Industry Liaison

Collaborative Research

In regard to specific research subjects, Tokyo Tech faculty members and corporate researchers work together on research and obtain research findings. The corporation bears the expenses required for the research. Corporate researchers are also able to utilize Tokyo Tech's laboratories to conduct their research.
Also, tax incentives enable corporations, etc., to deduct from corporation tax a fixed percent of their research expenses for collaborative research with universities.

Features

Research subjects (guidance content)

Determined in discussions between companies and faculty members.

Roles of faculty members and corporate researchers

Research may be conducted according to division of roles in line with the research subject, and also by working together in the same research space same place.
*Corporate researchers are also able to conduct research at Tokyo Tech.*2

What is obtained

A report on research findings (research content) prepared by both parties

Intellectual property*1

The organization that is the holder of rights is determined by who the inventor is. Handling of intellectual property is established by the agreement.

Expenses

The corporation bears the amount of indirect expenses added to the expenses (direct expenses) used by faculty members to carry out the collaborative research. When there are collaborative researchers from private organizations*2, etc., the "Research Fees*3 are added.

Application of special testing and research expenses tax deduction system

Yes

Indirect expenses

Amount equivalent to 30% of direct expenses

Flow of Agreement

1. Look for faculty members to conduct the collaborative research.

"Are there any faculty members who will participate in conducting this research? "We would like to know the research disciplines of Tokyo Tech faculty members." "What systems are compatible?" etc.,
feel free to contact supervisors of Industrial Cooperation with any kind of question.

2. After the supervising faculty member has been determined, the corporate supervisor and the faculty member meet for interviews and discussion to determine the following matters.

  • Research subject/objective/content
  • Research period (or guidance period) *The beginning and ending dates can be freely set. There is no restriction as to the fiscal year.
  • Existence of collaborative researchers from private organizations, etc. *Will corporate researchers conduct the research at Tokyo Tech?
  • Research expenses

3.The corporation sends an application formthat states the content above to the Office of Research and Innovation at Tokyo Tech.

4. The Office of Research and Innovation at Tokyo Tech presents an agreement (proposed by Tokyo Tech) to the corporation, and both parties discuss the content of the agreement.

Download the basic agreement template here.

A template of an agreement between 3 parties or more and a template of the English version of the agreement are also available. Contact Tokyo Tech if you wish to obtain either of these templates.

The important points of the agreement are the articles regarding confidentiality and the articles regarding handling of intellectual property.

5. Conclusion of the agreement

6. Tokyo Tech sends the corporation a bill for the research fee and research expenses.
⇒The corporation makes payment (by bank transfer).

7. Commencement of Research/guidance