The Formation of Medical Device Cluster and Product Development by SMEs:

Japanese Characteristics of Cluster Life Cycle Model

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine that the formation of Japanese medical device clusters and the entry situation into medical device industry by Small Medium sized Enterprises in the light of cluster life cycle model. By progress of Japanese Super-aged society, Health-care industry becomes to be very important for Japanese future. Therefore many medical device clusters belonging to the Health-care industry has born in administrative divisions.

This paper builds on questioner and interview survey data for SMEs, and investigation for three types of medical device clusters. We could find out the trend of entry situation into medical device industry by SMEs on the basis of questioner and interview survey data. Also, we carried out a comparative analysis the three type clusters on the basis of literature searching.

In advancing consideration, we used Menzel & Fornahl’s cluster life cycle model to analyze the mechanism of Japanese medical device cluster life cycle model. However throughout the course of this paper, we could find that Japanese medical device cluster life cycle model is different from Menzel & Fornahl’s model.

In conclusion, Japanese medical device clusters are formed in the way of renewing or transforming non-clustered firms to clustered firms while deep relationship of existing industry life cycle and the clustering are promoted and facilitated by Government-led management.

From the above, this paper point out following three issues that should be noted. First, Japanese medical device clusters are influenced by resources of existing industrial districts. Second, the growth of Japanese medical device clusters are influenced by Government-led functions. Third, the functions should be change according to stage of medical device cluster life cycle.