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Report : Methodology of technology integration toward establishing an open innovation hub−65−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.4 No.1 (2011) Lastly upon the analysis of the 50 papers, we extracted the issues for the synthesis method. First is the “synthesis method in Synthesiology” (see figure). There is the process of strategy and scenario selection and combination of elements testing in society, but it was found that another important factor is the “feedback”. The examples of selection and combination of the elements can be categorized into the aforementioned “aufheben”, breakthrough, and strategic selection types.Second is the “property of the research field and synthesis”. In the fields such as physics, chemistry, mechanics, device technology, and metrology, the elemental technologies are clearly defined and the synthesis method is relatively simple. There are also complex systems such as environment, energy, and geology. Then, there are complex interactive systems such as biotechnology, human technology, and information technology, where the synthesis method changes and the complexity increases.Finally, the “introduction into society” is our main issue. To introduce a research result into society, a social action that is independent of and collateral to the technological development enters into the factor, as well as the addition of values such as emotional aspect and need of an impressive concept, aside from the function. It may also be necessary to promote autonomous synthesis by sowing the seeds of elements while giving up short-term profit. Not only is it a matter of technology, but it will be also important to respond to the feedbacks from society. I propose such issues for our discussion.We shall hear from Dr. Kobayashi who proposed the issue, Dr. Suzuki who promotes the idea of meta-engineering at the Engineering Academy of Japan, Mr. Kitayama who has experience in the R&D of optical network, and Mr. Ito who will explain the history of the car navigation system. Then, I would like the participants to discuss the synthesis methodology for introducing the products into society.Proposal of meta-engineeringHiroshi Suzuki (Technology Executive, GE Energy; Chair of the Task Force for Committee on Technology Policy, Engineering Academy of Japan)The Engineering Academy of Japan is a group of leading engineers and was established to contribute to the advancement of engineering and technological sciences in Japan. I am leading a study group there and proposing an idea of “Meta-Engineering”. Recently, I feel that the definition of engineering has been fixed as seeking optimal answers only within a given condition or constraints. Here I find two problems. The first problem is that this condition is regarded as a given and irremovable. The second one pertains to optimization process. Optimization falls into global optimization and partial optimization. I feel that people tend to fall into local optimization that would not lead to a radical solution. Assuming that these two bottlenecks might prevent the sequential occurrence of innovation in Japan, our group was determined to review “Engineering” and named this concept “Meta-Engineering”.When people seek an optimal answer within a given condition, they might focus only on “How”, but “What” should come before “How”----this inspired me to get the idea of “Meta-Engineering”. Some people say that we should make innovation happen taking full advantage of Japanese manufacturing, and the word “manufacturing” makes most people think about “how we make things”. However, what is important is “what we make” and “why we make it” in the background.In line with the implementation of the Third-stage Basic Plan for Science and Technology, we see some visible results in science and technology. Each individual result is respectable, but it is hard to think of the innovations that have recently happened in Japan. A single respectable technology or science comes out in Japan, but is not converted---this is the impression that I have.I use the word “meta-engineering” for the Japanese word komponteki engineering or down-at-the-root engineering.Getting back to the basics of Engineering, we firstly think about an issue. We might have seized visible issues, or issues at hand, but there might be more radical and invisible (Examples) Strategic properties(strategy and scenario)Trial in society“Aufheben” typeBreakthrough type Strategic selection typeSynthesis in synthesiologySynthesis for introduction into societySelection and combination of elementsFractal structureFeedbackFeedbackSelection and combination of elementsSelection and combination of elementsSelection and combination of elements[Panel discussion]Motoyuki Akamatsu (Senior Editor, Synthesiology, AIST)The objective of Synthesiology is to publish papers that describe the synthetic researches conducted according to the scenarios that outline the process of creating the technology that will be used in society. Therefore, I hope we may get a glimpse of some synthesis methodology to create innovations.

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