On the afternoon of February 28, 2018, Prof. Tao Yitao met with Prof. Koji Yoshikawa from the Industrial Management Research Institute of Kumamoto Gakuen University. Prof. Tao is the director for China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), Shenzhen University, a key research base for humanities and social sciences under the Ministry of Education, dean of the Belt and Road Research Institute of Shenzhen University and also dean of the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRIICD). Among the attendees of the meeting were Yong Wei and Ma Limei from CCSEZR.
Prof. Tao extended a warm welcome to Prof. Koji Yoshikawa for his visit and briefly introduced him the general information about CCSEZR, and BRRIICD. In the meeting, Prof. Koji Yoshikawa introduced the Industrial Management Research Institute which was founded in April, 1959 with the mission of making contributions to the development of regional industry management by investigating the dynamics of industry and economy. Besides, the Institute has joined hands with multiple local organizations, including Kumamoto Industrial Technology Center, Kumamoto Federation of Small Business Associations, Kumamoto Industrial Association.
Prof. Tao Yitao and Prof. Koji Yoshikawa
Prof. Tao believes that the two sides could:
(1) Promote mutual learning among Chinese and Japanese micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. CCSEZR and BRRIICD (Shenzhen) could lead Shenzhen entrepreneurs for a site visit of family-run businesses with a long history to learn their operation and management mode in Japan. They can also invite experts and professors from Kumamoto Gakuen University to CCSEZR for course training.
(2) Cooperate in studying the innovation management mechanism of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises to help them better serve the construction of the Greater Bay Area.
(3) Team up in researching how to effectively protect intellectual property rights, which could better encourage and inspire enterprises to innovate.
Prof. Koji Yoshikawa highly agrees with Prof. Tao’s collaboration proposals. He said Kumamoto Gakuen University had conducted researches on the operation & management mode and innovative system of family-run businesses with a long history, and could provide a wider platform for further exchanges between Chinese and Japanese entrepreneurs as it had partnered with multiple business associations. Furthermore, relying on its relationship with Kumamoto government, the Industrial Management Institute could win local government support and promotion for the cooperation between two sides.
Prof. Tao Yitao presents a book to Prof. Koji Yoshikawa
The meeting ended in a friendly atmosphere after both sides expressed wishes for forthcoming exchanges and cooperation, presented gifts to each other and took photos.
Group photo of attendees
