ASU will become a big player in bringing Japanese technology to the U.S. after striking a deal earlier this month, which will also allow the University to market its own innovations overseas through a Japan-based technology broker.
Arizona Technology Enterprises came to an agreement with Japan Technology Group, which represents Japanese universities and research institutes, where the two groups will exchange their technological innovations — like computers and portable electronic devices — to promote in the U.S. and Japanese markets.
“We’re looking to commercialize the technology wherever we can find the best opportunities,” said Ken Polasko, vice president of business development and physical sciences for Arizona Technology Enterprises.
Industry is global now, Polasko said, so organizations need to think more globally.
“No one university or geographic area has a lock on commercialization any longer,” Polasko said. “There are differences in ways that technology is commercialized. The first opportunity for certain technologies might be in the Asian or U.S. markets.”
Globalization, he said, is now a vital part of a company’s growth.
“One thing I see changing in this environment is that companies are international now,” Polasko said. “The market is global. It makes sense for universities to think along those lines.”
There are many good companies and bright people all over the world, he said, and globalization allows access to those resources.
“You never know quite where technology is going to find a landing zone,” Polasko said. “So I think it’s important for us to expand our focus and look outside the U.S. market.”
This new partnership with Japan Technology Group will allow both organizations to examine their portfolios and determine the best matches for each other’s regions, Polasko said.
Japan Technology Group is a division of Keisen Associates, based out of Tokyo, representing the interests of eight Japanese universities and many different research institutes. The organization brokers the intellectual property technology for the universities it represents.
“We are very familiar with the U.S. market and we have a large network here,” Polasko said. “But we don’t have a Japanese or an Asian counterpart.”
Japan Technology Group will serve as that counterpart.
“They were looking for a partner abroad, but they have no outreach,” said Japan Technology Group President Taro Yaguchi, “So we are a facilitator to connect both internationally.”
Polasko said the partnership would benefit the global ambitions of Japan Technology Group in return because of Arizona Technology Enterprises’ connections in the West.
The deal is still fresh, and both Polasko and Yaguchi were hesitant to say what’s next for the partnership. The two organizations are still in the planning stages.
“We’re putting together the technology that we’re going to exchange — that each group is going to go off and market,” Polasko said. “Check back in six months to see if anything’s gained traction. Hopefully we’ll get some positive feedback on both sides and possibly gain some connections.”
Reach the reporter at joseph.schmidt@asu.edu
