抄録
After 30 years since the introduction of the concept of innovation in Japan, we are now talking about "open innovation", a step to stimulate innovation in the society as a whole by disclosing corporate innovation processes. It is, however, still questionable to what extent private enterprises in Japan can disclose their knowledge beyond the limit for their own profits. Experiences in the recent 20 years in which the Japanese industries reached an international level seem insufficient for them to free themselves from the habit acquired in the postwar years in which a number of companies had been competing in single industrial branches. While enterprises, particularly those in the electric/electronic field, which had acquired the foremost position in technology in this country through public purchase by the then national or semi-national communication, railway and electricity sectors until about 20 years ago, had to face a drastic change of competition conditions brought about by the internationalization of the procurement process, the "introvert mentality" of people in the business world remains obstinate. For example, the chemical industry, which has never enjoyed the benefit of public purchase, has just begun showing its originality, and not yet ready to step into open innovation. It is expected that quest for uniqueness of individual enterprises through the "selection and concentration" strategy will prompt the openness of innovation processes.
