Kathryn Ibata-Arens

Kathryn Ibata-Arens is Vincent de Paul Professor, DePaul University. Her scholarly work focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship in Asia, science and technology policy, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive innovation. Ibata-Arens’ recent research explores technology leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem development in biomedical industries in Asia. Her book, Beyond Technonationalism: Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Asia (Stanford University Press 2019) analyzes national policy and firm level strategy in China, India, Japan, and Singapore. From 2012 to 2013 she served on the METI-State Department Japan-US Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Japan-America Society of Chicago, and as a member of the U.S.-Japan Council. Previous policy analysis, utilizing social network analysis and GIS methodologies, examines emerging life science (biotechnology and medical devices) regions in Japan and the United States. In 2012, Ibata-Arens was a visiting researcher at the Research Center for Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI, Tokyo), Ritsumeikan University Research Center for Innovation Management (Kyoto) (2011-2012), and as a Fulbright Fellow at Kyoto University (2010). In 2008, Ibata-Arens was a Japan Policy Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC and received a Sloan Foundation Industry Studies Grant for her work on national entrepreneurship and innovation policy. Her dissertation research was conducted at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) at the University of Tokyo as a Fulbright Doctoral Fellow. Ibata-Arens’ previous book, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Japan: Politics, Organizations and High Technology Firms (Cambridge University Press, 2005) analyzes leading high technology firms and regional economies in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo. She received a BA in international relations from Loyola University Chicago and a PhD in political economy from Northwestern University.

Specialties: innovation and entrepreneurship strategy, economic development, policy analysis, high technology, biomedical and life science entrepreneurship, Japan, Asia, entrepreneurial ecosystems

Twitter: @IbataArens