The University of Tokyo's Institute for Open Innovation (IOI) was selected for the Open Innovation Organization Development Project, a public invitation project by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in fiscal 2018. The organization was established as a comprehensive organization within the university to promote open innovation. The organization goes beyond the framework of just joint research conducted by individual researchers, to include the formation of new business domains and ecosystems that enhance industrial competitiveness.
The human race has realized full-fledged economic growth for the first time since the Industrial Revolution. This owes to “innovation” that integrates technological progress and the commodification of technology. Since then, the industrial structure took shape, changes in which accelerated economic growth. This led to continual change in the innovation model. Open innovation, advocated in the 1990s (H. Chesbrough), underwent a major transformation because of changes in the industrial structure. In the current era of systemization of industries and businesses, open innovation has transitioned from the simple joint development of technologies to providing a platform for accelerating economic development and technological progress through the creation of ecosystems. As a platform that integrates knowledge, scientific principles, technology, business, and industry, The Institute for Open Innovation at The University of Tokyo contributes to economic growth through industrial development. In tandem, the Institute seeks to develop academia and expand the horizon of knowledge through positive feedback from such development.
Chairman:Mutsuhiro Arinobu (University Executive Officer and Vice Dean)
The Institute of Open Innovation at the University of Tokyo provides an innovation platform. Innovation technologies based on high quality knowledge and technologies in the University of Tokyo are created by convergence through open innovation with industrial sectors. Technological, IPR, and Competitive strategies with unique innovation management, innovation model design and sustainable management basis, support efficient industrialization, which helps introduce new business and economic growth satisfying market demands and solution of social issues. Benefit from innovation brings investment in knowledge and technologies in academia, as desirable innovation cycles.
The IOI Organization is a cross-departmental organization under the direct supervision of the University president. It is independent of the university's existing organizational system. In other words, it plays the role of a special zone within the university. Consultations from companies are mainly handled by the Management Support Group. For example, even if the research theme is not clear, the coordinator, based on consultations, clarifies the latent needs of the company and matches it with a wide variety of researchers at the University of Tokyo. Each project has its own project manager in the Strategic Planning Group. In addition, Specialty Staff Groups such as intellectual property, finance, legal affairs, and business designers perform their own support and roles in various aspects of R&D.
Joint research is strongly supported by an advanced management system consisting of specialized human resources, from intellectual property and contract negotiations to conflicts of interest in joint research. In addition, we will construct an open innovation platform that supports collaboration of companies and universities through our unique and advanced support system, including the design of innovation models that contribute to business growth and the creation of new business. In addition, by obtaining positive feedback from this collaboration, we will build an independent and sustainable management foundation for the organization, and aim for continuous collaboration and growth between parties.
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