Toward a Research University That Creates the Common Sense of the Future

2024/03/15

Keio University's proposal has been selected for the "Program for Forming Regional Innovation Ecosystems and Strengthening Distinctive Research Universities (J-PEAKS)" publicly solicited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). There were 69 applications, and 12 schools were selected; among private universities, only two schools—the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Keio University—were chosen. This project is being implemented in parallel with support for Universities for International Research Excellence, which is supported by a 10-trillion-yen university fund, and is expected to serve as a catalyst for improving Japan's research capabilities. It is not a typical project for "receiving research funds to promote research," but rather a university reform project to "strengthen organizational functions to become a world-class research university."

Keio University has been selected for and has developed through various hub projects until now. These include the Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities (2013-2022), the Top Global University Project (2014-2023), and the Open Innovation Organization Development Project (2018-2022). Furthermore, the "Human Biology-Microbiome-Quantum Computing Research Center (Bio2Q)," led by Professor Kenya Honda, was selected for the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) in 2022, a first for a private university. WPI is a project to form international research hubs that boast a highly internationalized research environment and world-class research standards. Additionally, the Urban Health Commons Co-creation Hub led by Professor Masaya Nakamura was selected for the Program on Open Innovation Platform for University-Associated Venture Ecosystem (COI-NEXT) in 2021, and the Symbiotic Upcycling Society Co-creation Hub proposed by Professor Hiroya Tanaka was selected in 2023. COI-NEXT is a project where universities take the lead in formulating a vision for a future society and aim to form industry-government-academia co-creation hubs. The achievements in these projects led to the selection for J-PEAKS. What will we do in this project (Figure)? In this project, we will further develop existing distinctive research hubs while building a new showcase for Keio University's diverse researchers, encouraging researcher exchange within Keio and outside, and creating new hubs, including those centered on the humanities and social sciences. As each research hub grows, we will create new research fields, promote the fusion of research fields and hubs, and lead to social implementation. Through the support of this project, we will fertilize the soil (system) that serves as the foundation for the creation and growth of hubs. To fertilize the soil, the Office for Research Coordination and Administration, the Keio University Global Research Institute (KGRI), and the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will work as a trinity to act as driving forces.

In the "Project for Developing Facilities for Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration and Joint Research through Collaboration of Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities" solicited by MEXT prior to this project, Keio University was also selected in April 2023. Development is underway for the Open Innovation Laboratory (YIL) at the Yagami Campus and the Incubation Facility (CRIK) at the Shinanomachi Campus. In these facilities, we will link research results to innovations such as solving domestic and international social issues and creating new industries including startups, thereby strengthening the university's functions toward social implementation. Furthermore, through this project, a strong partnership will be established with the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST).

So, what kind of research university do we aim to be through this project (Figure)? Common sense, which is the shared understanding of people, has changed over time. It is not uncommon for things that were once considered unconventional to become common sense along with the progress of science and technology. Currently, common sense continues to change at an unprecedented speed. Advanced science and technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and regenerative medicine are emerging, and various "boundaries" such as human and machine (AI), human and animal, self and others, and truth and falsehood are melting. In the next 10 years, where the melting of boundaries will further accelerate, Keio University will bring its past achievements of leading the world powerfully in multiple cutting-edge research areas such as life sciences to even more overwhelming heights, while creating ethics and values that people can accept from their hearts, and renewing the conventional concept of "social implementation of research results." The "social implementation of scholarship" must be about enriching society through scholarship and increasing society's trust in scholarship. Then, through the "creation of entrepreneurs and business leaders," we will become pioneers for promoting the economic development of Japan and the world and realizing a rich and happy society. As a "professional group for social implementation," Keio University will not only create "things" but also make "events" happen, and through the true fusion of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, we will develop toward a research university that creates the common sense of the future.