Japanese researchers innovative, but poorly paid – Republic

Rafal Tomański

Source: Fotorzepa

Innovation in Japan is a term that sometimes you have to hunt with great difficulty. The whole country is working on it, to scientists it was hard.

The last Nobel prize in physics was given three Japanese physicists: Shuji Nakamura, Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano. 21 years before the first of them invented the light emitting diode (better known as LEDs) emitting in blue. Without going into technical details, the blue light was most difficult to get in this kind of light, to the Japanese technology is several hundred times more long-lived than conventional bulbs. It is therefore difficult to believe that the inventor Nakamura got his discovery only 20 000 yen. About $ 200.

Sophisticated technology

Currently, analysts estimate the market segment of blue LEDs for 80 billion dollars by 2020 demand will grow at an enormous rate because blue lights come in useful in many places. However, in 1993, Shuji Nakamura got from the then equivalent of the employer mentioned $ 200. The company Nichia after several years the scientist has sued for cheating on trade secrets. Japanese answered your own lawsuit asking for a share in the profits of their technology. The case ended in 2005, the company had to pay Nakamura Nichia approx. 8.1 million.

The inventor was already a citizen of the United States, an employee of the University of Santa Barbara, and was finally able to see for yourself how it is when the work does not become the sole objective. In Japan, because the mere possibility of being employed by the corporation enforcing a sense of gratitude. Translated into a time for life, of belonging to a group of co-workers often stronger than family ties, word for full dedication. Also the fact that for their work does not get adequate remuneration.

When Nakamura discovered the most difficult to create a blue light emitting diode, the company had 400 employees. When I was in the process – more than 3.5 thousand., Now more than 7 thousand. The invention is called, and with their employers also thought scientists from such companies as Toshiba, Canon, Hitachi, Ajinomoto and Mitsubishi Electric. The Japanese system of remunerating employees had to be changed to the ablest were not affected by the wage system.

Complicated realities of the company

You can now choose whether the salary is to be determined from seniority, or on the results. The Toshiba system works and some of the researchers are able to get tens of thousands of dollars for their outstanding achievements. Ajinomoto had to pay former employees of a million dollars. Nakamura court of first instance awarded $ 200 million to pay for losses from Nichia, it was to be the amount in the size of 50 percent. the contribution of a researcher at the profits made by a former employer. 8 million obtained final judgment constituted only 5 percent. this sum.

court case in the media, you can find comments from colleagues Nakamura of Nichia who admit that a colleague from work exceptionally fond of money. Nichia has always been an undertaking carrying on business in a cost effective manner, her boss lived in a modest apartment on the smallest of the four main islands of Japan, Shikoku.

According to Nakamura’s still a lot needs to change in Japan, by the desire to make money has not been received by others as a bad thing. Just like the Japanese approach to innovation, entrepreneurship development branch is not supported by the company in a way that is standard in the west. Researchers from the Land of the Rising Sun is still likely to gain the last anti-Noble (most recently for research on the slip rate on the skins of banana) than the major awards for breakthrough inventions.

No part or whole songs contained in the log can not be reproduced or further distributed in any form or by any means (including electronic, mechanical, or another, or for all fields of use) including copying, broader digitization, photocopying or copying, including posting on the Internet – without the express written consent of Gremi Business Communication. Any use or the use of songs in whole or in part without permission Gremi Business Communication or authors in violation of the law is forbidden under penalty and may be prosecuted.