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| Training a group of companies tackling the challenge of developing new technologies and products |
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To promote network formation of industry support organizations and others, to know the needs of companies for using the potential of industrial concentration of transportation machinery and others in Tochigi Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Northern Ibaraki Prefecture, and Northern Saitama Prefecture, and to develop world-class companies by implementing related policies comprehensively and effectively for proactive companies with technological capabilities. |
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Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area (Tochigi Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Northern Ibaraki Prefecture, and Northern Saitama Prefecture) |
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Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area Regional Industry Revitalization Network
URL: http://www.hikalo.jp/Network/index.html
NPO Highland Kanto Liaison Organization
TEL: +81-277-46-1060 FAX: +81-277-46-1062 |
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Tochigi Industrial Promotion Center, Gunma Industrial Support Organization |
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| The network consists of about 340 companies, 23 universities and public research institutes, 23 organizations, financial institutions, and local governments. |
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Twenty three organizations involved in industry support and industry-university-government collaboration are connected in a network to foster the creation of new business and industries.
Coordination experts from the organizations participating in the network are collaborating to support regional company products, joint ventures and technological advancement. In addition to holding a regional industry exchange venue to provide opportunities to connect with major corporations, the network held a presentation showcasing new technologies from four universities in the Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area in accordance with the "Declaration on Industry-University-Government Partnership in Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area." |
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| Efforts to enhance companies technologies and to promote R&D are made by investing technological development subsidies and holding matching events. In the future, in addition to the further strengthening of technology transfer by industry-university collaboration and of finding business seeds, support for market cultivation and enhancement of inter-company collaboration, in particular, will be actively promoted to intensively support companies aiming at commercialization. |
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| The four universities are Gunma, Utsunomiya, Ibaraki and Saitama. With a focus on unique strengths, they will be working toward advancing the level of interactive cooperation during MEXT's Industry-Academia-Government Collaborative Strategic Development Project. |
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The Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area is made up of Gunma and Tochigi Prefectures as well as the northern parts of Ibaraki and Saitama Prefectures. Here, a concentration of basic technological industries such as transportation machinery and those relating to electric machinery has been formed and where regional educational institutions and supporting organizations including Gunma University and Utsunomiya University are making proactive efforts to cooperate with companies.
The Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area Regional Industry Revitalization Network has supported companie's strengthening of their technological capability, coordination of industry - university collaboration, and business matching through the collaboration with educational institutions, supporting organizations, and so on.
In the future, in addition to further strengthening such network, support for commercialization by coordinator, support exhibition for market cultivation, and intercompany collaborations by project of regional wide industry-industry collaboration in particular will be actively promoted to increase the added values of regional companies. |
| Dr. Kikuo Nezu |
Chairman of Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area Regional Industry Revitalization Network
Chairman of Highland Kanto Liaison Organization |
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Status of technological development support(FY
2001 to 2008):
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| Number of new businesses launched: 1,500 businesses in 5 years |
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Main Participants of the Project
Private companies (about 340 companies): ADTEX Inc., Uesawa Works, Onishi Lite Industry Co.,Ltd., Optinics precision Co.,Ltd., Kanto Seiki Co.,Ltd., Kanto Tokki Co.,Inc., GUNGO Inc., Daieidream Co.,Ltd., Suzuki Precion Co.,Ltd., Hohsen Precision Co.,Ltd., etc.
Related administrative organizations: Gunma Manufacturing Platform, Industrial Innovation Council in Ryomo Area, Tochigi Venture Support Planet 21, Kanuma C.C.I., Hitachinaka Techno Center, Inc., etc.
Universities and public examination and research institutes:
Gunma University, Utsunomiya University, Ibaraki
University, Saitama University, Maebashi Institute of Technology,
Gunma National College of Technology, Ashikaga Institute of
Technology, OYAMA National College of Technology, Kanto Polytechnic
College, etc.
Business Incubators: Tochigi Sangyou Kouryu Center Co.,Ltd., Gunma Industrial Development Center
Other TLO: Gunma University TLO, etc. |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 1 |
Support for new technologies and business ventures
Nihon Shoryoku Co., Ltd. : Starting a new venture with an
ultrasound device for cutting automobile material |
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Nihon Shoryoku of Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture is a medium-sized firm that designs and manufactures energy-saving devices for use on automation production lines. To develop their own brand products, they mounted a utility knife on an ultrasound signal transmitter that was on a robot. Thus developing an ultrasound trimmer for cutting material during high-speed reciprocal operation, their project was certified as a new collaborative project.
Conventionally, a thick material is used in the ceiling and floor carpet of an automobile such as a blend of carbon and glass fibers. This is cut with a trimming device that cuts using a water jet. By replacing the trimming device with the Nihon Shoryoku ultrasound cutter, it is possible to make complex three-dimensional curves in basic materials while maintaining a clean edge. Also, because there is no need for handling scraps or waste water, the running costs are far lower.
This new business venture was formed with Sonotec Co., Ltd., the company owning the ultrasound transmitter technology, and Makino Automation Laboratory, which has the technology for controlling robots. Other technical support comes from Chiba Institute of Technology, which researched the cutting conditions for difficult materials, and Gunma University, which analyzed the mounting process.
Currently, the Highland Kanto Liaison Organization is leading support for developing sales channels along with cooperation from the networks in the Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area. In addition to selling to manufacturers needing to handle difficult materials such as those found in automobile interiors, expanded uses are expected to be developed for the device such as a device for burring after plastic molding.
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Ultrasound trimming device: an ultrasound utility knife for automobile interior fabric |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 2 |
Project to promote wide regional exchange
Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area Network Forum |
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The networks in the Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area are holding networking forums to promote mutual exchanges among companies, universities and other supporting organizations that the project is targeting.
The activities of the networks in the Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area extend widely, covering the four prefectures of Gunma, Ibaraki, Saitama and Tochigi. Opportunities that lead to new business ventures are provided in these venues where interested SME owners as well as representatives from support organizations and the government seeking broad collaborations can meet and exchange ideas with key people from outside the region.
At the FY 2008 forum, reports on successful industry collaborations, successful industry-academia-government collaborations and newly approved collaborations in the Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area were given directly by the people working on them.
Survey responses from the 85 companies, universities and supporting organizations in attendance included those who appreciated hearing about projects situated closer to the end user and those who thought more market networking is necessary.
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Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area Network Forum |
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| ACHIEVEMENT EXAMPLE 3 |
Results of cluster activities |
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Development of rolling steel plate pulleys
Asahi Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Honjo city, Saitama prefecture), etc. |
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Asahi Sangyo developed a unique manufacturing technology in-house for forming a pulley from one sheet of steel with only a plastic process using a servo press and rolling machine. Producing no steel scraps unlike conventional methods that produced a great deal, this technology dramatically decreases the amount of material required for manufacturing. Lightweight and durable, these exceptional pulleys are mass produced at low cost and with fewer resources, which also means the turn-around time is shorter.
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Rolled steel plate pulleys |
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The Ultrasonic, an animal repulsion device
Mohara Technica Co., Ltd. (Takasaki city, Gunma prefecture) |
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At a presentation showcasing new technologies from four universities in the Northern Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Mohara Technica ran across a concept from the Faculty of Agriculture at Utsunomiya University for using sound waves that crows and other animals dislike. They adopted this novel idea, co-developing an ultrasound animal repulsion device with Meisan Denshi Kogyo and making it into a practical product under their own label. The device is not noisy and animals do not get used to it. A major automobile manufacturer has decided to adopt it for their new car lot.
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The Ultrasonic, an animal repulsion device |
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