A large part of the planned increase in start-ups is expected to come from universities and government research laboratories, the authorities said.
Japan’s Ministry of Education has since the summer been reforming its system to incentivise universities to boost start-ups as part of the government’s plan to ensure the business start-up rate exceeded the closure rate and increased from 5% of all companies to 10% over the next 10 to 20 years.
A large part of the planned increase in start-ups is expected to come from universities and government research laboratories, the authorities said.
The Ministry of Education has agreed a $1bn investment programme for four universities – Tokyo, Tohoku, Kyoto and Osaka – to encourage their start-up rate.
While Tokyo and Kyoto have well-established university venturing units following 2004 changes in regulations to allow them to effectively incorporate and become independent, sources close to Osaka and Tohoku said they were exploring how to set up their own funds and collaborate more with industry.
The ministry’s plan follows on from a 2001…
