National innovation policies in an IT society: the myth of technology policies focusing on supply sides

摘要

With a dramatic advancement of information technology (IT), active interactions with users have become a key factor for success in conducting business. In addition, IT has a conspicuous tendency that it is evolving with demand through active interactions between them. Innovation policies should take these changes into consideration. One hypothesis is that the policies of promoting active interactions between technology suppliers and users are effective, while the traditional policies of focusing on just supply sides of technology are not so effective. This paper examines this view by investigating the past policies initiated by the Japanese Government.