Beyond innovation with prof. Yoshida

Long anticipated meeting with prof. Satoshi Yoshida from the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology (newly established research and higher education institution funded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) took place today.

Prof. Yoshida introduced me to Innovation 25 – a long-term strategy initiative of the Japanese government for the creation of innovation contributing to growth with a perspective of the year 2025. We spoke about sources of international inspiration for the Japanese innovation policy:  a report Innovate America: Thriving in a World of Challenge and Change as well as the work of the UK Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS; currently Department for Business, Innovation and Skills). Prof. Yoshida also mentioned the recent foreisght applications in Russia (RUSNANO) and referred me to the works of his British colleague dr Robert Phall who is an expert in technology roadmapping.

At the end of our fruitful conversation I was presented with Prof. Yoshida’s recent publication – a book entitled Beyond Innovation. Unfortunately I don’t speak Japanese but anyway I will be able to make use of many interesting diagrams.