Japan as an R&D Hub

A high rate of technological advancement, supported by vigorous 

investment in R&D, is one of the leading factors in Japan’s competitiveness and makes the country a key investment destination.

IT Industry Competitiveness Index

Structure of Japan’s ICT Industry

Note: The IT industry competitiveness index is organized into six distinct 

categories, which include overall business environment, IT infrastructure, 

human capital, legal environment, R&D environment and support for IT 

industry development.

Source: “IT Industry Competitiveness Index, 2007,” The Economist 

Intelligence Unit

Source: “Advisory Body for the Realization of a Ubiquitous Network Society - Final Report,” 

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Solutions
-Food traceability
-Home security
-Online shopping
-B2B electronic marketing
-Online games
-E-mail, video mail
-E-government and e-municipalities
-Video and music delivery
-Distance education
-Electronic books
-ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
-SCM (Supply Chain Management)
-CRM (Customer Relationship
 Management)
-Videophones
-Telemedicine
-ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems)
-Disaster monitoring
-Employment systems
-Electronic data exchange
Platforms
-Digital rights management
 (DRM, etc.)
-Authentication
-Accounting, accounts  settlement
-Time stamping
-Security
-Privacy
-Systems infrastructure
-Positional information
Terminals
-Digital TV
-Mobile phones, PHS
-Car navigation systems
-Wearable terminals
-Information appliance
-Ubiquitous terminals
-Electronic tags
-DVR, video
-Game machines
-PDA, mobile
-Phone, Fax
-Network robots
-PCs
-Sensors
Networks
-Cable Internet
-Cable TV
-Optical fiber
-Home networks
-Fixed line networks
-Wireless LAN
-Bluetooth
-Terrestrial digital broadcasting
-Transport related systems
 (DSRC, etc.)
-Satellite broadcasting
-Satellite communications
-Electronic tag networks
-Sensor networks
-Next-generation mobile phone
 networks
-DSL

Overall Rank index score
1 US 77.4
2 Japan 72.7
3 Korea 67.2
4 UK 67.1
5 Australia 66.5
6 Taiwan 65.8
7 Sweden 65.4
8 Denmark 64.9
9 Canada 64.6
10 Switzerland 63.5

R&D Rank environment
1 Japan
2 Korea
3 Taiwan
4 US
5 Sweden
6 Finland
7 Germany
8 Denmark
9 Israel
10 NetherlandsAttractive Sectors