As an important hub for technological innovation in Japan and around the world, Tokyo has long played a key role in promoting the development of cutting-edge technologies and cultivating innovative enterprises. This vibrant city is not only the center of Japan’s economy, but also a leader in technological innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. In recent years, Tokyo has created a series of science and technology parks with different functions and complementary functions through strategic planning and continuous investment, forming a unique innovation ecosystem.
These technology parks are located in different areas of Tokyo, from the bustling city center to the Linhai New Area, each with its own characteristics but closely connected. Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Bayside area, Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho area, Shibuya Innovation Center and the adjacent Kawasaki Innovation Park, etc., constitute Tokyo’s diversified technological innovation landscape. This layout not only makes full use of Tokyo’s geographical advantages, but also reflects the city’s development priorities and industrial policy orientation in different periods. Over time, these parks have gradually developed into comprehensive innovation bases integrating R&D, incubation, and industrialization, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign high-tech enterprises and talents, and making important contributions to consolidating Tokyo’s status as a global science and technology innovation center. contribute.
Overview of Tokyo’s major technology parks
Tokyo’s technological innovation ecosystem consists of multiple distinctive parks, each with its own unique positioning and advantages. Together, these parks form Tokyo’s diversified innovation network, providing an ideal development environment for technology companies of different types and stages of development.
1.1 Roppongi Hills
Roppongi Hills is one of the most representative comprehensive technology parks in Tokyo. Officially opened in 2003, this modern mixed-use area in the heart of Tokyo is a model for urban redevelopment. The park brings together the Japanese headquarters of international technology giants such as Google and Apple, as well as many local technology companies and startups. Roppongi Hills is not only office space, but also integrates high-end residences, commercial facilities and cultural venues to form a complete urban ecosystem. The park’s iconic building, the Mori Building, is not only a landmark in Tokyo, but also the home of many technology companies. The innovation atmosphere here is strong, and various science and technology forums and entrepreneurial activities are often held here, making it an important platform for scientific and technological elites to exchange ideas and collide with each other.
1.2 Tokyo Bay Area (Odaiba, Toyosu, etc.)
The Tokyo Bayside area is Tokyo’s emerging technological innovation center, including areas such as Odaiba and Toyosu. Odaiba is famous for the development of digital content industry and entertainment technology, and is a gathering place for many game companies and media technology enterprises. The Fuji TV headquarters building is located here, symbolizing the media and technology status here. Toyosu focuses more on artificial intelligence and robotics. The headquarters of Softbank Robotics, a famous Japanese robotics company, is located here. The entire Bay Coast area has modern infrastructure and wide open spaces, providing an ideal venue for large-scale science and technology projects and exhibitions. There are also several research institutions and innovation centers here, promoting industry-university-research cooperation. The development of the Bayan area reflects Tokyo’s determination to transform into a future technology city.
1.3 Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho area
The Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho area, often referred to as the “Daimaru” area, is Tokyo’s traditional business center and is transforming into a financial technology and innovation center in recent years. This area is adjacent to Tokyo Station and has convenient transportation. It is home to many financial institutions and large corporate headquarters. With the rise of financial technology, it has become an important base for Japanese financial innovation. Developers such as Mitsubishi Estate actively promote regional innovation and have established multiple entrepreneurial accelerators and innovation laboratories. The advantage of the Daimaru area lies in its mature business environment and strong corporate network, which provides rich application scenarios and financial support for technological innovation.
1.4 Shibuya Innovation Center
Shibuya Innovation Center is located in Shibuya District, the most famous young gathering place in Tokyo. It is a hot spot for Internet and mobile technology innovation. It is home to well-known Japanese Internet companies such as DeNA and Cyberagent, as well as a large number of emerging technology startups. Shibuya’s innovation ecosystem is particularly suitable for small startups and young entrepreneurs, with multiple co-working spaces and startup incubators in the area. Redevelopment projects around Shibuya Station have further enhanced the area’s innovation capabilities, with the new Shibuya Chuando Building and Shibuya Keiki Building both housing dedicated innovation spaces. Shibuya’s strength lies in its youthful, energetic and avant-garde cultural atmosphere, which has produced many trend-setting technological products and services.
1.5 Kawasaki Innovation Park
Although strictly speaking it does not belong to Tokyo, the Kawasaki Innovation Park located close to Tokyo plays an important role in the entire Tokyo science and technology innovation ecosystem. This park focuses on environmental protection technology and life science research and is a model of industry-university-research cooperation. The park houses several world-class research facilities, such as Spring-8, Japan’s largest photonic science research institute. Many multinational companies such as Toshiba and Fujitsu have set up R&D centers here. The Kawasaki City Government actively promotes innovative policies and provides various supports to settled companies. The park is characterized by its emphasis on the combination of basic research and industrial applications, and has achieved remarkable results in new materials, new energy and other fields. The successful experience of Kawasaki Innovation Park provides useful reference for the innovative development of areas around Tokyo.
Detailed introduction to Roppongi Hills
Roppongi Hills is a shining pearl in Tokyo’s technological innovation ecosystem, and its unique charm attracts innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world. This modern comprehensive park is ideally located in the heart of Minato-ku, Tokyo. It is only a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Roppongi Station and is easily connected to other major business and residential areas in Tokyo via the well-developed subway network. In addition, the park also provides direct luxury bus services to Narita International Airport and Haneda Airport, which greatly facilitates international business exchanges.
The core of the park is the Mori Building designed by the famous architect Tadao Ando. This 54-story skyscraper is not only a landmark building in Tokyo, but also the soul of the park. The building is equipped with world-class office space, conference center and observation deck, providing a first-class working environment for resident companies. The adjacent Roppongi Hills TV building is another architectural gem, its unique design demonstrating Japan’s innovative strength in digital media.
Roppongi Hills has attracted many internationally renowned technology companies to settle in. The Google Japan headquarters is located here, occupying multiple floors of the Mori Building. Multinational companies such as Apple, IBM, and Goldman Sachs have also set up important offices here. Local technology giants such as Nippon Electric (NEC) and Takeda Pharmaceutical have also chosen this place as their innovation center. This high-density gathering of high-quality enterprises creates a strong innovative atmosphere in the park and provides valuable cooperation opportunities for start-up companies.
To support innovation and entrepreneurship, the park has established multiple professional incubators and accelerators. Among them, “Tech Hub Tokyo” is a popular entrepreneurial space that provides early-stage entrepreneurs with office space, mentorship projects and investment matching services. “Plug and Play Tokyo” is an international innovation platform that regularly holds entrepreneurial competitions and investment roadshows to help outstanding local entrepreneurial projects connect with global resources.
In terms of living facilities, Roppongi Hills can be called a “small city”. The Roppongi Hills shopping mall in the park brings together many international brands and specialty restaurants to meet the daily needs of staff. The adjacent Mori Art Museum provides a space for artistic edification for science and technology workers, and regularly held exhibitions often combine technology and art elements. In addition, the park also has high-end residential areas, allowing some corporate executives to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
As a visitor, the experience of walking into Roppongi Hills is exciting. The first thing that catches the eye is the magnificent Mori Building. The public space on the ground floor of the building often holds various technology exhibitions and innovation forums, allowing visitors to intuitively feel the innovative atmosphere here. Take the elevator to the top observation deck, where you can have a panoramic view of Tokyo, making you admire this vibrant city. Walking around the park, you can see business people and young entrepreneurs in formal suits having heated discussions in cafes or public spaces everywhere. This atmosphere makes people feel the pulse of innovation. Roppongi Hills is not only an office district, but also a comprehensive ecosystem integrating work, life, culture and innovation . Its success has set a benchmark for other technology parks in Tokyo and provided valuable experience for urban renewal and innovation area construction.
Tokyo Bayan Area Science and Technology Park
The Tokyo Bay Area Science and Technology Park is an important strategic area for Tokyo’s future development. It consists of two core areas, Odaiba and Toyosu, each focusing on different fields of science and technology, and together forming a diversified innovation ecosystem.
The Odaiba area is famous for its digital content industry cluster. This is the center of Japan’s gaming, animation and digital media industries. The headquarters or main offices of well-known game companies such as Sony Computer Entertainment, Sega, and Bandai Namco are located here. The Fuji TV headquarters building has become a landmark in Odaiba with its unique spherical design. It is not only the center of TV program production, but also an important base for digital content innovation. Odaiba has also attracted many VR/AR technology companies, forming a complete digital content industry chain. The Tokyo Game Show, held here every year, attracts global attention and becomes an important stage to showcase the latest digital entertainment technology.
The adjacent Toyosu region focuses on the development of artificial intelligence and robotics. SoftBank Robotics, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group, is headquartered here, and its famous humanoid robot Pepper was born in Toyosu. Toyosu has also attracted international technology giants such as IBM and Microsoft to set up R&D centers focusing on the development and application of AI technology. FANUC, the famous Japanese industrial robot manufacturer, also has a display center here to showcase the latest industrial automation solutions.
To support the development of these industries, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has launched a series of innovation support policies. For example, companies that set up R&D centers in the Gulf Coast area are provided with rent subsidies of up to 50%. At the same time, a special innovation fund has also been established to provide seed capital for early-stage AI and digital content entrepreneurial projects. In addition, the government also actively promotes industry-university-research cooperation and encourages universities such as Tokyo University and Waseda University to establish research institutions in the Gulf Coast area to promote knowledge transformation and technological innovation.
Visiting the Tokyo Bayside Area Technology Park is a futuristic experience. Viewed from a distance, the modern buildings in the park outline the outline of the future city. Traveling between Odaiba and Toyosu on the new driverless transportation system will make you feel like you are in a science fiction movie. In Odaiba, visitors can experience the latest VR/AR technology and feel the charm of the digital world. In Toyosu, interactions with various intelligent robots allow people to appreciate the magic of artificial intelligence. Digital displays and interactive devices can be seen everywhere in the park, constantly showing visitors the latest scientific and technological achievements. In the evening, standing on the viewing platform near the sea, looking at the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay under the setting sun, and then looking back at the brightly lit science and technology park, one can’t help but sigh at the city of Tokyo’s beautiful vision for the future. The Tokyo Bay Area Science and Technology Park is not only an industrial gathering place, but also an important window to showcase Japan’s scientific and technological strength and lead the future development direction.
Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho area
The Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho area, referred to as the “Daimaru Yu” area, is Tokyo’s traditional business center and is transforming into a financial technology and innovation center in recent years. This area covers an area of approximately 120 hectares, adjacent to Tokyo Station, and is the political, economic and financial core of Japan. As the wave of digitalization sweeps across, this place is gradually evolving into an important base for Japan’s financial technology innovation.
As a concentration of financial technology and corporate headquarters, the Daimaru area gathers Japan’s most influential financial institutions and large companies. The headquarters of Japan’s top financial companies such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, and Nomura Securities are located here. In recent years, with the rise of financial technology, many innovative financial companies have also chosen to set up offices here. For example, Japan’s leading online payment platform PayPay and digital bank Rakuten Bank both have important branches here. This integration of traditional finance and emerging financial technology has injected new vitality into the entire region.
An innovation ecosystem is rapidly forming in the Daimaru area. Developers such as Mitsubishi Estate actively promote regional innovation and have established multiple innovation centers and accelerators. Among them, “FINOLAB” is an innovation space focusing on financial technology, providing office space, mentorship projects and investment matching services for start-up companies. “Tokyo Marunouchi Innovation Platform” is a cross-industry open innovation platform dedicated to promoting cooperation between large enterprises and startups. These platforms have not only attracted many local innovative projects, but also successfully introduced international financial technology companies from Silicon Valley and London, making the Daimaru area a veritable global financial innovation hub.
As the commercial center of Tokyo, Daimaru has regional business supporting facilities. There are dozens of five-star hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo and the Tokyo Station Hotel, offering business travelers high-quality accommodation options. There are many high-end restaurants in the area, ranging from traditional Japanese cuisine to Michelin-starred Western food, meeting the needs of various business banquets. In addition, there are many large conference centers and exhibition venues in the region, such as the Tokyo International Forum, which often holds various financial technology summits and innovation forums to provide a platform for industry insiders to communicate and learn.
Overall , the Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho area is undergoing a transformation . Transforming from a traditional business center to a vibrant center of fintech innovation while retaining its important position as the hub of Japan’s economy. This perfect combination of tradition and innovation makes the Daimaru area a window into Japan’s economic development and future direction.
Shibuya Innovation Center
Shibuya Innovation Center has become the core area of Japan’s Internet and mobile technology innovation. Its unique geographical location and cultural atmosphere provide fertile soil for technological innovation. This area not only attracts many technology giants, but also breeds countless potential start-ups, forming a complete and dynamic innovation ecosystem.
As an innovation base for Internet and mobile technology, Shibuya has gathered a number of heavyweight companies that are leading the development of the industry. In addition to the aforementioned Google Japan, LINE, CyberAgent and DeNA, there are many other technology companies taking root here. For example, Rakuten, Japan’s largest e-commerce platform, has its innovation center located in Shibuya, focusing on developing a new generation of mobile payment and fintech solutions. Mobile gaming giant GREE also has its headquarters here and continues to promote innovation in Japan’s mobile gaming industry. These companies not only bring a large number of job opportunities, but also inject strong innovation power into the entire region.
Innovation in Shibuya is not limited to large companies, but comes from countless innovative start-ups. In the field of mobile applications, unicorn companies such as Mercari (a second-hand trading platform) and SmartNews (a personalized news aggregation application) were born in Shibuya. When it comes to artificial intelligence and machine learning, startups like Preferred Networks are driving the application of deep learning technology in industrial and medical fields. VR/AR technology is also booming in Shibuya, with companies such as gumi VR and Psychic VR Lab developing next-generation virtual reality experiences.
Shibuya’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is a key factor in its emergence as an innovation hub. The core of this ecosystem lies in its comprehensive support network and resource allocation. First of all, Shibuya has abundant human resources. The nearby Keio University and Waseda University deliver a large number of technical and business talents to the region every year. At the same time, Shibuya’s fashion and cultural atmosphere has also attracted a large number of creative talents, injecting unique design thinking into technological innovation.
In terms of financial support, Shibuya has gathered the most active venture capital institutions in Japan. In addition to the aforementioned GREE Ventures and CyberAgent Ventures, there are also well-known investment institutions such as B Dash Ventures, JAFCO and Global Brain. These institutions not only provide funding, but also provide entrepreneurs with valuable industry insights and business networks. In addition, Shibuya has several angel investment networks focusing on early-stage projects, such as East Ventures and Skyland Ventures, which play an important role in helping startups get through the initial difficult period.
Shibuya’s entrepreneurial support system also includes diverse incubators and accelerator programs. In addition to the previously mentioned, there are some special projects worthy of attention. For example, “Plug and Play Shibuya” is the Japanese branch of the famous Silicon Valley accelerator, focusing on cultivating innovative projects in the fields of financial technology and the Internet of Things. “01Booster” is a comprehensive platform that combines incubators, accelerators and venture capital to stimulate entrepreneurial enthusiasm through activities such as the “Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Challenge”.
The Shibuya City Government is also actively promoting innovation. They launched the “Shibuya Startup Support” program to provide entrepreneurs with free business consulting, legal advice and financial planning services. The district government also cooperates with the private sector to organize large-scale technology exhibitions such as “Shibuya Technology Expo” to provide a platform for innovative enterprises to display and communicate.
In addition, Shibuya has an active entrepreneurial community and regular networking events. For example, the monthly “Hive Shibuya” entrepreneurial gathering provides a relaxed environment for entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts to communicate. “Mobile Monday Tokyo” is a monthly gathering focused on mobile technology, often inviting industry leaders to share the latest technology trends.
The success of Shibuya Innovation Center lies in the fact that it has created a complete innovation ecological chain, from talent training, creative incubation, financial support to market promotion, every link has been fully valued and developed. This all-round support system has made Shibuya not only an important base for Internet and mobile technology innovation in Japan, but also gradually occupied an important position in the global technological innovation map . It also demonstrated how to combine the cultural characteristics of the city with technological innovation.
Kawasaki Innovation Park
Kawasaki Innovation Park is located at the junction of Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. It is one of the most representative high-tech industrial clusters in Japan. The park, which covers an area of about 40 hectares, has been planned and constructed since 2011 and has now developed into an advanced research base focusing on environmental protection technology and life sciences. Kawasaki Innovation Park is unique in that it successfully integrates industry, academic and research institutions to form an efficient innovation ecosystem.
As a park focused on environmental technology and life sciences, Kawasaki Innovation Park brings together many leading companies and research institutions in these two fields. In terms of environmental protection technology, there are many companies in the park dedicated to developing new energy and environmentally friendly materials. For example, Toshiba Energy Systems has established a hydrogen energy research center here to specialize in hydrogen fuel cell technology and its applications in transportation and industry. In addition, JFE Engineering Company has also established an Environmental Technology Research Institute in the park, focusing on waste treatment and resource recycling technology.
In the field of life sciences, Kawasaki Innovation Park has attracted many pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies to settle in. Leading Japanese pharmaceutical companies such as Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Daiichi Sankyo have R&D centers in the park. These centers not only conduct research and development of new drugs, but also explore cutting-edge fields such as gene therapy and personalized medicine. In addition, there are a number of biotechnology start-ups in the park, which focus on developing next-generation diagnostic technologies and treatments, injecting innovative vitality into the entire park.
A major feature of Kawasaki Innovation Park is its unique industry-university-research cooperation model. There are multiple joint research platforms in the park, promoting close cooperation between enterprises, universities and research institutions. For example, the “Kawasaki City Industrial Promotion Foundation”, as the management agency of the park, actively promotes industry-university-research cooperation projects and organizes various technical exchange meetings and innovation forums. The park has also established close cooperative relationships with nearby well-known universities such as Keio University and Tokyo Institute of Technology. Researchers from these universities often participate in various research projects in the park.
A typical example of this industry-university-research cooperation model is the “KING SKYFRONT” project in the park. This project brings together resources from industry, academia and government departments to jointly promote the research, development and industrialization of cutting-edge medical technologies. Through this kind of cooperation, companies in the park can quickly obtain the latest research results, while university researchers can better understand industry needs and achieve efficient transformation of knowledge and technology.
Kawasaki Innovation Park has a number of key laboratories and research facilities, which provide strong hardware support for innovation activities in the park. The most notable among them is the “Kanagawa Prefectural Cancer Center”, a comprehensive cancer research institution integrating research, clinical and education. Equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, including heavy ion therapy systems, the center is a world leader in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Another important research facility is the “Kawasaki Life Sciences Environmental Research Center”, an institution specializing in research on the relationship between environment and health. The center has an advanced environmental simulation laboratory that can simulate the impact of various environmental conditions on human health, providing scientific basis for formulating environmental policies and developing health products.
The park also houses the “Kawasaki Innovation Center”, a comprehensive service platform for small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs. The center is equipped with various laboratories and testing equipment to provide full-process support for innovative projects from concept verification to product development. In addition, the park also has a number of shared laboratories equipped with high-end scientific research instruments for common use by companies and researchers in the park, greatly reducing research and development costs.
For visitors, the Kawasaki Innovation Park provides a unique opportunity to experience Japan’s most cutting-edge technological innovations up close. The park has dedicated tour routes, and visitors can visit some of the open research facilities to learn about the latest environmental protection technology and life science research progress. During the visit, people are often attracted by the strong innovative atmosphere in the park. The busy figures of researchers and engineers can be seen everywhere, as well as various cutting-edge equipment and laboratories, all vividly demonstrating the charm of scientific and technological innovation.
The park also has an interactive display area to popularize environmental protection and life science knowledge to the public through multimedia displays and interactive devices. For example, visitors can experience the latest medical diagnostic procedures through virtual reality technology, or learn how renewable energy works through interactive displays. This entertaining and educational approach not only enhances the visitor experience, but also improves the public’s understanding and support for technological innovation.
Kawasaki Innovation Park represents Japan’s highest level in the fields of environmental protection technology and life sciences. Through a unique industry-university-research cooperation model, the park has successfully transformed scientific research results into practical applications and promoted the rapid development of related industries. At the same time, the park is also actively exploring how to closely integrate technological innovation with social development to contribute to building a healthier and more environmentally friendly future society.
Support policies for Tokyo Science Park
As a technological innovation base in Japan, Tokyo Science Park has received various policy support from the government. These support policies cover many aspects such as tax incentives, R&D subsidies, talent introduction, and intellectual property protection, and jointly build an ecosystem conducive to the development of technology companies. These policies have not only attracted many domestic and foreign companies to settle in, but also greatly promoted innovative activities in the park.
In terms of tax incentives, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government provides a series of preferential measures for companies settling in science and technology parks. First of all, for newly established high-tech enterprises, the government provides corporate tax exemptions for up to 5 years, with the reduction rate up to 50%. This policy greatly reduces the operating costs of start-ups and helps them survive the initial difficult period. In addition, companies that conduct R&D activities in the park can also enjoy the policy of super deduction of R&D expenses. Specifically, an enterprise’s R&D expenditure can be deducted at a rate of 150% when calculating taxable income, which greatly encourages enterprises to increase R&D investment.
The government also provides abundant R&D subsidies and financial support. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has established a special science and technology innovation fund to provide R&D subsidies totaling more than 10 billion yen to companies in the park every year. These subsidies are mainly targeted at cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and biotechnology. Companies can apply for financial support of up to 50% of the total project investment. In addition, for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-up companies, the government also provides low-interest or even interest-free loan support to help them solve the problem of capital shortage. It is worth mentioning that the park has also established a venture capital fund, which specializes in investing in high-risk, high-return innovative projects, providing valuable financial support to start-ups with disruptive technologies but not yet profitable.
In terms of the introduction of international talents, Tokyo Science Park has implemented a series of attractive policies. First of all, for high-level international scientific and technological talents, the park provides fast-track visa application services, which greatly simplifies entry procedures. Secondly, the park also provides housing subsidies and children’s education support to international talents to help them adapt to work and life in Japan more quickly. It is particularly worth mentioning that the park has launched the “Green Card Program for Scientific and Technological Talents”, which allows high-level international talents working in the park to apply for permanent residence in a relatively short period of time, which greatly enhances the attraction of top international talents. . In addition, the park also regularly holds international talent exchange meetings and cultural integration activities to help international talents better integrate into the local community.
In terms of intellectual property protection, Tokyo Science Park has established a complete protection mechanism. First of all, there is a dedicated intellectual property service center in the park to provide enterprises with a full range of services from patent application to intellectual property strategy formulation. Secondly, the park has established a fast-track examination channel with the Japan Patent Office (Patent Office), which has greatly shortened the patent application cycle for companies in the park. For some patents involving core technologies, the review time can be shortened from the usual several years to a few months. In addition, the park has also established an intellectual property protection fund to provide small and medium-sized enterprises with support for patent litigation costs and help them better protect their innovations.
The park also pays special attention to the commercialization of intellectual property. By cooperating with a number of well-known law firms and technology transfer institutions, the park provides enterprises with services such as intellectual property evaluation, transactions, and licensing, helping them transform technological innovation into commercial value. At the same time, the park regularly holds intellectual property trade fairs to build a communication platform for technology supply and demand parties in the park and promote technology transfer and industrial upgrading.
The implementation of these support policies has achieved remarkable results. In recent years, the number of patent applications and authorizations in Tokyo Science and Technology Park has shown a rapid growth trend, and many technologies have achieved leading positions in the international market. At the same time, the park has also attracted more and more international high-tech companies to set up R&D centers, further enhancing the park’s innovation strength.
The support policies of Tokyo Science and Technology Park not only provide substantial support to enterprises in the park, but also create a good environment that encourages innovation and protects intellectual property rights. Through a multi-pronged policy combination of tax incentives, R&D subsidies, talent introduction and intellectual property protection, Tokyo Science Park is becoming one of the most attractive technological innovation centers in Asia and even the world.
Connections and interactions between parks
Although the major science and technology parks in the Tokyo metropolitan area have their own characteristics and focuses, they do not exist in isolation, but are closely connected through various ways to form a collaborative innovation network. This kind of connection and interaction between parks is mainly reflected in transportation connections, cross-park cooperation projects, and joint innovation activities, which jointly promote the development of scientific and technological innovation in the entire Tokyo area.
Transportation connections between campuses are the basis for efficient interaction. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and local governments in surrounding areas jointly launched the “Technology Innovation Transportation Corridor” plan to create a rapid transportation network connecting major parks. The plan includes new subway lines and bus rapid transit systems. For example, the “Innovation Express” subway connecting Shibuya Innovation Center and Kawasaki Innovation Park runs every 15 minutes, greatly shortening the commuting time between the two parks. In addition, “technology buses” spanning multiple parks have also been put into use. This kind of bus equipped with mobile office facilities not only provides convenient transportation services, but also serves as a mobile platform for talent exchanges between parks.
In order to further promote convenient travel between parks, the government also launched the “Innovation Pass” system. Scientific researchers and entrepreneurs holding such passes can freely enter and exit between different parks and use the shared facilities in each park. This measure greatly promotes cross-campus cooperation and resource sharing. At the same time, each park has also jointly developed a mobile application to provide users with real-time inter-park traffic information, facility reservations, event registration and other services, making cross-park work and communication more convenient.
In terms of cross-park cooperation projects, the Tokyo Science Park cluster has demonstrated significant synergy. A typical example is the “Tokyo Artificial Intelligence Alliance” project, which brings together Internet companies in Shibuya Innovation Center, life science research institutions in Kawasaki Innovation Park, and hardware manufacturers in Tokyo Science Park to jointly develop next-generation AI medical diagnosis systems . Through this cross-park collaboration, the project successfully combined Shibuya’s software technology, Kawasaki’s medical expertise and Tokyo Science Park’s hardware manufacturing capabilities to create innovative products that are internationally competitive.
Another successful example of cross-park cooperation is the Green Energy Innovation Program. This plan integrates the resources of multiple parks, including Kawasaki Innovation Park’s environmental technology, Tokyo Science Park’s materials science research, and Shibuya Innovation Center’s data analysis capabilities. Through this cross-disciplinary cooperation, the project successfully developed a new generation of smart grid systems, significantly improving the efficiency of renewable energy use. This project not only promotes energy technology innovation in Japan, but also contributes to solving global climate change issues.
In order to promote this kind of cross-park cooperation, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has established a special “Cross-park Innovation Fund” to provide financial support for cooperation projects involving multiple parks. This fund supports dozens of cross-park projects every year, greatly stimulating innovative cooperation between different fields and different parks.
In terms of joint innovation activities, each park also showed a high degree of synergy. The “Tokyo Science and Technology Innovation Week” held every year is an important joint event that attracts technology companies, investors and research institutions from around the world. During this week-long event, each park took turns holding activities such as theme forums, technology demonstrations, and entrepreneurial competitions. For example, Shibuya Innovation Center organizes Internet and mobile technology forums, Kawasaki Innovation Park hosts life sciences and environmental technology exhibitions, and Tokyo Science Park hosts artificial intelligence and robotics technology competitions. This jointly organized model not only increases the scale and influence of the event, but also provides a platform for innovators in different fields to communicate and cooperate.
Another important joint event is the “Cross-Campus Innovation Marathon”. This 48-hour event takes place simultaneously across multiple campuses, requiring participants to leverage the resources and expertise of different campuses to solve complex technical challenges. For example, participating teams may need to combine Shibuya’s data analysis technology, Kawasaki’s environmental solutions and Tokyo Science Park’s sensor technology to develop smart city applications. Such activities not only promote cross-field innovation but also strengthen connections between different campuses.
In addition, each park also jointly launched the “Innovator Exchange Program”. Through this program, researchers and entrepreneurs from different parks can stay in other parks for a short period of time, learn about the latest developments in different fields, and look for potential cooperation opportunities. This exchange of talents has greatly promoted the cross-field dissemination of knowledge and the collision of innovative thinking.
Suggestions for overseas companies and entrepreneurs
For companies and entrepreneurs interested in entering the Japanese market, choosing the right technology park is a key step to success. When choosing a park, the first consideration is whether the park’s professional areas match the company’s business. For example, if your business is focused on biotech, Kawasaki Innovation Campus may be an ideal choice, while for internet and digital media companies, Shibuya Innovation Center may be more suitable. In addition, factors such as the park’s geographical location, transportation convenience, supporting facilities, and policy support also need to be considered. It is recommended that before making a decision, you should conduct on-site inspections of several potential parks and conduct in-depth communications with park managers and companies that have settled in the park to fully understand the advantages and characteristics of each park.
After determining the target park, the next step is to familiarize yourself with the settlement procedures and precautions. Most Japanese technology parks have strict admission review procedures, which usually require the submission of documents such as detailed business plans, proof of financial status, and descriptions of technological innovations. It is recommended to prepare these materials in advance and have them reviewed by professionals familiar with Japanese business culture. During the preparation stage, pay special attention to Japan’s unique business etiquette and cultural habits, such as maintaining a humble and respectful attitude in business communications. At the same time, you must also fully understand Japan’s relevant laws and regulations, especially those involving intellectual property protection, labor laws, and taxation. If possible, it will be very helpful to hire a local consultant who is familiar with the Japanese business environment.
After successfully settling in, how to make full use of park resources becomes the next key issue. Most technology parks offer a variety of support services, including legal advice, financial advice, market research, and more. It is recommended to proactively maintain close contact with the park management department to keep abreast of various resources and opportunities. Participating in various activities organized by the park, such as technical seminars, entrepreneurial salons, etc., is also a good way to build a local network. In addition, many campuses have innovation labs or shared workspaces, which not only save on initial operating costs but are also a great place to meet other innovators and potential partners.
While utilizing park resources, it is equally important to establish your own business network and implement localization strategies. Japanese business culture is largely based on relationships and mutual trust, so it is recommended to invest time and effort in building and maintaining a local network. Participating in events organized by industry associations, chambers of commerce, etc. is a good way to do this. In addition, consider establishing partnerships with local universities or research institutions, which will not only help with technological innovation but also enhance the company’s local identity.
When formulating localization strategies, the characteristics of the Japanese market and consumer preferences must be fully considered. For example, Japanese consumers generally have high requirements for product quality and after-sales service, so investment in these aspects is necessary. At the same time, attention should also be paid to adjusting products or services to suit local needs, which may include changing product packaging, adjusting marketing strategies, etc. In terms of talent recruitment, it is recommended to actively attract local talents. They not only understand the local market, but can also help companies better integrate into the Japanese business environment.
It’s important to have patience and a long-term mindset. The Japanese market is known for its stability and sustainability, but it is also known for its high barriers to entry and long decision-making cycles. Therefore, do not expect to achieve significant results in the short term, but focus on long-term development and gradually build brand reputation and market position.
Entering a Japanese technology park is a process that requires careful planning and execution. By choosing the right campus, making full use of campus resources, establishing local networks and implementing appropriate localization strategies, companies and entrepreneurs can greatly improve their chances of success in the Japanese market. At the same time, maintaining an open and learning attitude and respecting local culture and business habits are also the keys to success in this market full of opportunities and challenges.
Conclusion
Tokyo Science Park’s future development plan focuses on creating a world-leading innovation ecosystem. The park is actively deploying emerging technology fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology, and attracting top companies and talents in related fields through policy guidance and financial support. At the same time, the park is also strengthening international cooperation and establishing strategic partnerships with global innovation centers such as Silicon Valley and London to promote technology exchanges and talent flows.
The comprehensive advantages of Tokyo Science and Technology Park lie in its complete infrastructure, strong policy support, abundant human resources and good innovation atmosphere. These advantages provide strong development support for settled enterprises, enabling them to stand out in the fierce global competition. For companies seeking innovation and internationalization, Tokyo Science Park is not only an ideal place to stay, but also an important platform for rapid growth and global expansion.
The development of the park not only promotes technological innovation in Japan, but also provides a bridgehead for global companies to enter the Asian market. As the park continues to deepen international cooperation, its status in the global innovation network will be further enhanced and it will make greater contributions to the development of world science and technology.
