TOKYO -- Top Japanese manufacturers including Toyota Motor and Hitachi are forging ties with Chinese startups, following Western giants like Airbus and Intel that have already harnessed innovation coming out of the world's No. 2 economy.
Toyota is looking to develop devices for connected vehicles, while Hitachi is on the hunt for fintech opportunities. Their moves are the latest sign that China is becoming a new focus of "open innovation," whereby companies cross industrial and national boundaries in pursuit of fresh technologies.
