Based on its June 2001 report, “A Policy for the Structural Reform of Universities”, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Technology and Science (MEXT) established a budget to launch a new initiative called the 21st Century COE Program in FY 2002.
Program works to cultivate a competitive academic environment among Japanese universities by giving targeted support to the creation of world-standard research and education bases (Centers of Excellence) in a range of disciplines.
（Japan Society for the Promotion of Science）

From this COE Program, Professor Watanabe led group of “The Science of Institutional Management of Technology (SIMOT)” was chosen and it is currently active.

“The Science of Institutional Management of Technology (SIMOT)” aims to recover the original fanction of Japan’s technology management, and searches for the methodology and theory of dynamism that creates the worldwide value.

Further details can be accessed through the website address below.

• Homepage of SIMOT