Title

Science as a tool for Commercialization: A Case of Kaneka's Development of the Solar Business

Abstract

With growing public concern about environmental issues, solar photovoltaics is becoming one of the most promising industries. Solar battery or solar cell module is a key device of this industry. Japanese solar cell manufacturers have been leading the progresses of this technology. Most of these companies are electronics makers such as Sanyo electronics, Sharp and Kyocera. Although Kaneka is one of these companies, it is chemical maker. How did Kaneka go into this industry and build their competitiveness? This paper analyze its new business creation process. As a result of the study, science was key factor for success of Kaneka. The paper proposes new perspective on science in the innovation study.

Yoichi MATSUMOTO
Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration
Kobe University
Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe
657-8501 Japan
Phone: (81) 78 803 7036
Fax: (81) 78 803 7059