abstract

This study aims to clarify the different innovation policy frameworks adopted by the Japanese government since the middle of the 90's in order to develop new industries or to revitalize declining industrial regions and further to increase the country international competitiveness. Incubation and Clusters initiatives being nowadays at the core of all industrial but also science and technology policies in Japan, the paper gives a special emphasis to their implementation based on two case studies: The Kyushu Silicon Cluster (industrial cluster) and the Saito Life Science Park (knowledge cluster). They illustrate the interconnection or networking between research institutions, firms and government, the importance given to incubation to foster innovation and link research seeds with industrial needs. They also show the interdependence between clusters (industrial and knowledge ones) at the regional level although supported by the national framework. The first results are discussed in conclusion.