Crossing Borders: Methods

What was discussed

The session discussed how to connect individual trust building with organizational decision-making in order to grow encounters overseas into collaboration. It described an attitude of showing one's own expertise and interests rather than relying only on the company's name, and of self-disclosure that includes one's weak points. Ways of preparing value to offer the other party and inviting them into the team while confirming mutual benefit were also introduced. On the other hand, from a case in which the value of a technology understood by a Japanese company's local representative did not reach the headquarters' executives and the partnership ended in withdrawal, the problem of organizations with deep hierarchies was pointed out.

About this session

The craft of crossing over. How did researchers active overseas make their way into the important human networks of the places they went? We deepen the craft that crossing over demands, together with practitioners who are actually active abroad. This session is held as part of a series on three aspects of crossing over, connecting Japanese researchers active overseas with industry in Japan.

Speakers

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  Akishige Hokugo

  University of California, Los Angeles　Associate Adjunct Professor, Surgery

  Associate Adjunct Professor in the Department of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. He researches bone regeneration, osteonecrosis of the jaw, wound healing and tissue engineering, and publishes on biomaterials, stem cells and bone formation. He also mentors researchers at UCLA. He is listed as chair of the finance working group of UJA, the network of Japanese researchers abroad, and is active in the Japanese research community in Southern California.

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  Ichiro Yuki

  University of California, Irvine　Clinical Professor, Neurological Surgery (School of Medicine)

  A physician and researcher in neuro-endovascular therapy. He took his MD at The Jikei University School of Medicine in 1995 and served as Associate Professor of Neurosurgery there before moving to the United States. After clinical fellowships in interventional radiology and interventional neuroradiology at UCLA, he was Associate Adjunct Professor in the Department of Radiological Sciences and Co-Director of the Leo G Rigler Research Center. He is now Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. His work centres on developing neuro-endovascular devices, imaging software for angiography systems, and neuroimaging, and he has received several scientific awards from the Japanese Society for Neuroendovascular Therapy.

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  Dai Saito

  Infuse Life Science Inc.　Representative Director and CEO

  After working on the overseas clinical development of medical endoscopes at an endoscope manufacturer, he joined Konica Minolta in 2010, where he handled the clinical development of medical devices and diagnostics, key opinion leader management in Europe and the United States, FDA submissions and due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. He carried out research on patient experience at Hackensack Palisades Medical Center in the United States, holds a Master of Health Administration and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. As chief executive of a medical device startup he works on devices for obstetrics and gynaecology and on healthcare consulting.

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  Kenji Togasaki

  Iino Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.　General Manager, Business Strategy Department

  At Iino Kaiun Kaisha, listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, he is responsible for driving innovation in the maritime field, technology scouting, investment and business development. He has more than twenty-five years in the shipping industry and has built a broad career across both commercial and planning functions. On the commercial side he chartered and operated tankers at IINO Singapore and at Fairfield Chemical Carriers in the United States; in planning and management he handled ship finance, investment decisions and corporate strategy at the Tokyo head office. He now works on scouting next-generation technology and creating new business opportunities through partnerships with maritime startups, venture capital firms, research institutions and industrial partners.

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  Naohiko Kohtake

  ModeratorKeio University Graduate School of System Design and Management　Professor

  After completing the Graduate School of Science and Technology at Keio University, he joined the National Space Development Agency of Japan, where he was engaged in the research, development, and launch of the H-IIA rocket. After serving as a researcher at the European Space Agency (ESA), he became a chief developer at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, where he oversaw independent verification and validation of software onboard the International Space Station and satellites and was engaged in international collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ESA on spacecraft onboard software. He moved to Keio University in 2009. He has served as Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of the Asian Institute of Technology, Advisor to the High Performance Strategy Department of the Japan Sport Council, and Principal (Head) of Keio Yokohama Elementary School, among other positions. He is a Director of the Institute of Positioning, Navigation and Timing of Japan, a Steering Committee member of Multi-GNSS Asia, and Representative Director of the Space Service Innovation Laboratory Technology Cooperative. He is Visiting Professor at the Stanford University Design Research Center and Visiting Professor at the Institute for Future Social Creation, Nagoya University. He holds US PMI PMP certification and a PhD in Policy and Media.