## Details of Regional Innovation Strategy Support Program Initiated by MEXT

The Regional Innovation Strategy Support Program provides support for proactive and self-sustainable local activities, such as those for the formation of intellectual assets and the development of human resources, in regions where MEXT's assistance is expected to contribute largely to the realization of their regional innovation strategies. Regions eligible for receiving support are selected from among the regional innovation strategy promoting regions (see page 3). Programs are shown below. (Each selected region can combine these programs to promote projects for the creation of regional innovations.)

## (1) Concentration of researchers who play core roles in regional innovation strategies

It is quite important to have competent researchers who play core roles in regions. At the same time, it is necessary to strategically allocate researchers who will lead the creation of regional innovations in order to prevent research activities from halting in the future due to shortages of researchers with similar technological knowledge or young researchers.

To this end, support is provided for the purpose of inviting researchers from the inside and outside Japan who will contribute to the realization of regional innovations based on strategic plan.

(1) Invitation of competent researchers from inside and outside Japan

[Organizations eligible for receiving aid]

Research institutions such as universities

## [Use of aid]

Personnel costs of researchers (including the initial costs of facilities and equipment, the costs of project implementation, etc.)

## (2) Development and implementation of human resource development programs toward the realization of regional innovation strategies

In order to develop capable individuals who will contribute to local communities and ensure continuous efforts toward the realization of regional strategies, suitable programs must be identified and developed.

To this end support is provided for the development and implementation of programs on capacity building for both the development of new industries in regions and the revitalization of local communities.

[Organizations eligible for receiving aid]

General coordinating organizations or research institutions such as universities

## [Use of aid]

Costs of development and implementation of human resource development programs

## Roles of local collaboration coordinators

• Establishment of knowledge networks such as consortiums

• Collection and organization of local technology "seeds"

• Survey on company needs and matching technology "seeds" with company "needs" ...and others

Innovation Promotion Council

Local governments

Establishment of regional

innovation strategies

## Establishment of knowledge networks

General coordinating organizations

Local universities, etc.

Strengthening of regional

contribution roles

(3) Employment of local collaboration coordinators

(2) Development and implementation of human resource development programs

University B

Making their facilities available

Companies, financial institutions, etc.

## (4) Sharing of research facilities, equipment, etc

Development of human resources capable of contributing to revitalization of local communities

## (3) Establishment of knowledge networks of universities and other research institutions

For the creation of regional innovations, it is important to conduct series of activities, such as sharing of many excellent technology "seeds" possessed by universities and other research organizations, identification of technology needs of local companies, and commercialization of results deriving from such technology "seeds."

Support is provided for the activities of local collaboration coordinators who render necessary support aiming at establishing knowledge networks of local universities through activities to collect and organize the information on technology "seeds".

## [Organizations eligible for receiving aid] General coordinating organizations

## [Use of aid]

Personnel costs of local collaboration coordinators and project directors (when specified conditions are met) and their activity expenses, as well as activity expenses of general coordinating organizations (costs of equipment, project implementation, etc.)

## (4) Support for sharing of research facilities and equipment of local universities and other research institutions

Research institutions such as universities possess many research facilities and equipment that local small and medium-sized companies with inadequate research infrastructure would like to use in order to conduct their research activities more effectively and efficiently. The use of such research facilities and equipment is expected to revitalize the research and development activities in regions.

Therefore, support for allocating staff members for showing how to use the equipment and for giving technical advice is provided to research institutions such as universities that make their facilities and equipment available to companies in regions.

## [Organizations eligible for receiving aid]

Research institutions such as universities that newly make their research facilities, equipment, etc. available to external groups or individuals

## [Use of aid]

Personnel costs of technical support staff members, and the expense of their activities

(costs of project implementation)