Yoshie Doi

	This year, Kyo-Suzume staff developed a fully automated, high-throughput break and scribe machine for power devices that is SEMI compatible.
	Kyo-Suzume School: Kyoto Soil Story From “Cutting-edge technology that makes the most of soil: Tradition and innovation, new challenges” (Kyocera Corporation Headquarters)

  1^st November of each year was designated as “Classics Day” on 1^stNovember  2008, the 1000th anniversary of the start of writing “The Tale of Genji.” Since then, the event has been held every year. I was invited to participate again this year.

　Junichi Murata (Chairman of Murata Machinery), Chairman of the Kyoto Convention Bureau and Chairman of the Classics Day Promotion Committee, who is promoting Classics Day, gave a speech on behalf of the organizers, in which he reflected on the classics.

　I wanted to express my respect for his attitude of serving as chairman of a Kyoto venture company and investing a huge amount of his own money to support its activities. I am deeply moved that the head of a Kyoto venture company is promoting the charm of Kyoto through classical literature. The charm of Kyoto is supported by many people like this.

　Kyoto’s venture businesses are heavily influenced by the characteristics of Kyoto people and the natural environment, and even people who move here from other prefectures are imbued with a Kyoto-ness. Many of these people are founders of venture businesses, and they also promote activities to preserve Kyoto’s culture.

　The Kyoto Prize, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, was established by Kazuo Inamori, founder of Kyocera. The Nagamori Prize was established by Shigenobu Nagamori, founder of Nidek. The Masao Horiba Prize was established by Masao Horiba, founder of Horiba Ltd.

　Kyoto Venture Companies (Ranked by Sales)

1. 1973 NIDEC CORPORATION (formerly Nidec Corporation, renamed in 1941)
2. 1959 Kyocera Corporation
3. 1944 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
4. 1933 Omron Corporation
5. 1889 Nintendo Co., Ltd.
6. 1958 ROHM Co., Ltd.
7. 1875 Shimadzu Corporation
8. 1943 SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
9. 1946 Wacoal Holdings Corporation
10. 1950 Nichicon Corporation

　Known as the “Kyoto Gosanke,” the three leading manufacturers active in the global market are Nidec (Nidek), Kyocera, and Murata Manufacturing. In August 2019, Kyoto Prefecture and City agreed to become a “Startup Ecosystem Hub City,” a program designated by the national government. Local governments, universities, and private companies collaborate to provide focused support for human resource development and the creation of an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, creating an environment befitting Kyoto as a venture capital city.

　Within Kyoto City alone, there are incubation facilities to support entrepreneurship, such as Kyoto Research Park, Nishijin Industrial Creation Hall, Nishijin IT Alley, Kyoto University Katsura Venture Plaza, and Creation Core Kyoto Oniguruma. The Kyoto City Venture Business Connoisseurs Committee, which was established in 1997, has also attracted a lot of attention.　 Recently, Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City are considering the Kyoto Semiconductor Valley (tentative name) project in the southern part of Kyoto City. Kyoto Prefecture is home to many semiconductor-related companies and research facilities.

　The reason why cutting-edge companies are choosing to set up offices and locate their design and planning departments in Kyoto is likely due to the cultural atmosphere created by the city’s natural environment and history.

　Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City are currently considering the idea of ​​a (tentatively named) Kyoto Semiconductor Valley in the southern part of Kyoto City. Kyoto Prefecture is home to many semiconductor-related companies and research facilities.

The end of document
Translated by Masami Otani

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