by Yuriko Sawatani

The ICServ 2013 (http://icserv2013.serviceology.org/) is over. More than 120 people joined us from 12 countries, for 19 sessions including Dr. Spohrer’s keynote speech and Prof. Kwan’s service design workshop. During the conference, ISSIP provided a poster corner. The host of the ICServ was the Society for Serviceology, which was established last October. The next ICServ 2014 is planed for September 14-16 at Keio University (http://www.sdm.keio.ac.jp/en/) in Japan.

Japan recently launched the Fourth Science and Technology Basic Plan, with a focus on fostering innovation in science and technology. Especially interdisciplinary research and development activities in domains such as service science were considered important topics. The Economic Growth Strategy issued by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, discussed innovation in service industries, and Japanese researchers have since begun to create service science in Japan. Several initiatives have since been launched:

–          The Service Productivity & Innovation for Growth (SPRING) Group

–          The Center for Service Research (at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, or AIST http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html

–          The Service Innovation Human Resource Development Program

–          The Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society (JST-RISTEX http://www.ristex.jp/servicescience/EN/index.html) launched its Service Science, Solutions and Foundation Integrated Research Program.

To expand the community of the Society for Serviceology, a LinkedIn group has been created (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=6527698&trk=anet_ug_hm).

All ISSIP members are welcome to join, and to work together for the next ICServ 2014!