In this session of the Corporate Affiliates Research Presentations, the following will be presented:

An Ma, PetroChina, "How CNPC can learn from the Silicon Valley Innovation Model"

The Silicon Valley forms a series of efficient innovation models, gives birth to a large number of world class high-tech companies, and greatly influences science and technology innovation for the U.S. and the world.  The policy mechanism, venture capital investment, multicultural society, talent aggregation, supporting services and government backing are all factors in the development of the Silicon Valley.  In his research, Ma investigated the development process of the Silicon Valley and analyzed two energy-related companies — Tesla and The First Solar — to understand the Silicon Valley innovation model.  Based on his analysis of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) business development and innovation task, Ma offers some suggestions on how CNPC can learn from the Silicon Valley innovation model in science and technology development.

Huaxiang Ma, Peking University, "Entrepreneurship Education in the Era of Globalization"

With entrepreneurship becoming a key driver of today’s economy, entrepreneurship education around the world has developed quickly in the past few decades.  China, as a new rising power, also pays more attention to the development of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education.  Ma’s research goes through the history of entrepreneurship education in both the U.S. and China and analyzes various reasons behind the prosperity.  Additionally, Ma discusses the pioneers of U.S. universities in this field such as Babson, Harvard and Stanford, conducting a comparative study between the U.S. and China.  In his research, he tries to uncover existing problems and suggests possible solutions for the development of entrepreneurship education in China focusing on how Peking University can support his ideas. 

Ryo Washizaki, Japan Patent Office, "How to Increase the Probability of Innovation Through Comparison of the US and Japan While Paying Attention to Start-up Companies"

Every year, large Japanese firms receive high rankings of the international application number and patented number of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  Patents have a relationship with its business, but activities of start-up companies are not easy to see in such kind of rankings.  On the other hand, the World Economic Forum recognizes some start-up companies as “Technology Pioneers”, and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan has awarded Japanese start-up companies “Japan Venture Awards”.  Although those winning companies would have better possibility for success in business, their innovation ecosystem is different.  In his research, Washizaki illustrates the comparison of those Japanese and U.S. start-up companies’ growth, especially from a viewpoint of patents.

Image

SEMINAR DESCRIPTION:

It was in early 1970s that Japanese companies first started interacting with Silicon Valley.  As Silicon Valley grew, many Japanese companies started trying to work with high-tech start-ups in Silicon Valley with the purpose of innovating and developing new businesses. More recently, start-up companies and SMEs from Japan have started taking root in Silicon Valley by fully taking advantage of its high technology infrastructure.  In doing so, however, many Japanese companies failed to achieve their strategic goals.  These hard-learned lessons over time are bound to be forgotten as the new generation of Japanese companies attempt to enter the Silicon Valley’s ecosystem unless they are recorded and the memory is institutionalized. Having lived and worked between Japan and Silicon Valley over the past 30 years, the speaker will share an insider's view of large firms, start-ups and entrepreneurs since the 1970s and his direct experience and reminiscence in dealing with companies in Japan and Silicon Valley, so that the long-built up experience of firms entering this region for the last 40 years can prove to be of benefit to others in the future.

AGENDA:
4:15pm: Doors open
4:30pm-5:30pm: Lecture, followed by discussion
5:30pm-6:00pm: Networking

For more information about the Silicon Valley-New Japan Project please visit: http://www.stanford-svnj.org/

Kenji Kushida will provide an overview of canonical works of Silicon Valley, including work of Martin Kenney and his classic co-edited volume "Understanding Silicon Valley" and other more recent work drawn from the Stanford Silicon Valley - New Japan project’s "Top Ten Reading List of Silicon Valley." He will also share insights from a recent report co-authored with Richard Dasher, Nobuyuki Harada, Takeo Hoshi, and Tetsuji Okazaki entitled "Institutional Foundations for Growth" which partially draws from research on Silicon Valley.   

Kanetaka Maki will present his new research from a paper entitled "Milestones to University-Based Startup Success: What Is the Impact of Academic Inventor Involvement?” Based on the data analysis of 533 University of California startups, he will explain the impact of inventor involvement in the growth and success of university-based startups.

Agenda
4:15pm: Doors open
4:30pm-5:30pm: Lecture, followed by discussion
5:30pm-6:00pm: Networking

For more information about the Silicon Valley-New Japan Project please visit: http://www.stanford-svnj.org/