The JIII was originally established in 1904 under the name of the “Association for the Protection of Industrial Property” on May 5, 1904, both by Mr. Keigo Kiyoura, the then Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and by Mr. Kinya Kume, the then Director General of the Patent Office, for the purpose of developing and safeguarding industrial property.

In 1906, the Association was reorganized as a Corporate Juridical Person in order to solidify its foundation and expand its activities for promoting inventiveness. In 1910, it was renamed the “Imperial Institute of Invention and Innovation.”

In 1936, the institute was reorganized by unifying invention-encouraging organizations that the existed throughout Japan. At this time H.I.H.Prince Takamatsu was named as Patron. Since then, the institute has promoted activities for inventiveness by utilizing its nation-wide system. In 1947, the institute changed its name to the ” Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (Hatsumei Kyokai)”, and has been under the Patron of H.I.H.Prince Hitachi since 1968.

The objectives of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation are to encourage invention, enhance original ideas, promote the practical use thereof, and diffuse and develop the industrial property system thereby advancing science and technology and contributing to the development of their country’s economy.