Outline

With the recent spectacular developments in microelectronics, mechanics, exploitation of new materials, biotechnology and many other fields of technology, local manufacturing companies, especially of small to medium sizes, have been experiencing growing difficulty in upgrading their capacity to keep up with the progress.

To get over this difficulty, the Industrial Research Center of Shiga Prefecture was established by the Prefectural Government. The Center now plays an important part in the promotion of local industrial development, as the key institution for supporting those companies, through such general services as technical consultation and guidance, the opening of facilities to the public and technology transfer, based on the technical capacity cultivated by its R&D activities. In addition, the Center plays the role of coordinator for cooperation between industrial, academic and official circles.

The Center is always making efforts to become an 'open' and 'reliable' center for prefecture residents.