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| Aiming to develop a manufacturing key organization in important fields |
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Creating a high-level manufacturing industry cluster in the fields of biotechnology, high precision processing and new materials, by making the maximum use of the existing industrial concentration consisting of diverse businesses of distinguished characteristics in the Hokuriku region. |
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Biotechnology, high-precision manufacturing, new materials, environment-related fields and cross-field collaboration |
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Hokuriku region (Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui Prefectures) |
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Hokuriku Association of Industrial Creation
URL: http://www.hokuriku-mono.jp
JEC Management Consultant Co., Ltd.
TEL: +81-76-444-0035 FAX: +81-76-444-1135 |
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Toyama New Industry Organization(TONIO), Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization(ISICO) |
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| The network consists of about 260 companies, 20 universities and public research institutes, 3 local government organizations, 7 financial institutions and others. There is the linkage with knowledge cluster Initiative and with 2 key organizations. |
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| NPO Hokuriku Life Care Cluster Association, Hokuriku Micro Nano Process Association, Hokuriku Advanced Composite Material Association, and Hokuriku Environment and Biomass Association have been established, the activities of those associations have joint R&D by university-industry, industry-industry collaboration, and have produced some positive achievements such as commercialization and introduction of a new product to the market. |
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| The principal aims are the formulation of a manufacturing base to develop persistently and to bring new life into the Hokuriku area, to use its high potential for the concentration of powerful leading companies, and the development of industry (technological seeds and efforts in regions/local governments). |
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| Building on project seeds from the Knowledge Cluster, the Hokuriku Micro Nano Process Association has played key role in R&D efforts. This has led to collaborations including the formation of biotechnology joint ventures. |
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Kiyoshi Nakafuku
Cluster Manger, Hokuriku Association of Industrial Creation |
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Takaaki Fukayama
General Cluster Manger, Hokuriku Association of Industrial Creation |
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Development in the Hokuriku Region has traditionally focused on textiles. More recently, however, new industries have integrated into the region bringing exceptional technological capabilities in such fields as electrical machines, metal products and medicine in addition to unique managerial strengths that are an attractive element in the region.
As innovation is pursued through inter-regional collaborations as well as collaboration among industry, academia and the government, we are coordinating to make matches for parties whose needs and strengths complement each other in the areas of knowledge, industry market access and manufacturing. We provide a complete set of support services from R&D all the way through project development assistance. While collaborating with industrial clusters in other regions, we aim to continue seeking enthusiastic companies in the core of Hokuriku, building our industrial clusters with a firm foundation to provide competitiveness in the international market.
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Number of new businesses launched:
(Accumulating total in the second term):
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190 |
| Number of workshops launched: |
4 |
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| Number of new businesses launched: 1,000 businesses in 5 years |
| Growth in sales of member companies (SMEs): 3% per year |
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Main Participants of the Project
Private companies: Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery, Revanche Co.,Ltd., Bio Device Technology Co.,Ltd., Meiji Yakuhin Co.,Ltd., Tateyama Kagaku Group, Unizone Co.,Ltd., Siguma Koki Co.,Ltd., Maruhachi Co.,Ltd., Buildos Co.,Ltd., Maiwa Co.,Ltd., etc.
Related administrative organizations: Toyama Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, SMRJ Hokuriku Branch, Fukui Industrial Support Center, etc.
Universities and public examination and research institutes: University of Toyama, Kanazawa University, University of Fukui, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, etc.
Financial institutions: Nagoya Small and Medium Business Investment & Consultation Co.,Ltd., Japan Finance Corporation, Development Bank of Japan Inc. Hokuriku Branch, Future Venture Capital Co.,Ltd., Hokuriku Association of Shinkin Banks, etc.
Business Incubators: I-Bird, Toyama New Industrial Support Center, Ishikawa Create Lab., Toyama Industrial Development Center Co.,Ltd., Nanto City Entrepreneur support Center, etc.
Others: Kanazawa University TLO, University
of Toyama TLO |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 1 |
The Hokuriku Micro Nano Process Association participates in the 2008 TAMA Technical Collaboration Exchange Conference |
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The Hokuriku Micro Nano Process (HMNP) Association attended the 2008 TAMA Technical Collaboration Exchange Conference, held on October 8, FY 2008 by TAMA Industrial Vitalization Association Inc., whose focus is promoting technological collaboration between large corporations in the Tokyo area with small and medium-sized companies.
In preparation for the exchange conference, the TAMA Industrial Vitalization Association, included a report on HMNP Association member companies to its product and technical report compilation, titled the "Top 100 TAMA Techniques", providing positive PR for Hokuriku’s technological prowess.
The interactions during the conference went beyond taking orders. With an aim of promoting upstream and midstream collaboration such as joint R&D and prototyping, four HMNP Association member companies set up special booths to talk with large corporations on an individual basis to introduce their companies and discuss technology. The event resulted in negotiations that are progressing toward technical collaborations.
On December 16, FY 2008, the HMNP Association held a workshop in Hokuriku to provide a venue for member companies to meet and discuss collaborations, and member companies of the TAMA Industrial Vitalization Association attended, bringing discussions to a deeper level.
Going forward, we will continue building connections with the Greater Tokyo Initiative to expand into new fields of R&D through project activities and development, further deepening our ties to the Tokyo Metropolitan area.
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2008 TAMA Technical Collaboration Exchange Conference
Business discussions in a Hokuriku company exhibition booth |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 2 |
Activities at the NPO Hokuriku Life Care Cluster |
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Member companies of the NPO Hokuriku Life Care (HLC) Cluster Association have formed collaborations with other companies and with academia to develop health foods, cosmetics and other lifestyle products that improve the quality of life(QOL). |
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| Moisture cream from Revanche Co., Ltd. - Ishikawa Prefecture |
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After forming a consortium with an HLC Association member, Revanche, which has promoted the concept of “cosmetics so safe you could eat them,” proposed the development of an anti-aging functional cosmetic using polyphenol oligomers made from persimmons at a Regional Consortium Research and Development Project meeting in 2006. The consortium accepted the proposal.
Although the mass production of polyphenol oligomers had always been a problem in the past, the novel idea of using the persimmon, a regional product, cleared the way, leading to the development of a functional moisture cream, which enjoys brisk sales today.
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Moisture cream |
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Amino Rice Skin Care Series from Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery
- Ishikawa Prefecture |
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Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery has been crafting sake in Kanazawa since 1625. Given their experience and research in rice fermentation, they approached the HLC Association in search of a new business project. The HLC Association found member companies interested in collaboration including a cosmetics manufacturer, and a partnership resulted that developed a new line of cosmetics known as Aminoo Rice.
Through collaboration with academia and other companies, they were able to pursue research and development in a new field that would have been extremely difficult without cooperation. The resulting product line is both safe and effective and enjoys strong sales in the marketplace.
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Amino Rice Natural Moist Lotion
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