Who participates in de jure standard setting in Japan? The analysis of participation costs and benefits

This research examines who participates in de jure standard setting in Japan, so as to understand the benefits and costs that corporations receive from participation in de jure standard setting in Japan. In particular, the research and development (R&D) expenditure to sales (R/S) ratio is used to examine corporations’ relative R&D position in their industrial sector, in the following four sectors: (1) production machinery, (2) transportation machinery, (3) non-ferrous metals, and (4) information and communications technology. In addition, an analytical framework for the cost and benefit structure of corporate participation in standard development organizations is described. We have found that in R&D-intensive industries, there is less participation from high R/S corporations. This result is in accordance with previous research into EU de jure standardization, but not with the US case.