A series of globalization movements in recent years has compelled Japanfs
manufacturing industry to rapidly relocate its production bases to overseas
locations in order to core with fluctuating exchange rates, mitigate trade friction
and cut the cost of labor and other expenses. As a result, small to medium-size
domestic manufacturers have suffered considerable impact on their production and
employment, and now the hollowing effect on the industrial base is a matter of
great concern.
While bi-polar operations are promoted with the overseas relocation of
production and R&D bases that had formerly been kept in Japan, there are some
companies that are returning their production bases to Japan because they cannot
ensure sufficient development speed by separating the R&D function from the
production lines. Moreover, they want to protect their development technologies.
It is therefore predicted that many development bases will remain in Japan in
the future and become important factors in creating new industries and
employment opportunities. At the same time we can expect some industries with
high added value to grow, based on their development skills. Among these
industries, the prototyping industry, which is indispensable in the development
process, is expected to experience strong growth.
Since the old times, Kyoto has accumulated a process industry with advanced
technologies. Kyoto has also generated a group of companies that make prototypes
on a contractual basis. Accordingly, there is a technological foundation in Kyoto
that is able to respond to the needs of corporate development divisions.
Additionally, Kyoto has accumulated industries ranging from the traditional
industries to the high-tech, and has the rare property of a regional economy with
the capacity to participate in the development of creative technologies. Therefore,
we can say it is a region of high competitiveness for the prototyping industry.
Moreover, since the prototyping industry tends to receive a wider range of work
orders of high value and for mass production, given its participation from the
developmental stage, we believe the industryfs expansion will make a great
contribution to the vitalization of the regional economy.
Considering the above conditions, this research has been undertaken to explore
the possibilities of the prototyping industry that takes advantage of the
manufacturing infrastructure in Kyoto, to investigate the market size and
characteristics, and to study the promotional direction of the prototyping industry.
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