Profile

Professor Natori Takashi graduated from The University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics in 1980 and entered the Japan Development Bank (now Development Bank of Japan, Inc.). He then completed the London Sloan Fellowship Programme at the London Business School in the United Kingdom before receiving his PhD in Engineering from Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Engineering, the Department of Management Science and Technology.
At the Development Bank of Japan, Professor Natori was engaged in new business project research, industry research, technology screening, finance practice, and international collaborations. After almost 30 years, in April 2009, he became a professor at Ristumeikan University’s Graduate School of Technology Management, which is his current post.
Professor Natori’s strength is his thorough knowledge of all industry and on-site situations. He also has experience promoting regional administrations, serving as mayoral advisor for a local government.
As a theme for study, Professor Natori’s primary focus is on mainstay small and medium-sized enterprises——specifically new manufactured products and new enterprise development as well as innovative creation including open innovation, technology marketing, competitive strategies, and policies to support and foster small and medium-sized enterprises.
Professor Natori has presented numerous peer-reviewed academic papers and conference presentations, and his research has received high praise for the author’s unique perspectives, earning him research awards from the Japan Society for Research Policy and Innovation Management and the Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs. As of March 2023, he has published more than 40 peer-reviewed academic papers.
Professor Natori has not only conducted research on open innovation but has also been involved in a practical sense. He has been providing cooperative support for open innovation activities organized by commercial and industrial organizations for more than 10 years.
Being well versed in both business practice and academic research, Professor Natori is also frequently commissioned by municipal governments and economic organizations to carry out official business. He also contributes to society by training corporate executives and educating and guiding engineers as a training instructor, as well as by giving lectures at various enlightening workshops and seminars sponsored by public organizations.

Selected Publications

• Natori Takashi “Means of Facilitating Intellectual Property Finance for Technology-based Regional Firms”, The Journal of Science Policy and Research Management, vol.20, No.4 (2005), pp.319-335 This article won the 1st paper prize of the Japan Society for Science Policy and Research Management in 2007.
• Natori Takashi “Cooperative Capabilities of Small Businesses in the Joint Technical Development between Large Firms and Small Businesses –the Empirical Study on the Case in Osaka,Japan”, Japan Ventures Review,No.19,March 2012, pp.17-26.
• Natori Takashi “Technology Marketing of Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Firms through the Use of Websites", Japan Ventures Review,No.21,March 2013, pp.61-74 This article won the Tadao Kiyonari's JASVE Award prize in 2013.
• Natori Takashi “Brand management and relationships building with customers in BtoB small and medium-sized manufacturing firm",　The Japanese journal of regional policy studies No.13, September 2014, pp.40-47.
• Natori Takashi “A Study on Website Marketing in SMEs in Japan", Journal of Japan Management Diagnosis Association,No.14, 2014, pp.117-123.
• Natori Takashi “The effects of innovation promotion policies in SMEs－Analysis of questionnaire responses of member companies of the Osaka Top Runner Project", Journal of The Kansai Association for Venture and Entrepreneur Studies Vol.9, March 2017, pp.16-25.
• Natori Takashi “Current status and issues of open innovation in SMEs－Analysis of questionnaire responses of member companies of 18 Chambers of commerce in Kansai region.", Journal of The Kansai Association for Venture and Entrepreneur Studies Vol.11, February 2019, pp.22-29.
• Natori Takashi “Effectiveness and factor analysis of open innovation through matching between large companies and SMEs－Analysis of questionnaire and interview survey of the MoTTo OSAKA open innovation forum member companies", Journal of The Kansai Association for Venture and Entrepreneur Studies Vol.12, February 2020, pp.63-70.
• Natori Takashi “Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Manufacturing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Combination of Two Strategies, Cost Advantage and Differentiation, and Its Necessary Requirements",The Japanese journal of regional policy studies No.27, September 2021, pp.114-119.

Affiliation with Academic Associations

Japan Society for Research Policy and Innovation Management (Japan)
The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs (Japan)
Japan Academy of Small Business Studies (Japan)
Japan MOT Society (Japan)
The Academic Association for Organizational Science (Japan)
Japan Association for Management Systems (Japan)
Japan Academy of Business Administration (Japan))
The Japan Association of Regional Policy (Japan)
The Kansai Association for Venture and Entrepreneur Studies (Japan)

Academic Awards

1st paper prize of the Japan Society for Science Policy and Research Management in 2007
The Tadao Kiyonari's JASVE Award prize in 2013