Representatives of Japanese universities, government, and corporate entities met virtually with Yale experts to discuss the role of innovation ecosystems in promoting entrepreneurship in the latest convening of the Promoting the Evolution of Academia for Knowledge Society (PEAKS) program. It was organized by Yale’s Office of International Affairs and took place during October and November 2022.

During the twelve interactive sessions of the program, two Yale initiatives that encourage faculty and student innovation were featured: Yale Ventures and the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking. Both efforts encourage entrepreneur-scientists and humanitarians to transfer technology from the academic setting into commercially viable products and services that create profit, drive economic development in the local community, and benefit society. 

Program participants learned about Yale’s commitment to creating and expanding a culture of interdisciplinary entrepreneurship across the university which includes academic entrepreneurship curriculum, support for student-founded ventures, and maintaining a rich network of mentors and collaborators for students and faculty engaged in innovative work. 

Yale Ventures was of particular interest to the Japanese program participants for its role in accelerating the translation of university research into products, services, and social ventures available beyond Yale’s borders. Japanese universities and companies are considering how to create similar ecosystems within their local communities.

Program participants also learned about upcoming Tsai Center events – such as the Venture Development Program, Build Night, Green Innovation, and Innovator’s Toolkit speaker series – that provide Yale students with resources and opportunities to create, think, and practice the skills needed to support innovation to address large and small-scale challenges across the globe.

Other topics included in the recent PEAKS program also explored the formation of alumni associations, development and fundraising activities, the structure and function of boards of directors at US academic institutions, and best practices in faculty development and management.  University leaders also discussed Yale University priorities, liberal arts education, strategic financial planning in universities, and university-government relations.

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Read more about a previous session of the Yale-Japan PEAKS program