Plans. Life science field occupied the largest shares in collaborative research, contract research and university spin-offs, since this field occupied the largest shares in R&D expenditure and patent application. Nanotechnology/material science field showed the second largest shares in patent application and R&D expenditure; and occupied the second largest shares in collaborative research and contract research. Environmental science showed the third largest share in contract research, though it occupied only small shares in R&D expenditure and patent application. Information and communication technology (ICT) field showed the third largest shares in R&D expenditure and patent application and the second largest share in university spin-offs. Since these four technology fields are important in university-industry collaboration compared to their R&D expenditure in the university sector, it is worthwhile for the government to invest in university R&D in these four technology fields. This is especially true for environmental science.
