NEC Labs America reports to NEC’s Research and Development Division, which operates somewhat differently from traditional corporate laboratories. While the labs were originally created to develop technologies that would support NEC’s business units, their mission has evolved since the 1990s to address broader societal challenges by combining multiple technologies and innovative ideas.

In recent years, NEC has adopted a more flexible and unconventional path to commercialization. Rather than relying solely on internal business divisions to bring technologies to market, the organization supports a variety of exit paths depending on the nature of the innovation. In some cases, researchers themselves launch spin-off companies, while in others, new ventures are created in collaboration with customers early in the research and development process.

This flexible approach has helped accelerate the commercialization of research outcomes and has drawn attention within business and management studies as a new model for corporate research and development.

For more information, visit NEC Research & Development:
https://www.nec.com/en/global/rd/index.html