National University Corporation Okayama University
[Okayama University] Establishment of the Okayama University Advanced Research Institute – Building a system to foster excellence and depth in world-class research and innovation –
……
September 25, 2023 (Reiwa 5) National University Corporation Okayama University https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-32084239f73cc4056e55-0.jpg&s3=72793-1681-854454bc7e14986931f0ebd57582bfb6-2600×1476.jp g ]
◆Overview National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City, President: Yasutomo Nasu) decided to establish the “Okayama University Advanced Research Institute” at the University Management Strategy Council on September 11, 2023. .
The Institute for Advanced Research will consolidate four research institutes of our university (Institute of Plant Resources and Plant Sciences, Institute of Planetary Materials, Institute of
Interdisciplinary Basic Science, and Institute of Civilization Dynamics), and will further strengthen the research areas in which our university has strengths. Aiming to further promote the creation of innovations associated with this, the system will be established as a system to foster excellence and depth of research capabilities. The director of the institute will be President Yasutomo Nasu, and the vice presidents will be Vice Director Norihito Sato, Vice President, URA, and the four research institutes’ directors Takashi Hirayama, Kiwami Yoshino, Director Kenjin Shen, and Director Naoko Matsumoto. The key point of the newly established Institute for Advanced Research is that it is “not a box (organization), but a system.” We will leverage the synergistic effects of organic collaboration between the four research institutes that drive research and innovation at Okayama University, and encourage the creation of new areas of research and innovation that will become our strengths. Additionally, a new special research zone system called the “Advanced Research Group” was established within the Institute for Advanced Research. The Advanced Research Group gathers top researchers and leads research at Okayama University, while also maintaining close ties with the Global Cutting-Edge Interdisciplinary Research Organization* (hereinafter referred to as the G Research Organization), which is a subordinate organization of the Advanced Research Institute. We will deepen our research base through strong collaboration and create a system that will form and develop a world-class research group.
The missions of the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology are clearly positioned as the formation of a top research group, and the G Research Institute is the formation of a next-generation research group, and research is carried out between the two through planning, evaluation, and concentrated investment of resources based on research IR. It is designed as a system that aims to strengthen liquidity and innovation by replacing groups.
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-677da081f6c2558834a8-1.png&s3=72793-1681-d0ae778646278dcb576a3de90a833132-800×455.png ]
Okayama University Advanced Research Institute system
Additionally, with this establishment, the university’s existing research management and support institutions will further strengthen research and innovation. The Research Promotion Organization, as the general control tower function that promotes the university’s research strategy, plans, drafts, and implements measures to strengthen research capabilities based on evidence using research IR, and IMaC (Innovation Management Core) uses agile methods to , we will support the Institute for Advanced Research by promoting project-based initiatives.
Regarding this establishment, President Nasu, who serves as the director, said, “The establishment of the Okayama University Advanced Research Institute is not the formation of a research center. Through collaboration with existing G research organizations, we will aim to achieve the excellence of the top research group and the ability to one day take charge of it. It functions as a system that builds “depth” by nurturing the next generation of research groups.Also, until now researchers within the university were not clear on how to expand their research.This time, it was unclear how to expand their research. The system first aims to develop a research team to enter the G research organization, which is the training stage responsible for priority research fields.The Research Promotion Organization and IMaC will provide support for this.After meeting the criteria, Aiming for the next stage, the Advanced Research Institute, which is responsible for the most prioritized research field.In the Advanced Advanced Research Institute, we will further refine our excellence in advanced research groups, etc.If we compare it to soccer, we will be in the same league as J1 and J2. We have built a comprehensive system to support the development of this.In this system, based on objective evaluation by research IR, it is possible to exchange research groups at the Institute for Advanced Research and G Research Organization, and standards can be established. We have created a system that allows researchers to work hard and develop strategically as a research group, rather than permanently conducting individual research. Okayama University has clarified its policy and indicated its direction.In the future, we plan to strengthen the Research Promotion Organization, which serves as the general control tower, and further promote a system that can manage and support the university as a whole.Okayama University has changed. Thank you for your continued guidance and support.”
In addition, Vice Director/Vice President/URA Sato, who serves as the Vice-Director and Director of the G Research Institute, said, “In designing the Institute for Advanced Research, approximately 30 similar organizations such as Institutes/organizations for Advanced Research in Japan and overseas We investigated the
organizations.Although each organization is in a different position and has a variety of missions, overall the role of the organization as a “box” was strong. At Okayama University, we will implement an unprecedented initiative in Japan, incorporating these into a nurturing “system” rather than an existing box organization. Since this is a system unlike any other, we anticipate that there will be difficulties and failures, but we will flexibly modify the system and promote functional enhancements, including organizational reform of the Research Promotion Agency, which has the overall control tower function. We would like to work with stakeholders to create an effective and future-proof system. Please look forward to Okayama University’s system that combines excellence, mobility, innovation creation, and development,” he said, expressing his enthusiasm for future initiatives.
[Image 3: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-2e608d3a564782fb6d69-2.jpg&s3=72793-1681-281292ec24743f06fe36b6ed2a4d270e-800×651.jpg] (Clockwise from top left) President Yasutomo Nasu, who serves as the director, Norihito Sato, who serves as vice president, Vice
Director/Vice President/URA, Director Takashi Hirayama, Director Naoko Matsumoto, Director Kenjin Shen, and Director Kiyoshi Yoshino. Okayama University has implemented various initiatives to strengthen its research capabilities and innovation creation. In particular, in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Research University Strengthening Promotion Project” (Final Project Evaluation: S), etc., efforts are being made to develop and strengthen the system of URA, who are advanced research management personnel, designate priority research fields, and evolve the research fields that are their strengths. We have strategically developed a research institute (Civilization Dynamics Research Institute) based on the above, and the International Research Center Formation Project (RECTOR Program).
Furthermore, in July 2023, the Board of Directors and the Education and Research Council will establish top priority research areas (seven areas) that further strengthen the existing priority research areas by making full use of research IR analysis, etc., and will make priority investments in limited resources. We have been promoting university reform with determination, such as making decisions.
In the future, our university will continue to strive to realize Okayama University’s long-term vision 2050, “a research university that co-creates the future of the region and the earth, and
contributes to global innovation.” As a distinctive regional research university with the spirit to lead the way in change, we will take on a variety of challenges. The Okayama University Advanced Research Institute is one of the mechanisms (systems) to achieve this. Please look forward to Okayama University’s continued challenges and changes. *Global cutting-edge interdisciplinary research organization (G research organization)
A specialized organization to foster research groups established under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Research University Strengthening Promotion Project.” In order to utilize the training know-how gained through the 10-year research university strengthening promotion project, we will work closely with the Institute for Advanced Research to strengthen the research and innovation capabilities of Okayama University. Furthermore, the Director of G Research Institute (Vice Director Norihito Sato, Vice President, URA) also serves as Vice Director of the Institute for Advanced Research, ensuring a bird’s-eye view of management.
[Image 4: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-7078df270b75561a6512-4.jpg&s3=72793-1681-e5f35b9adeff323fb7e09a66ccbf59d6-1355×870.jpg] ◆Reference
・Okayama University Research Promotion Organization
https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・Okayama University Innovation Management Core (IMaC)
https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/imac/
・Okayama University Research Administrator (URA)
http://ura.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・Okayama University Institute of Resource Plant Science
https://www.rib.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・Okayama University Institute for Planetary Materials
https://www.misasa.okayama-u.ac.jp/jp/
・Okayama University Interdisciplinary Basic Science Research Institute http://www.riis.okayama-u.ac.jp/
・Okayama University Institute of Civilization Dynamics
https://ridc.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆Reference information
・Okayama University Long-Term Vision 2050 “A research university that co-creates the future of the region and the earth and contributes to global innovation”
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/profile/ou-vision.html
・[Okayama University] Establishment of “Okayama University’s Most Priority Research Fields” – To realize a research university that co-creates the future of the region and the earth and contributes to global innovation –
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001601.000072793.html
・Advanced research specialists who take the helm of research universities – The past and future of Okayama University Research Administrator (URA) –
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/up_load_files/press_r5/press20230831-1-1.pdf ・Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “Research University Strengthening Promotion Project” (Final project evaluation: S)
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/up_load_files/press_r5/press20230524-1-2.pdf
[Image 5: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-be760be38344380095d2-4.jpg&s3=72793-1681-10068a97b5738bb19607f495220b5758-904×854.jpg]
[Image 6: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-9467fa1fae55a24a983d-5.jpg&s3=72793-1681-13093675bf15173fff0af3f7523e0e52-1471×840.jpg] Okayama University Tsushima Campus (Kita Ward, Okayama City)
[Image 7: https://prtimeS.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-686AC3226745E53C04-6.jpg &s3=72793-1681-28F236BD7BD4B373A0AF40668 a0ada-1920×1080.jpg] Okayama University Shikata Campus (Kita Ward, Okayama City)
◆Contact information for this matter
Okayama University Research Cooperation Department Research Cooperation Division Okayama University Tsushima Campus Headquarters Building, 1-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-8530 TEL: 086-251-7115 E-mail: innovation◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp *Replace @ with ◎ is replacing
– Regarding collaboration with Okayama University Hospital (for those involved in pharmaceutical and medical device companies) – Okayama University Hospital New Medical Research and Development Center 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-8558 From the URL below Please contact us regarding the relevant project: http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/ph_company/ – Regarding collaboration with Okayama University Hospital (for medical personnel and researchers) – Okayama University Hospital Research Promotion Division Industry-academia-government collaboration promotion 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8558 TEL: 086-235-7983 E-mail: ouh-csnw◎adm.okayama-u.ac.jp *Please replace ◎ with @ http://shin-iryo.hospital.okayama-u.ac.jp/medical/-For inquiries regarding Okayama University’s industry-academia-government
collaboration, etc.- Okayama University Research Promotion
Organization Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Headquarters 1-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 700-8530 Okayama University Tsushima Campus Main Building 1F TEL: 086-251-8463 E-mail: sangaku◎okayama-u.ac.jp *Replace ◎ with @ Please replace https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/
Okayama University Media “OTD” (App):
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000011.000072793.html Okayama University Media “OTD” (Web): https://prtimes.jp/main/html
/rd/p/000000215.000072793.html Okayama University SDGs homepage: https://sdgs.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Okayama University SDGs – Thinking about the sustainability of local communities (YouTube): https://youtu.be /Qdqjy4mw4ik Okayama University Image Movie (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/pKMHm4XJLtw “Okayama University TV” (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi4hPHf_jZ1FXqJfsacUqaw
Industry-academia co-creation activity “Okayama University Open Innovation Challenge” Looking for co-creation activity partners for September 2023:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001623.000072793.html Okayama University “THE Impact Ranking 2021” overall ranking: Top 200 in the world, domestic Same 1st place!!
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000070.000072793.html Okayama University “University Brand Image Survey 2021-2022” “University proactive about SDGs” Ranked 1st in China and Shikoku! !
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000373.000072793.html Okayama University “University Image Survey 2022 Edition from the Perspective of Corporate Human Resources Personnel” Ranked 1st in Chugoku and Shikoku!! https://prtimes .jp/main/html/rd/p/000000122.000072793.html
[Image 8: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-b4a82a7f191cc501f306-7.png&s3=72793-1681-a680c741c29feec477c492246d48afab-1545×230.png ]
[Image 9: https://prtimes.jp/i/72793/1681/resize/d72793-1681-c7476203e3eb8bc988a9-8.jpg&s3=72793-1681-9cc2c8ba21903ce3b8eecfce65482b91-1713×697.jpg] Okayama University, a national university corporation, supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We also received a special award at the government’s 1st Japan SDGs Award. Please look forward to Okayama University, which promotes co-development and co-creation as a regional core and distinctive research university. More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001681.000072793.html