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Research paper : Study on the PAN carbon-fiber-innovation for modeling a successful R&D management (O. Nakamura et al.)−162−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.2 No.2 (2009) change far beyond the original expectation of the inventor.It was reaffirmed that the following points were important as components of this process:(1) Serendipity based on clear issue consciousness of the researcher(2) Matched phase between the researcher’s motivation and management(3) The industry’s aggressive desire to develop new businessToday’s industrial change would not have resulted or would have remained small, if any of the process was absent.Moreover, timely cooperation effect of each element is important. This will develop into “excited oscillation” where mutual actions are strengthened, and the progress to industrial use accelerates from a certain point in time. The “excited oscillation model” can be presented as an innovation model to unify the research autonomy and mission in society without discrepancy (Fig. 5). Again, reconsidering the innovation process of the PAN carbon fiber to check this excited oscillation model, the series of research on PAN carbon fiber was born as a serendipity driven by a researcher’s interest in the manufacture method of carbon fiber through graphitization, and the management led it to practical use by encouraging patenting. Also, the unforeseen meeting with a third party offered a chance to shift the focus to mechanical strength, and the R&D for material development and creating composite material (CFRP) was conducted due to this change in policy, the management accelerated the process through funding support by raising its status to a Project, and dramatic progress followed. In addition, research on the standardization of carbon fiber material contributed to guaranteeing the reliability, and pushed the spread of industrial use. All these processes were accomplished under close cooperation of the researcher-management and research-industry.Positioning the findings obtained through the model and analysis as proposals for the efforts for future creation of innovations, the following will be the key scenario:(1) Clarification of “mindset” that is the basis of researcher’s “autonomy”(2) Establishment of “management” that synchs the researcher’s mind to societyIt can be concluded that it is important that the research organization (executer of R&D) and government organization (planner of R&D policy) to understand and to operate appropriately.Based on this model, the management is required to “motivate the researchers when they are setting the research theme,” “review the research theme and system when it is matched against the social values according to the progress of the research,” and to “engage in technological transfer and related committee activities to improve or create social values.” Organic collaboration, particularly resetting of research theme by the researcher and synchronization by the management as the research progresses, are strongly desired.This model seems to have similarities with the chain model of Stephan J. Kline[13]. While the Kline model is a phenomenological model, the excited oscillation is a management model for producing innovation. This is a point that we emphasize in this paper, and to produce innovations in the future, the role of management is the most important over everything else, and we believe this model is effective as a model to create a guideline.AcknowledgementIn preparing this paper, we made full use of an interview with Dr. Akio Shindo, the father of PAN carbon fiber, as an information source for course of events that do not show up in papers and patents. We obtained detailed information about the people’s awareness and actual practice in research through interviews with Dr. Yoichiro Nakanishi and Yoshihiro Sawada, who were joint researchers of Dr. Shindo. We learned of the views on Dr. Shindo’s interest and curiosity through an interview with Dr. Rokuro Fujii who was a joint researcher in the early stages of carbon fiber research. We learned about the research environment at that time and the daily activities of researchers through interviews with Dr. Kanji Matsuo and Isao Ogino, former senior researchers. This paper was prepared by compiling the information from Dr. Kazuo Ohtani and current AIST employees who were involved.TerminologyOrdinary Research and Special Research: The researches conducted at the former Agency of Industrial Science and Technology could be roughly grouped into basic “Ordinary Research” and “Special Research” that includes large-scale projects or researches directed by the MITI. Based on the Outline for Research Management of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, the theme selection, planning, fund allotment, and management of the results were left to the deliberations of the director general.Resource MaterialDr. Shindo et al. discovered the basic principle of the PAN carbon fiber and its manufacture method, and obtained the patent. Toray received licensing and engaged in long-term R&D as a government-industry collaboration. Many major companies around the world joined the challenge, but the Japanese companies (Toray Industries Ltd., Toho Tenax Co., Ltd., and Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) hold 80 % of the world share in the high-performance carbon fiber market. The

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