Japan's universities and institutions of higher learning filed 9,090 patent applications in Japan in 2006, up 3.7% from 2003. Some 2,872 patents were used, also up, 15.5% during the same time period.
Still Japan has problems turning its patents into might.
Why?
1. Most of the patents were only made domestically. Just one in four of the patents filed were done so internationally. By contrast universities in the EU and US, 40-60% are filed internationally.
2. It is difficult, time-consuming and expensive for Japanese companies to translate patent applications.
3. There is disagreement over what is patentable and what is not in Japan. Japan's first induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are not patentable in Japan because it is considered a medical practice. It is patentable in the United States.
4. Other countries pursue a large quanitity of patents whereas Japan emphasizes quality patents.
5. Total licensing income at all Japanese universities is far less than their US counterparts.
6. There is a gap in knowledge as to what industries want and what universities are researching, even at Tokyo University, Japan's best.
The end result - Japan is wasting its limited supply of intellectual resources.
Or, is it?
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