Biotechnology in Japan: A lesson in logistics? Part II: The research policy

Abstract

Research in the natural sciences in Japan is not bound by tradition to the same extent as it is in Europe and the USA. The great economic upsurge of the Japanese bio-industry has only occurred during the last 40 years. Its expansion is largely due to Japan's capabilities for rapid adaptation and commercial exploitation of new knowledge and skills. However, the creativity behind this speedy development did not emanate exclusively from the country's own resources. In this article, an attempt is made to trace the origins of high technology in the Japanese bio-industry and to illustrate the research policy facilitating its development.