Analysis on bifferences between Japan and the USA on pathway from research and development to industry: Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL)

This article covers the linkage of science and technology, and the decision-making of management on the road from research and development (R&D) to industry. We selected Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) as a case study. VCSEL is well-known as one of most successful Japanese inventions in the field of opto-electronic semiconductor devices. “Although Japan has been playing a leading role in VCSEL technology, why is VCSEL business successful in the USA and not in Japan?” To give a solution to this question, we analyze technical papers and patents, and at the same time we pay such attention to the academia-industry-government alliance and mobilization of key people, in the USA and Japan, respectively. After that we discuss this case from a viewpoint of innovation management strategies.