KSP Birth Secret Story KSP Story

Certified as The Civil Law No. 1. The history of The Kanawa Science Park, which was born as Japan's first science park.

Birth Secret Story Mame Knowledge
The Kanawa Science Park was born by combining the visions and thoughts of various people as Japanese industries changed dramaticly, bringing together the energy to realize them. Here is how it all came about. This is a peripheral information such as historical background, person details, related organizations, and related laws and regulations to get to know the Kanawa Science Park more deeply.
Year History of The Kanawa Science Park Social situation
1971 Nixon shock (dollar shock) from fixed to variable exchange rate system
1972 Kakuei Tanaka Cabinet inaugurated, normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, return to Okinawa
1973 1st Oil Shock
1974
1975 End of The Vietnam War
1976
1977
June
1978
Kanagawa Governor Nagasu advocates "Brain Center Concept" Signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between
Japan and China At Narita Airport
1979 Second oil shock
1980
March
1981
Kawasaki Mayor Ito advocates "Mechatronics Concept" First flight of the space shuttle
July
1982
Kanagawa R&D-type Corporate Liaison Committee (RADOC) established Tohoku and Goetsu Shinkansen opened
June
1984
Radoc approves proposal for establishment of "Comprehensive Science and Technology Complex" at "R&D-type Enterprise National Exchange Convention"
July R&D-type national exchange conference calls on Kanagawa Prefecture Governor and Kawasaki City Mayor to cooperate in establishing science park
December Toshima Construction Acquires Former Ikegai Iron Works Mizoguchi Plant Site
May
1985
Planning explanations to the prefecture, the city, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry With the Plaza Agreement, the "hollowing out of industry" of factory relocation to China has become remarkable
as the dollar weakens and the yen weakens to the dollar weakens and the yen appreciates.
July Conducted questionnaire surveys of 8,000 R&D-type companies est
ablished by the "Kanawaya Science Park Concept" research group
September R&D-type Japan-U.S. Exchange Conference
October Conducted overseas surveys in Europe
November Conducted overseas surveys in the U.S.
March
1986
Prefecture and city
to budget funds for third sector as survey report completed
May Start of basic architectural design
July KSP Preparatory Committee Preparatory Office established in the planned site
September Completion of basic architectural design and implementat
ion of environmental survey The 1st K.S.P. Establishment Preparatory Committee meeting (Chair: Kaheita Okazaki) started archi
tectural implementation design.
October Neighborhood briefings
November Completion of demolition of the former Ikega
i Iron Works Mizoguchi Plant The 2nd Application for Certification of Spec
ific Facilities based on the Civil Service Act Held by the K.S.P. Prepa
ratory Committee for the Establishment of K.S.P. Co., Ltd. (Founder General: Kaheita Okazaki)
December Established KESPY Co., Ltd., which is certified as th
e first facility under the Civil Health Law (First President: Kaheita Okazaki)
April
1987
Examination of the mechanism of incubation business Division and privatization of Japanese National Rai
lways (birth of JR) Global stock price crash (Black Monday)
June Construction of Kanawaya Science Park begins.
July Conducted a location intention survey for KSP to 28,000 companies nationwide
August Dispatch of European Incubation Research Team (Leader: Professor Kinji Gonda)
October Incubation project trial Started research on each entrepreneur project within IJR The Kanawa Scie
nce Party 5 company management council was established.
April
1988
Kanagawa Management Training Cram School 1st Stage (Organizer: RADOC) Kanagawa
Science Park Tenant Management Co., Ltd. Established Environmental Conse
rvation Committee Establishe
d Tenants Overall Facility Briefing, Start of Tenant Recruitment
Seikan Tunnel opened
September Dispatch of Australian Research Mission
August Start of lease reservations
October Established K.S.P. Community Co., Ltd.
June
1989
Start of lease agreement The first di
strict heating and cooling business in the prefecture started.
Change to Heisei, introduction of cons
umption tax The fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Malta talks cold war, the T
iananmen Gate incident Nikkei 225 record high of 38,915 yen
July Completion and establishment of Kanawaya Science Park

Create Japan's first science park. – Private Life Law No. 1 Certified Third Sector Kanawaya Science Park Birth Secret Story –

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第三セクター第一号認定。かながわサイエンスパーク誕生秘話

KSP誕生秘話

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The Kagewa Science Park (KSP) was born through collaboration between industry, academia, and government, as the visions and thoughts of various people overlapped in the great flow of the times, such as the in
dustrial transition from heavy length and large to frivolous short and small, the outflow of factories overseas and domestic hollowing out due to the appreciation of the yen, and the transfer of authority from the center to
the local government. Here, I will introduce the history.

Interview cooperation

【Interview cooperation】

Name and affiliation at the time

From the right in the
front row, Shu Shimizu, Director, Planning Office, Inoue Japacs Research Institute, Inc. Tatsuhiro Masud
a, Chief, Industrial Trade Division, Kanagawa Prefecture Commerce and Industry Department, T
akeshi Shigeru, Chief Inspector, Kawasaki District Administrative Center, Kanagawa Prefecture

From the right in the
back row, Hidesuke Yasunaga, Chief Business Planning Department, Japan Development Bank,
Ltd. Takaki Yotei, Chief Manager, Development Office, Sales Division, Tobishima Construction Co., Ltd. Ryo Uem
atsu Kawasaki City Planning and Coordination Bureau Planning Division Chief Inspector Kiyo
Eina Kiyo, Chief Officer, Industrial Policy Division, Kanagawa Prefecture Commerce and Industry Department

Chapter 1 New Industrial Reforms in the Showa Era

– Major Events
– June 1978 Governor Nagasu Kanagawa Prefecture "Brain Center Concept
" Advocate March 1981 Kawasaki City Mayor Ito "Mechatronics Concept"

From 1970 to the first half of 1980, the global economy was undergoing a major transformation, and Kanagawa Prefecture was also strongly affected by this. Kawasaki Cit
y in Kanagawa Prefecture has been the core of the Keihin Industrial Zone since the postwar reconstruction period, but since the oil crisis in 1973, environmental problems related to manufacturing, such as pollution problems and soaring land prices, have arisen, and industrial hollowing out has become a problem, such as the relocation of factories of large companies overseas and rural areas in search of cheaper labor.

Governor 12 Nagasu who was an economist, and had grasped Kanagawa Prefecture from a bird's-eye view sensed this tendency early, and held the sense of crisis "Japan did not have it as it was, and the change was necessary". In 1978, Governor Nagasu proposed the Brain Center Initiative, based on the belief that it is not natural resources or funds that will be responsible for the future growth and development of a mature economy, but the brains of human beings.

The high goals of "Kanagawa as a mecca for science and technology in Asia and around the world" and "Kanagawa as a mecca for brain-based industries around the world" were set out, and a new vision was opened up that "the main players in the industrial society of the future are creators, innovators, and venture companies that will perform creative destruction(*).

On the other hand, in Kawasaki City, the shift from a heavy and large industry to a mechatronics industry in which the mechanical industry and the electrical and electronic industry merged has begun. In addition, in promoting urban development, we aimed to be a new type of international science and culture city centered on research and development, rather than a conventional industrial city.

In 1981, Mayor Saburo Ito proposed the Mechatronics Initiative in order to clearly and strongly promote the formation of R&D-type cities centered on mechatronics. This concept was reflected in the basic policy of the industrial policy of the "2001 Kawasaki Plan" formulated in 1983, but it was a reason to aim for an advanced industrial city, prevent the mixing of sumiko in urban development, and suppress the subsequent construction of condominiums on the site of the factory.

Thus, in Kanagawa Prefecture, there was a powerful industrial policy called "Brain Center Plan" advocated by Governor Nagasu Kanagawa Prefecture and "Mechatronics Plan" advocated by Kawasaki Mayor Ito, and the foundation linked to the later "Kanagawa Science Park Concept" was latent.

Creative destruction is one of the economic terms proposed in Chapter 7 of Josef Schumpeter's book Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. Economic development refers to a series of metabolisms in which, as new and efficient methods are created, old inefficient methods are simultaneously driven out. He said that creative destruction is economic development in capitalism itself, and that the background to this happening is basically not a change in the external environment, but innovation within a company. And for sustainable economic development, Schumpeter explained, it is important to constantly destroy crea

tively with new innovations. Source: KEYSPY Co., Ltd. "Challenge to Create, Kanagawa Science Park", 1989

Chapter 2 Co-creation of Industry, Government, and Industry

– Major Events – Ju
ly 1982 Kanagawa Prefecture R&D-Type Corporate Liaison Conference (RADOC) Established June 1984 Radoc sponso
red by RADOC "R&D-type Enterprise National Exchange Convention" resolved the proposal for the establishment of
a "Comprehensive Science and Technology Complex"

Among the field staff of the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, they were greatly stimulated by issues such as governor Nagasu's monthly statement on the "brain center concept" and "the existence of small businesses emerging on the East and West Coasts of the United States." Therefore, we focused on R&D-type companies in the prefecture that do not belong to major manufacturers in the prefecture and are growing with their own high technology, and intentionally started contact. As a result, in July 1982, about 40 companies established the RADOC/Research and Development Oriented Companies.

In the RACOC, regular meetings and research projects ahead of the times were planned and held with the aim of improving the R&D environment through mutual exchanges with R&D-type companies and related organizations, and thus contributing to the development of the local economy. On the other hand, at the same time as THE RACOC, a comprehensive industrial policy formulation committee was established with Shuichiro Nakamura (then a professor at Senshu University) as the chair as an organization to deliberate and promote the industrial policy of kanagawa prefecture administration. Various discussions were being held to realize the "Brain Center Concept" proposed by Governor Nagasu. (Many members of the committee and the KSP Business Research Consortium participated from a group of scholars who supported governor Nagasu's "Brain Center Concept.") )

A number of RACOC executives also participated in the committee, broadening and deepening discussions and creating new ideas one after another. One of them was Kiyoshi Inoue, president of the Japacs Institute.

Shuichiro Nakamura and Kiyoshi Inoue discussed a new type of industrial cluster and created a proposal. Based on the concept of "creating a place to lead the intellectual revolution of entrepreneurs," the museum depicted not an industrial park centered on production, but a science and industrial park centered on research and development. This concept was later called a science park. This proposal was unofficially proposed to Governor Nagasu and Mayor Ito, along with a visible model that became the prototype of the Kanakawa Science Park after some work.

In June 1984, RADOC called on small and medium-sized enterprises nationwide to hold the R&D-type Enterprise Nationwide Exchange Convention. There were 500 participants. The purpose of the event is described as follows. "The industrial society is ending one era and entering a new era. It is the end of the high-growth era, the end of the age of introducing technology from abroad, and the end of the era of large corporations. R&D-type companies that have a strong entrepreneurial spirit and actively conduct research and development of advanced and proprietary technologies are booming everywhere in Japan. This national exchange conference brings together R&D-type companies with such top-level technologies to exchange technical information and delve into the problems of various measures, the aim of improving the research environment of R&D-type companies in Japan." Through this conference, the idea of the founding of the Kanawa Science Park was revealed to the world for the first time. In this way, Kanagawa Prefecture's call for R&D-type companies in the prefecture became a wave of R&D promotion in the prefecture, and it spread throughout the country, and it became a movement that leads to the creation of kanagawa science park. This undulation had a major impact not only on Japan but also on the establishment of the Asian Science Park Association (ASPA).

Source: Keyspie Co., Ltd., Challenge to Creation, Kanagawa Science Park, 1989 Senshu University Center for Urban Policy Research, Senshu University Urban Policy Research Center report No.1 (supplementary edition), 2005

Chapter 3 Organizational Walls

– Major Events – July
1984 R&D-type Enterprise Nationwide Exchange Conference, requested cooperation from the
Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Kawasaki City to establish a scienc
e park In December 1984, Toshima Construction acquired the site of the Ikegai Iron Works Mizoguchi Plant.

The proposal for a national exchange conference also included a request that "both the prefecture and the city cooperate in creating a place where creative research and development can be carried out continuously, rather than a one-off one." In response to this, Governor Nagasu and Mayor Ito were both exploring new industrial policy projects, and judged that they were in conformity with their respective policy issues. The "KSP Concept", in which both prefectural cities participate as a special project, has officially started.

However, because the proposal was full of brand new concepts, understanding could not penetrate within each administration. In August 1984, the director of the prefectural and municipal departments met together to discuss the handling of the proposal, but there was a temperature difference in how the participants were received, as the funds, land, and operational know-how necessary for the KSP initiative were piled up with uncertainties. Therefore, we organized the KSP ConceptualIzation Research Group, which consists of industry, science, and government graduates, and the government will seek the contents of support from the point of view of regional industrial policy while bringing in a lot of wisdom and human resources from various fields of society.

The Business Development Research Group simulated the use of several large-scale factory sites as candidate sites for KSP's location, and selected the site of the Ikegai Iron Works Mizoguchi Head Office Factory, where R&D-type companies are clustered in the surrounding area. This site was originally owned by Ikegai Iron Works in the fall of 1983 as part of the company's reconstruction, and was jointly owned by three major construction companies that are core members of the Commerce Research Group.

However, when the new president of Tokishima Construction took office to complete the reconstruction of Ikegai Iron Works soon after it was expected, each other's thoughts began to cross each other, and it continued to be difficult to form a consensus. In the fall of 1984, Ikegai Iron Works submitted a plan to Kawasaki City to use mainly condominiums. It was a plan to make Toshima Construction Co., Ltd., a medium-sized general construction company, a calculation center for condominiums and banks as buyers. In response, Kawasaki City triggered a prior acquisition consultation for research and development applications under the Act on Promotion of Expansion of Public Lands based on the Mechatronics Initiative proposed by Mayor Ito. In addition, I tried to ask Toshima Construction to understand the KSP concept via ikegai ironwork's main bank, but kawasaki city was not able to draw interest from the new president of Tokishima Construction, who has a mission to rebuild, because the acquisition price of land that greatly exceeds the expectations of the business development research group has been offered. In December 1984, Toshima Construction acquired the site while abandoning a joint land acquisition attempt.

Still, the lights of the KSP concept did not go out. Aling the stalemate still continued, Kawasaki City, through a window, ate down to ask for cooperation while regulating and inging guidance on land use to Toshima Construction. Among them, a member of the businessization research group expressed the opinion that "it is possible to contact Mr. Akira Toshima, the young vice president who is said to be the next president of Toshima Construction", and made a final bet. The person in charge of Kanagawa Prefecture who was promoting RADOC's activities immediately requested under the surface of the water and met with Vice President Toshima, and requested the plan to be changed. The negotiations lasted two hours beyond the promised 30 minutes. After 11 discussions over the course of the year until March, Toshima Construction finally decided to work with the public sector on the board to advance the business of the Science Park initiative. As a result, the plan of the condominium and the calculation center was returned to the blank paper, and the land problem which had been the biggest gate of the KSP establishment was solved at once.

Ikegai Iron Works Mizoguchi Head Office Factory at the time of land acquisition (aerial photography)

Ikegai Iron Works Mizoguchi Head Office Factory at the time of land acquisition (aerial photography)

After the policy decision of kanagawa prefecture and Kawasaki City to establish a science park, land acquisition, business partner recruitment, examination of KSP concept, financing, construction and business are realized in a short period of time that is not usually thought by the united enthusiasm of industry, government, and industry. One of the reasons for realizing this speed was the decision-making system in Kanagawa Prefecture and Kawasaki City, which were the main drivers of the business promotion. Under the policy decisions of The Governor of Nagasu Kanagawa Prefecture and The Mayor of Kawasaki City Ito, the prefecture was appointed by Director Takao Kubo (later President of Keyspie Co., Ltd.), and the city was directly decided on a top-down method for consultations from project members, etc., with Mr. Hideyoshi Komatsu, Director of the Planning and Coordination Bureau, as the project manager.

Source: Akio Baba and Ryo Uematsu, "The Birth of The Kanakawa Science Park,", 2001

Chapter 4 Accelerating Agreements

– Major Events – Ma
rch 1985 Recruitment of Business Partners May 1985 Planning explanat
ion to the prefecture, city, and ministry of international trade and industry

Until then, the public and private sectors had no experience in the development of industrial parks until then, when they worked together to develop and operate industrial parks. On the administrative side, it was necessary to consider proposals by several private business operators on how to ensure the sociality and public nature of the business. However, when proposing private businesses, only a few people understood concepts that had not been found in Japanese society until then, such as incubation projects. In addition, while there was only a proposal period of only about two months, we solicited proposals for a joint business body consisting of one industry in principle. As a result, proposals were submitted to Kanagawa Prefecture, Kawasaki City, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry under the names of two proposed companies (Inoue Japacs Research Institute and Toshima Construction) and seven other companies (Kyowa Bank, Western Environmental Development, Japan Joint Finance, Nipp
on Life, Japan Long-Term Credit Bank, Yasuda Trust bank, and Bank of Yokohama). On May 28, 1985, Governor Nagasu visited mayor Ito's office, and Kaheita Okazaki, president of the Advanced Processing Machinery Technology Promotion Association(*), who is the follower of the project, proposed the proposal to Kanagawa Prefecture and Kawasaki City on behalf of a group of private companies. Then, the venue was moved as it was, and a joint press conference was held while the chiefs of Kanagawa Prefecture and Kawasaki City lined up their seats for the first time. The new concept and Mr. Okazaki's passionate and powerful comments impressed many people involved and made an impact on the industry by decorating the top of each paper. It was an event that foreshadowed the beginning of a new era.

Proposals were submitted to Kanagawa Prefecture, Kawasaki City, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry under the names of two proposed companies (Japacs and Tomishima Construction) and seven cooperating companies (Kyowa Bank, Western Environmental Development, Japan Joint Finance, Nippon Life Insurance, Japan Long-Term Credit Bank, Yasuda Trust Bank, and Bank of Yokohama).

The "Kanawaya Science Park Concept" was officially born here.

On May 28, 1985, Governor Nagasu of Kanagawa Prefecture came to the office of Kawasaki Mayor Ito, and the president of the Advanced Processing And Machinery Technology Promotion Association, Kaheita Okazaki, who is the follower of this project, proposed to the two. Following the proposal, a joint press conference was held. In the history of
Kawasaki City, there has been no example of a joint press conference between the governor and
the mayor. It was an event that foreshadowed the beginning of a new era.

In March 1980, the Association for the Promotion of Advanced Processing Machinery Technology aimed at improving advanced processing machinery and processing technology through a grant related to the research of basic and applied technologies related to the development of processing machinery and its use technologies necessary for the manufacture of aerospace-related equipment, energy equipment, and other technology-advanced machinery, the aim is to contribute to the sound development of japan's advanced technology industry in the future. Inoue Jappax Research Institute Co., Ltd. was established mainly with the approval of the Minister of International Trade and Industry. After that, it was shifted to a general incorporated association in April 2014 due to the transition to the

new public interest corporation system. Source: Akio Baba and Ryo Uematsu, "The Birth of The Kanakawa Science Park,", 2001

Chapter 5 Content Development

– Major Events
– 1985-86 (Showa 60-61) A large-scale research consortium of more than 100 people was launched. H
osted by RADOC, Japan-U.S. Conference in Silicon Valley

Even if the public-private research subjects were decided and discussions on the Science Park concept progressed, it was not yet beyond the range of the plan because of unprecedented business initiatives. There were many problems that needed to be solved in order to realize what kind of business to build each function included in the basic concept, and how to proceed with the incubation business, which is a core function. Therefore, from the viewpoint that it is necessary to have a deep common understanding with many private business operators, we decided to organize a large-sized commercialization research consortium that assumes future business participation from the assembly stage of the business.

While many companies participated in this consortium of business development, 23 companies were selected in consideration of the type of industry, and more than 100 industry, government, and university members were established, with the addition of prefectural cities, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and university professors. With the Advanced Processing Machinery Technology Promotion Association as the secretariat, the concept of Science Park in Japan was fostered as science park surveys around the world continued. Noteworthy are the unwavering enthusiasm of the top management of Kanagawa Prefecture and Kawasaki City, and the enthusiasm of the people to realize KSP. In response to the call of Kanagawa Prefecture and Kawasaki City, which established a research consortium to review the concept, 23 companies paid a burden of 3 million yen, expressed their desire to participate, and in the blink of an instant, 69 million yen was raised, and after a short-term intensive survey based on this fund, a report was submitted to the prefecture and the city in March of the following year, and funds to Keyspie Co., Ltd. were recorded in the initial budget.

The Business Research Consortium continued to conduct examinations and verifications based on practicality, such as dispatching a research team to an advanced science park in Europe and the United States, and the "Kanawa Science Park Concept Survey Report" was compiled.

Source: Akio Baba and Ryo Uematsu, "The Birth of The Kanakawa Science Park,", 2001

6. Capital Setting and Financing

– Major Events
– May 1986 The prefecture and the city budgeted funds for the third sector

In the initial plan of the Business Development Research Consortium, the capital of K.S.P. Co., Ltd., which is a business management company, was assumed to be 10 billion yen because the investment environment surrounding the KSP concept was good. However, with the materialization of the concept, the capital scale gradually shrank as realistic financial and income and expenditure simulations became clear.

On the other hand, in parallel with this period, the government considered the enactment of the "Act on Temporary Measures concerning the Promotion of The Development of Specific Facilities by Utilizing the Capabilities of Private Business Operators(Private Activities Act)" mainly in the third sector funded by the public and private sectors, and the KSP was hit by a white feather arrow as a model case. However, as a condition applicable to this private sector law, public sector investment was required to exceed 1/3 of the capital of the third sector, so the total amount of capital was decided according to the amount of public sector investment.

While searching for the location of the investment amount, the city judged that it would be more profitable overall to promote it as a national certification project in response to the application of the Private Activities Act. In order to achieve this, the Government of Japan has previously budgeted 500 million yen, in view of the fact that it is necessary to take a proactive stance from the public sector. This prompted governor Nagasu's leadership in the prefecture to be accelerated, and cautious arguments were dismissed, leading to a contribution of 500 million yen. It was unusual at that time that the prefecture and the city decided ahead of 500 million yen in each investment in this way.

Even so, with a total investment of 1 billion yen in the public sector, the total capital was only up to 3 billion yen under the Private Sector Law, and it was not large enough to meet the project costs of the KSP initiative. Therefore, the Development Bank of Japan (currently the Development Bank of Japan, hereinafter "Open Bank"), which had demanded the establishment of a loan and loan system based on the Private Activities Act, was also called to participate. In The Bank of Japan, there were reactions of pros and cons, such as "While the significance and policy of The Kanawa Science Park are high, there are multiple business entities, and it is not always clear where management responsibilities are assumed", but as a final decision, the investment budget of 500 million yen, the same amount as the prefecture and the city, was recorde
d on the premise of ensuring profitability. As for private sector investments, we were able to raise more than 3 billion yen due to prior recognition by the Commercialization Consortium. As a result, in accordance with the Civil Service Law, we asked for a reduction correction, but the appeal and expectation of the KSP concept was so great.

Source: KEYSPY Co., Ltd. "Challenge to Create, Kanagawa Science Park", 1989

Chapter 7 Inauguration of Core Business Operating Companies

– Major Eve
nts – December 1986 Established KESPY Co., Ltd.

Discussions between industry, science, and government have revealed the functions that should be held as Japan's first science park, but discussions have been left mainly on the business contents of KSP Co., Ltd., which is the core business entity of KSP, and its establishment process. Specifically, we have solidified a wide range of requirements, including the balance between profitability and public nature as a third sector, the necessary business scale, its financing plan, and the organizational personnel structure.

First, in April 1986, the "Third Sector Establishment Preparatory Committee Secretariat" was established with dispatched staff members of each founder to prepare business balance plans and civil health law development plans, and to provide funds. In a completely different work environment, the staff dispatched from the public and private sectors worked together day and night to realize a novel and attractive project with a sense of mission. In the process, some initiators expressed skepticism about the realization of the incubation business, which is a core function of the KSP concept, and a great deal of time and effort was spent on drastic reexasure. As a result, in implementing the incubation project, the prefecture and the city worked together to develop conditions so that sustainable operation could be carried out, and an agreement was reached on the private side.

Thus, in September 1986, the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Kanawa Science Park was held, and on December 1, 1986, it was certified as the first application of the Private Sector Law as a "Research Core", and on December 17, 1986, the third sector, K.S., Co., Ltd. was established (Registration Day December 19). Mr. Kaheita Okazaki was elected representative director, and Kiyoshi Inoue and Akira Toshima were elected as executive vice presidents.

Press Conference

Mirror cracking at the founding party

Mirror cracking at the founding press conference and the founding party

Source: KEYSPY Co., Ltd. "Challenge to Create, Kanagawa Science Park", 1989

Chapter 8 Birth of Japan's First Science Park

– Major Events
– June 1987 Construction of Kanawaya Science Park Construction Star
ts July 1989 Completion and Establishment of Kanawa Science Park

Based on the concept of "urban science park", Kanawa Science Park (KSP) was planned and designed in a community open to local communities rather than a facility that gathered companies and research institutes.

Initially, they tried to express "freedom of the city", but in districts close to houses, they were constrained by coordination with surrounding condominiums and tangential conditions. Although some parts were abandoned, as an environmental and morphological requirement, the 24-hour open urban space concept was firmly maintained as a facility to support green open spaces and research and development.

This was advised by the building guidance authority in Kawasaki City, and a comprehensive design system for non-residential systems with few cases was introduced. By drastically changing the basic design so far and creating open space, it was utilized as a place for surrounding residents to walk in the shade of greenery and bon dancing venues, and became an urban science park open to the local community in both name and industry. In addition, one of the factors that enhanced the base was that the shuttle bus yard could be secured in the Mizo-no-guchi Station redevelopment project in Kawasaki City, and it was possible to provide convenience not only to the workers but also to the surrounding residents.

In April 1987, a notice of building confirmation and a construction agreement with neighboring residents were concluded in May, and from June 1, large-scale and short-term KSP construction work began, with an average construction volume of 2 billion yen per month. Under strict conditions, many ingenuity and challenges were required, and the construction owner, Toshima Construction Co., Ltd., developed new construction methods such as "PCization of the core", "reverse strike method", and "Oka-assembly and meshing of rebar".

Photos under construction (from photos received on November 2020)

Photos under construction

At that time, due to the tightness of workers, especially for construction projects in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the people concerned went to various parts of the country to secure personnel, set up workers' lodgings, cafeterias, and shops inside and outside the site, and responded to the large number of workers. As as many as 250 dump trucks entered and exited the site a day, great attention was paid to traffic safety and changes in traffic in the surrounding area. For about two years from the explanation of the construction plan to the completion of the construction, communication with local residents was requested, regular meetings explaining the construction status and "KSP construction news" were distributed to surrounding houses every month, and the understanding was improved while sincerely responding to complaints. Kawasaki City, which is also at the knees, responded to the opposition movement of KSP development from the standpoint of the administration, and quickly compiled the revision of laws and regulations necessary to build hotels in industrial areas. In addition, discussions were held on cooperative relationships after opening, such as a free ride on the KSP shuttle bus connecting Mizoguchi Station and KSP, the KSP Fureai Summer Festival, and information disclosure on the safety of research through the Environmental Conservation Committee, and built a relationship of trust so that it could be recognized for a long time.

During the talk, various things were decided and executed, such as a free ride on the KSP shuttle bus connecting Mizoguchi Station and The Kwawa Science Park, the KSP Fureai Summer Festival, and information disclosure related to the safety of research through the Environmental Conservation Committee, and bui
lt a relationship of trust. Immediately after completion, I received a composi
tion from a daughter of a leader who was an opponent. "The jagged-roofed factory that was seen from my house was gone, and instead, a beautiful, large building was built. It is called Kanawaya Science Park. It looks like the 21st century is coming to me." I was deeply
moved by the fact that we continued to communicate with each other, deepened mutual understanding, and recognized our existence here, and that we had done a good job together by reading the compositions with our staff. It is an unforgettable memory.

– The following events were representative of the epilogue –

Immediately after completion, I received a composition from the daughter of the person who was the leader of the KSP construction opposition movement. "The jagged-roofed factory that was seen from my house was gone, and instead, a beautiful, large building was built. It is called Kanawaya Science Park. It looks like the 21st century is coming to me." When the composition was turned around by the worker and the person concerned, and a really good work was accomplished, feelings were lifted together.

Appearance photograph after completion (from the challenge to creation)

Source: KEYSPY Co., Ltd. "Challenge to Create, Kanagawa Science Park", 1989

9. Continuing to Innovate to Create New Industries in Japan

Since its establishment in 1989, KSP has been equipped with incubation by K.S.P. Co., Ltd. and research support functions by the Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (KISTEC)*. In 2018, the Kanagawa Prefectural Kawasaki Library will also be added to support the company from research to business development, aiming to become a hub for the creation of new industries.

*In 1989, it was established as the Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) and the Kanagawa Advanced Technology Support Foundation (KTF). The two foundations were integrated in 2005 and integrated with the Kanagawa Prefectural Industrial Technology Center in 2017, and were established as the Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (KISTEC).


In addition, K.S.P. Co., Ltd. has inherited the aspirations of seniors as a venture company that pioneered science parks and incubation businesses, and develops various services to promote the growth of venture companies.

-The Kanagawa Management Training School, which was opened with RADOC volunteers, has been inherited as the current KSP Business Innovation School since 1992, and has led the generation andization of many innovation human resources.

– KSP investment fund, which was the first to be structured in 1997, started as a union under the Civil Law at that time, while there was no small and medium-sized liability law (act on investment business limited partnership contracts such as small and medium enterprises) and LPS law (act on investment business limited partnership agreement). Currently, we are investing in the sixth KSP investment fund, which is the same as the investment policy at the time, and specializes in R&D-type startups.

*KSP-Think: An incubation section in TechnoHub Innovation Kawasaki (THINK) established in 2004 on the site of the Research Institute of Nippon Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. (currently JFE Steel Co., Ltd.). In partnership with JFE Urban Development Co., Ltd., we are incuvation mainly in the manufacturing business.


*KSP-Biotech Lab: Incubation zone in the Life Innovation Center (LIC) established in 2016 under the initiative of Kanagawa Prefecture in the International Strategic Special Zone aiming to industrialize regenerative and cellular medicine. We provide priority support for the Kanawa Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Industrialization Network ( SINK) and the businessization projects in the field of regenerative and cellular medicine.


The KSP concept, which began without precedent or thought, became the concept of a Science Park in Japan and a model for new industrial policies. Even now, many visitors from japan and abroad come to share this KSP model. We will continue to search for a base for creating next-generation industries through innovative technology development and backing up new business development.

Chapter 10 To Future KSP At the End

This draft was compiled by the Secretariat based on interviews with volunteers of members involved in the KSP concept formulation project and subsequent construction.

KSP is conceived as the first science park in Asia as well as Japan. It can be said that it was born in search of the ideal way of the nation after the end of the high economic growth of our country and the catch-up achievement to the advanced country. KSP's goal was to build a science park as a base for brain-based industrial structures, a base for realizing innovation, and a base for producing innovators and venture businesses.

Therefore, KSP needs to be a hub of innovation, not just an incubator. It is pleased that KSP is currently highly valued as a science park representing Asia as well as Japan.

In addition, I would like to convey it to future generations who will be responsible for KSP in the future. In the process of arriving at the birth of KSP, I want you not to forget the fate of many "heavens and earth people" and the passionate feelings of their foremis. I hope this article helps.