Mini- internship Report on Mitsubishi Research Institute,
Inc.
1. Introduction
I was chosen for a mini- internship at the Mitsubishi Research
Institute (MRI), Inc. The one-day long internship took place on
January 9th, 2015 at MRI Head Office. It was an wonderful
opportunity for a foreign graduate student like me to get to know
about the renowned organization. Throughout the internship, I got
to know about the structure of MRI, its business partners, its
divisions and their corresponding works. But, the prime focus was
to two sub- divisions under the Science and Safety Policy Research
Division. The following portion of this report contains a brief
description about the organization structure of MRI and the works
under Innovation Strategy and Frontier Strategy Group.
2. About MRI
Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI) was established in 1970. It
assists developing comprehensive solutions to meet the needs of
clients by integrating MRIs think-tank functions and consulting/IT
solution services. Facilitating partnerships with the clients, MRI
contributes to the sustainable development of business and local
communities, and ultimately to the entire society for brighter
future.
2.1 Scope of MRIs Activities
a. Policy Strategy: Education, Medical Science, Welfare,
Nursing, Corporate Management, Systems and Policyb. Information and
Technology: Resources/ Energy, environment and Safety/ disaster
Management, Urban and Regional Development, Industrial Technology,
and Cutting- edge Scientific Technology, Information Security ,
Information and Communication Technology, IT Solutionsc. Social
Infrastructure: Decentralization, Urban and Regional development,
Social Infrastructure Improvement 2.2 Organization Structure:2.3
MRI Group CompaniesInnovation Strategy GroupFrontier Strategy
Group
Mitsubishi Research Institute DCS Co., Ltd.MD Business Partner
Co., Ltd.
MRI Business Co., Ltd.Tohoku DCS Co., Ltd.
MRI Research Associates, Inc.OPT JAPAN Co., Ltd.
Intellectual Property Information Services Co., Ltd.UBS Co.,
Ltd.
MRI Value Consulting & Solutions Co., Ltd.IT-One Co.,
Ltd.
2.4 MRIs 10 Business Themes for Growth
Reconstruction and Revival from the Great East Japan
Earthquake1Reconstruction of Disaster-affected Areas incl.
radioactive decontamination, industrial development, and urban
planning/development
2Strengthening the Disaster Management Capabilities in our
Society for assuring the security and safety of Japan
Resolving Long-term and Structural Challenges3Development of
Platinum Society where the issues of environment, aged society, and
employment are resolved
4Middle- and Long-term Strategic Projects on Environment and
Energy Issues based on post-3.11 (the Great East Japan Earthquake)
scenario
Restoring the Competitiveness of Japanese Companies5Supporting
the Expansion of Japanese Business Overseas leveraging Japanese
social system and companies competitiveness
6Reinforcing Competiveness of Japanese Companies and Industries
by policy x technology x forecasting + public-private
partnership
7New Normal Marketing by trend and customer-based analysis
Leveraging the Advanced Information and Communication
Technology8Installation of ICT Social Infrastructure by
user-oriented approaches and Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
9Advanced IT Solution Projects by analyzing data and assets of
customers; and maximizing their profits
10Leveraging Information Technology Infrastructure: for Finance
Business, Card Business, and HR Solutions/BPO Projects
3. Innovation Strategy Group:
The Innovation Strategy Group is committed to helping clients
both in the public and private sectors, who are aiming for
innovation in a globally competitive environment. It offers a wide
range of services- public policy analyses, intellectual property
rights and organizational theories. These services include analysis
of science and technology policies, higher education systems, and
intellectual properties; drafting of measures to promote science,
technology and innovation; development of research evaluation
methods and human resource development.
3.1 Main Clients, Procedure of Innovation and Achievements
National Government [Cabinet Office, MEXT (education), METI
(Industry)], Public research institutes and Private sector
companies (Chemical, Precision Equipment, Telecommunications) are
the main clients of this group. So far, the achievements of this
group are as follows-
3.2 Case Study of Innovation Strategy Group: Safety standards
and intellectual property systems for appropriate protection of
products for children and child care in Asia
Background: The number of children who go to the hospital after
tripping over or swallowing a toy, or part of a toy, has been
increasing in Asia. Clients target: to identify the current
situation of market supply and safety standards and regulations,
including intellectual property protection of such products.
Activities of MRI: Document Analysis, Interviews with companies in
Japan/abroad/ government bodies to find out the number, scope and
troubles of companies that merchandise child-related products.
Also, to know about the Product standards and certification systems
and to raise awareness of product safety among local businesses and
consumers. For the Intellectual property protection, MRI
investigated the Market trends of products for children or child
care (from a point of view of the IPR registration/application
trend) and raised awareness in Asian country of intellectual
property protection of such products and challenges related to
this.
4. Frontier Strategy Group: Goals, Main Clients and
Achievements
The Frontier Strategy Group has been engaged in research and
study related to space & ocean technologies as well as
spectrum/radio waves; basic research, business promotion, policy
making and system development related to Earth Observation, Space
Communication, Space Development; Ocean Policy, Ocean Forecast,
Development of Ocean Renewable Energy, Marine Spatial Planning and
Marine Information System; Spectrum Monitoring and Assistance to
Technical Test, etc. The Frontier Strategy Group is also engaged in
research and study on Intelligence and National Security. The main
clients are Cabinet Office, MOFA, MOD, MOE, METI, MIC, MEXT, JAXA,
JAMSTEC, Academia, the private sector, etc.
4.1 Case Study of Frontier Strategy Group: Systems for Mobile
Communication with Train
I was introduced to a working document published in ITU
(International Telecommunication Unit) in which a LAN (Local Area
Network) access for mobile phones of train passengers were studied.
Currently, broadband and Wi- Fi networks in tunnels are not
sufficient and the more high speed communication links between
ground and trains would be required for adapting various types of
wireless communications. In the document, various types of wireless
network system in Japan was introduced- Leaky coaxial cables (LCX),
WiMAX, Wi-Fi Access and also, the Train communication system using
millimetre wave (in Shinkansen) was mentioned. It showed that high
connectivity in the range of over 3 500 m from base station in 100
Mbit/s in tunnel is possible with the help of millimeter wave.
5. Relevance with My Research
My research deals with the application of ITS (Intelligent
Transport System) and it requires numerous dataset to work with. In
addition, the combination of ITS, Government Policies and
implementation test (simulation) etc. are involved. As far as I
came to understand MRI, it deals with policy analysis, research for
innovative technologies and also the implementation success
measurement. Thus I think MRI resource and technical assistance can
be of an enormous to my research.
6. Acknowledgement:
I would like to express my gratitude towards Professor Hiroyuki
Hirayama, Tokyo Institute of Technology and Mr. Toru Takaya for
organizing an internship opportunity for me. Im thankful to
everyone of Innovation Strategy Group and Frontier Strategy Group
from Science and Safety Policy Research Division, MRI. Without
their co- operation the internship program wouldnt have been
successful.