About us

Overview of the Office of Research and Innovation

Our Mission

The Office of Research and Innovation is committed to the promotion of basic research at Tokyo Tech and applied and development-based research in collaboration with industry. In bringing research advances to society, we strive to create a beneficial cycle that drives creation of new areas of basic research.

History

History of the Former Industry-University Collaboration Promotion Department

Full-scale collaboration with industry started at Tokyo Tech following establishment of the Frontier Collaborative Research Center’s Research & Information Exchange Department in 1998. Since 2003, and with support from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Office of Research and Innovation has developed systems for various types of university-industry collaboration to effectively utilize knowledge obtained at Tokyo Tech.

October 1999 The Science and Technology Promotion Association* becomes a METI and MEXT Approved Tokyo Tech Technology Licensing Organization (TLO) for the transfer of Tokyo Tech faculty members’ research results (patent, etc.) to private projects.
The Science and Technology Promotion Association initiates dispatch of industry-university collaboration coordinators to the Frontier Collaborative Research Center’s Research & Information Exchange Department.The Science and Technology Promotion Association membership program is established.
*Previous Business: Providing subsidies to young researchers through donations from Tokyo Tech faculty members.
January 2003 “Tokyo Tech Venture” designation system established.
July 2003 Adopted as a MEXT University Intellectual Property Management Project (Until March 2008).
October 2003 The Industry-University Collaboration Department established as the Tokyo Tech intellectual property management department.
April 2004 The Industry-University Collaboration Department established as the Tokyo Tech intellectual property management department.
April 2007 National universities become incorporate.
The Office of Research and Innovation opens.
Ownership of service inventions granted to the relevant corporations.
April 2007 Adopted as a MEXT University Intellectual Property Management Project: International Industry-University-Government Collaboration Promotion Project (Until March 2008).
April 2008 A system to provide samples developed by Tokyo Tech faculty members (compounds, devices, equipment, etc.) to external institutions is established.
July 2008 Adopted as a MEXT Strategic Promotion of Industry-University-Government Collaboration Project (Reorganized into the Independent and Sustainable Industry-University-Government Collaboration Promotion Program for Functional Enhancement in 2011): Promotion of International Industry-University-Government Collaboration (Until March 2013).
March 2009 Academic Consultation System developed
March 2009 Collaborative Research Programs starts
April 2017 Renamed “Office of Research and Innovation” following organizational reform.

History of the Former Research Strategy Office and the Research Support Organizations

The Research Strategy Office was established in November 2001 to plan and implement Tokyo Tech research strategies, conduct information gathering, and provide services in research resources, publication, and other matters requiring prompt and efficient response.
This office was abolished as a part of organizational reform in April 2017, and the role was transferred to the Office of Research and Innovation.

November 2001 Research Strategy Office established.
June 2002 Innovation Research Promotion System established.
August 2009 Research Project Support Center established.
2013 Adopted as a the Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities.
October 2013 Tokyo Tech “Research Capability Enhancement Policy” established.
October 2013 Research Project Support Center reorganized into Research Administration Center.
2014 Basic Policy for Research Structure Reform established.
April 2017 Reorganized as the Office of Research and Innovation.

History of the Office of Research and Innovation

April 2017 The Research Strategy Office and Industry-University Collaboration Promotion Department are unified into the Office of Research and Innovation.
March 2018 Open Science Section and Venture Development and Relations Section established.
July 2018 International Joint Research Section abolished.
July 2018 Open Innovation Platform established.
December 2018 Collaborative Research Cluster system initiated
December 2018 Innovative Research Initiative Regulations revised, and the Innovative Research Initiative shortened to “Research Group”.
April 2020 Tokyo Tech Industry Liaison Program established.
May 2020 Social Rebooting Technology Initiative launched. (Until April 2021)