Conceiving new advanced technology business from research group activities at a Japanese engineering industrial organization

Stronger service business orientation and cooperative conceiving of new industries require that technological experts apply management of technology (MOT) beyond organizations boundaries. Over the last 16 years the New Industry Study Group (NISG) of the Engineering Advancement Association of Japan (ENAA) has been bringing together experts from different industries and corporations for bi-annual research groups on advanced technologies and business in new emerging industries. The authors participated as NISG director or research leader, respectively, in NISG's projects on knowledge-intensive services, electronic-tag (RFID) using services, robotized services for care etc., and are currently in positions to pursue innovation leading and managing successful service-design and ICT-infrastructure companies. Reflecting on the authors' activities over the years, the paper presents results of MOT collaboration in the course of NISG research and in the authors' own businesses. The study offers valuable insights for fostering “technology and service producers” in multi-client contexts.