Abstract
Japan pays third large amount in R&D investment in the world, and is the top patent holder country. However, the ranking is not high in "Global Innovation Index" or "IMD Scoreboard", showing weak competitiveness. There are needs to break through the insufficiencies of strategic approaches, openness, result orientation, and international collaborations. The betterment challenges from PM viewpoint would be useful not only for the organizations but also for the related individuals. This paper discusses common characteristics of successful innovators and what should be considered in project management for researches.
