24 The University will identify priority areas linked to national strategies, such as semiconductors, robotics, AI, advanced materials, and green energy, and will invest limited resources strategically to establish internationally competitive, world-leading research centers. • Fostering young researchers and creating a challenging environment The University will develop an environment in which young and mid-career researchers can devote themselves to original and challenging themes, balancing the provision of a stable research foundation with support for risk-taking and ambitious research, thereby fostering the researchers who will lead the next generation. • Strengthening external funding acquisition and management The University will position the acquisition of large-scale competitive funding and collaborative research funds as a pillar of its strategy, strengthen its research support system by expanding URA functions and related measures, reduce administrative burdens on researchers, and implement research management that directly improves research quality. • Promotion of social implementation through industry–academia–government collaboration The University will build long-term partnerships with companies, local governments, and others, accelerate the social implementation and commercialization of research outcomes, and create innovation through inter-organizational collaboration that goes beyond one-off joint research projects. • International collaborative research and global outreach The University will expand its network with leading overseas research institutions, improve the international recognition of its research, and disseminate globally solutions based on the University’s “technological science” to global-scale challenges. • A virtuous cycle of research, education, and social contribution The University will integrate cutting-edge research outcomes into education in order to foster highly specialized professionals, while establishing a virtuous cycle in which the knowledge and resources gained through providing value to society lead to further strengthening of the research foundation. In putting these research strategies into practice, the University has continuously worked to strengthen its research promotion system. (1) Full-Scale Development of the Research Promotion System The University’s research promotion system began in earnest in FY2003, when the university was selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the Program for the Development of University Intellectual Property Headquarters and established the Headquarters for Intellectual Property and Industry–Academia–Government Collaboration. In addition, by developing an intellectual property policy and regulations on employee inventions, appointing dedicated coordinators, and establishing Toyohashi TLO to handle technology transfer, the university built a foundation for the entire process from the creation to the utilization of intellectual property. Later, in 2008, organizational reform led to the creation of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Industry– Academia Collaboration, strengthening the Intellectual Property Division and the Industry–Academia Collaboration Division. Broad industry–academia–government collaboration using external funding was also promoted, including the Tokai Innovation Network Project in cooperation with Shizuoka University. In FY2012, coordinators functions were consolidated into an integrated end-to-end system for the purpose of improving operational efficiency. (2) Research Administration Center (RAC) In FY2013, following the University’s selection for the MEXT Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities, the University integrated its existing industry–academia collaboration functions and established the Research Administration Center (RAC). The RAC employs professional URAs with private-sector experience and focuses particularly on the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDY3NTA=