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
Activities

MRIs

a. Policy Strategy: Education, Medical Science, Welfare, Nursing, Corporate Management,

Systems and Policy
b. 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
Solutions
c. Social Infrastructure: Decentralization, Urban and Regional development, Social Infrastructure
Improvement
2.2 Organization Structure:

Innovation Strategy Group

Frontier Strategy Group

2.3 MRI Group Companies

Mitsubishi Research Institute DCS Co., Ltd.
MRI Business Co., Ltd.
MRI Research Associates, Inc.
Intellectual Property Information Services Co., Ltd.
MRI Value Consulting & Solutions Co., Ltd.

MD Business Partner Co., Ltd.

Tohoku DCS Co., Ltd.
OPT JAPAN Co., Ltd.
UBS Co., Ltd.
IT-One Co., Ltd.

2.4 MRIs 10 Business Themes for Growth

Reconstruction
and Revival from
the Great East
Japan Earthquake
Resolving Longterm and
Structural
Challenges
Restoring the
Competitiveness
of Japanese
Companies

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Leveraging the
Advanced
Information and
Communication
Technology

8
9
10

Reconstruction of Disaster-affected Areas incl. radioactive decontamination, industrial

development, and urban planning/development
Strengthening the Disaster Management Capabilities in our Society for assuring the
security and safety of Japan
Development of Platinum Society where the issues of environment, aged society, and
employment are resolved
Middle- and Long-term Strategic Projects on Environment and Energy Issues based on
post-3.11 (the Great East Japan Earthquake) scenario
Supporting the Expansion of Japanese Business Overseas leveraging Japanese social
system and companies competitiveness
Reinforcing Competiveness of Japanese Companies and Industries by policy x
technology x forecasting + public-private partnership
New Normal Marketing by trend and customer-based analysis
Installation of ICT Social Infrastructure by user-oriented approaches and Public-Private
Partnership (PPP)
Advanced IT Solution Projects by analyzing data and assets of customers; and
maximizing their profits
Leveraging 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 childrelated 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.