## Regions Receiving Support Through the Regional Innovation Strategy Support Program

In Fiscal 2011, MEXT, METI and MAFF jointly selected regions with excellent original visions toward the creation of regional innovations and designate "9 regions focused on strengthening international competitiveness" and "15 regions focused on advancement of research function/industrial concentration" as "regional innovation strategy promoting regions." Among these selected regions, 13 regions have been using MEXT's support programs.

1	Hokkaido University Research & Business Park	Development of "health care innovations" such as the formation of an "integrated center for health science and medical technology" focusing on the functionalities of food
2	Yamagata Organic Electronics Innovation Strategy Promotion Regio	Commercialization of Organic Electronics Technology through industry-academia-government collaboration - Establishment of Yamagata model's regional innovation system -
3	Fukushima Next-Generation Medical Industry Cluster	Establishing "Fukushima Next-Generation Medical Industry Cluster" as a world-leading hub for design and production of medical devices through Fukushima Model, an integrated industry-government-university collaboration
4	Nagano Super Module Supply Hub for Next-Generation Industries (Nagano Prefecture Region)	Creation of innovation from designs of synergetic-effect and dual-wheels-drive, by research-seeds-oriented and market-needs-oriented industry-academia-government collaboration systems
5	Aichi "Knowledge Hub" Nanotechnology Innovation Strategy Promotion Region	Creation of nanotechnology innovations through the development of highly functional parts and devices utilizing nano-characterization and analysis tools
6	Hamamatsu/Higashi-Mikawa Life Photonic Innovation	"Life Photonic Innovation" Based on Advanced Photonics and Electronics Technology in Hamamatsu and Higashi-Mikawa Area.
7	Keihanna Science City Health Care Development Region	Creation of innovations for achieving healthy and long life through the development of health care systems with smart bioinstrumentation and testing
8	Fukuoka Next-Generation Social System Creation Hub	Promotion of the progression of regional new growth industries by implementing social-needs-directed development.
9	Kumamoto Organic Electronics Industrial Collaboration Area	Challenge to Open Innovations in Manufacturing Equipment & Material Technologies of Organic Electronics
10	Aomori Green & Life Synergy Innovation Area (Aomori Prefecture Region)	Creation of next-generation life industry by maximizing the manufacturing industry that contributes to the realization of a low-carbon society and by leveraging the advantageous features of the prefecture
11	Gunma Next-Generation New Environmental Technology Development Area	Development of "New Gunma innovations" by combined environmental/energy technology and the improvement technology for livestock environment in Gunma Prefecture
12	Greater Tokyo Smart QOL (Quality of Life) Technology Development Region	Continuous promotion of the creation and commercialization of SQOL technology for solving urban issues pertaining to aging population, preventive medicine, and safety and security
13	Fukui Smart Energy Device Development Region	Establishment of regional innovation systems aimed at the creation of smart-energy-related industry that contributes to environmental preservation and safety
14	Yamanashi Next-Generation Environmental and Health Care Industry Development Area	Creation of next-generation environmental and health care industry through the development and commercialization of fuel cell electric power generation system and highly functional food derived from immunization study, and so on, which are based on the most advanced technology
15	Gifu Technology Innovation Program Promotion Region	Development of local industries with superb manufacturing technologies and know-how into growth industries in order to promote diversification and advancement of industry structures
16	Mie Energy Innovation Creation Region	Provision of new business opportunities for existing industries in the prefecture and creation of new industries with "All-solid Polymer Lithium Secondary Battery" at the core
17	Circum-Lake Biwa Environmental Industry Development Area	Formation of environmental industry innovation through the creation of new industries in the new energy, energy conservation and water environment fields
18	Nara Functional Plants Application Region	Formation of an agricultural/commercial/industrial cluster that takes advantage of Nara Prefecture's traditional and functional plant-derived materials produced using plant function utilizing technologies
19	Wakayama Health Care Industry Innovation Promotion Region Utilizing Local Agricultural Products	Enhancement of added values of local fruits and other agricultural products with the cooperation of the medical and agricultural sectors in order to create health care industry that spearheads regional innovation
20	Hiroshima Medical Engineering Collaboration MONODUKURI Innovation Promotion Region	Promotion of innovation through the manufacture of advanced-function products, such as next-generation automobiles incorporating human medical engineering, with the cooperation of the medical and engineering sectors; as well as development of necessary human resources
21	Kagawa Life-Science Products Development Region	Boosting competitiveness and creating new industries in the life-science products market by fusing the outstanding technologies developed in Kagawa in the fields of medical, engineering, and information sciences
22	Kochi Green Innovation Promotion Region	Establishment of sustainable energy communities by maximizing Kochi Prefecture's excellent environmental characteristics and local resources
23	Nagasaki Health, Medical and Welfare Systems Development Region	Development of sustainable and constructive "health, medical and welfare" systems by effectively combined with R&D and human resource development
24	Miyazaki Food Bio Innovation Creation Area	The promotion of food industry and recovery from the foot-and-mouth epidemic for the stimulation of the economy

✓ Indicates regions that are implementing MEXT's support programs.

The regions that have received support according to the Knowledge Cluster Initiative initiated by MEXT from Fiscal 2002 will be provided until the end of the project to help carry on the Regional Innovation Strategy Support Program to achieve steady advancement of the results of past cluster forming activities and form self-sustainable clusters.

Global Type……Activities conducted through industry-academia-government collaboration will be expanded strategically in order to help create regional innovations that are internationally competitive.

City Area Type.....Self-sustainable and continuous industry-academia-government collaboration systems will be established in order to help create regional innovations that may be small in scale but maximize local characteristics.

1	Toyama/Ishikawa (from 2008 to 2012)	A center for research and development in preventative and healthcare life sciences based on the development of cutting-edge bio-related devices
2	Tokai Region (from 2008 to 2012)	Creating environmentally-friendly advanced functional materials and devices based on advanced plasma nanotechnology science and engineering
3	Kyoto and Keihanna Region (from 2008 to 2012)	Establishment of a global center for developing nanotechnology-based, advanced functional materials that will help to resolve global environmental problems
4	Yamaguchi Region (from 2009 to 2013)	Establishment of a world-leading center (Green Valley) for industry and R&D relating to green materials, natural resources and energy saving materials
5	Kurume Region (from 2009 to 2013)	Formation of a world-leading medical research center focused on peptide vaccines for cancer therapy
6	Hakodate Region (from 2009 to 2013)	Formation of a sustainable marine industrial cluster utilizing the ocean as a huge system to produce valuable resources
7	Tokushima Region (from 2009 to 2013)	Establishment of a world-class clinical and research center for diabetes
8	Central Iwate-Kamaishi Region (from 2010 to 2012)	Formation of an innovation cluster based on "Made in Iwate" high-value-added cobalt alloys
9	Fukushima Region (from 2010 to 2012)	Development of safe and user-friendly advanced medical care equipment through application of haptic-optical technology - Towards the formation of a world-class hub for designing and manufacturing medical care equipment
10	Foot of Mt. Fuji Region (from 2010 to 2012)	Formation of the Pharma Valley Medical Cluster by developing advanced cancer treatment technology
11	Southern of Lake Biwa Region (from 2010 to 2012)	Development of diagnosis and treatment technologies that realize ubiquitous advanced medical care
12	Kazusa/Chiba Area (from 2009 to 2013)	Formation of an industry-academia-government collaboration cluster for the treatment of immunological and allergic diseases based on advanced genome analysis
13	Tokachi Area (from 2009 to 2013)	Development of advanced technologies related to the functionality and safety of food and formation of an agri-/bio-cluster through their industrialization
14	Hirosaki Area (from 2010 to 2012)	Creation of a Tsugaru health- and beauty-related industrial cluster with proteoglycans being the core
15	Central Saitama Area (from 2010 to 2012)	Formation of a bio-manufacturing cluster with high-speed molecular evolution technology as a core
16	Yonago and Sakaiminato Area (from 2010 to 2012)	Establishment of a chromosome engineering research center involved in animal models for evaluation of drug and food functions