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From: robertb@cs.washington.edu (Robert Bedichek)
Newsgroups: comp.research.japan
Subject: info wanted: Japanese corporations funding research in the west
Message-ID: <28318@megaron.cs.arizona.edu>
Date: 5 Dec 90 06:52:50 GMT
Sender: rick@cs.arizona.edu
Organization: U of Washington, Computer Science, Seattle
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I am putting together a proposal for a parallel machine project.  It
will be difficult for us to be successful without the material support
of a manufacturer of state of the art DRAMs and VRAMs (Video DRAMs).
The Japanese are the only ones making these (I know about TI's parts, I
don't consider them state of the art).  It would be great to get other
support, like for board fabrication, engineering advice, etc.

I've couched all these questions as though I'm talking to westerners.
But perhaps the most enlightening answers to these questions will come
from Japanese with experience in cooperative research ventures with
western academic institutions.

Questions:

1. Is this something that any one out there on the net has experience
   with?  (Getting support from Japanese companies for their research)

2. If Japanese companies support research in US Universities, what is
   their motivation (if one can generalize)?  I need to know this
   to cast my proposal in the best light.

3. To what should I be especially sensitive?

4. How does one approach a Japanese company with a research idea?

5. I know that many Japanese read English, but would it help to
   have our proposal translated to Japanese?

6. Have you had experience doing some of the work on your project
   in Japan?  If so, what was it?

7. Have you had researchers come from Japanese industry to work in 
   your lab?  If so, how did it go?

Thanks for any help that you can lend.  

	Robert Bedichek      robertb@cs.washington.edu