ABSTRACT
The central research laboratories of Japanese companies came out with several technological innovations based on cutting-edge research in the 1980s. There are many voices saying that the reason innovation has come to a standstill in the country is because “Talented entrepreneurs are no longer around” and “Japanese lack entrepreneurial spirit as they are mostly enterprise-oriented.” Many innovators like them are being neglected in the companies, and they are almost losing the avenues to innovate. Innovation sommeliers who are able to conceive a future based on innovation, must not only master one particular field but also have a bird’s eye view of society by liberally moving across natural science, humanities, and social science. To clear the path to Japan’s future, it is first important to again look at “what is innovation” to understand the first relationship between science and society. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
