Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS) Research Center for Regional and SME Policy (HIAS SME)

The Research Center for Regional and SME Policy (HIAS SME) was created under the Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study in spring 2020 with the aim of promoting research in regional and SME policies. Under the partnership and cooperation agreement signed by Hitotsubashi University with METI’s Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, its specific objectives are to: (1) conduct research on administrative issues and needs; (2) utilize various statistical and administrative data for research; and (3) promote academic exchanges between the partners through joint research and other projects. Thus, the HIAS SME’s mission is to conduct advanced empirical studies using various micro data relating to SMEs, publish and publicize the results of such studies, as well as contribute to the evaluation and design of SME policies, including regional economic development policies, while taking into account regional economy and regional economic development. In other words, it will serve as an EBPM (Evidence-based Policy Making) research hub for regional and SME policies.

As of December 2020, the HIAS SME’s research staff consists of seven faculty members from Hitotsubashi’s Graduate Schools of Business Administration, Economics, and Law, and Institute of Economic Research. From now on, under the partnership and cooperation agreement with METI’s Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, various joint research projects are now underway using individual data from statistical surveys (secondary use) and public questionnaires data analyzed in the White Papers on Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan. Furthermore, we will be consulting with experts on public law on the possibility of using government data and the ways and conditions for the appropriate use of such data. The research center is planning to invite guest researchers from other universities and research institutes in order to expand its research capability. Matching public data with various corporate, regional, and other data is also an important issue.

The HIAS SME will accurately grasp the policy issues regarding regional economies and SMEs in Japan, and intend to undertake various research projects as a pioneer national center for quantitative research of regional and SME policies.