Keio Advanced Research Centers (KARC)

2019/02/28

Based on the "Structural Reform of Universities" announced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in June 2001, many research projects at Keio University were selected for and implemented under the "21st Century COE Program"—which began in fiscal year 2002 as a grant-in-aid program for the formation of research centers—and the "Global COE Program," which started in fiscal year 2007. The latter program carried on the basic concepts of the former with the aim of further strengthening the educational and research functions of graduate schools in Japan. This led to a dramatic expansion of large-scale research at Keio University.

Around the time of the transition from the 21st Century COE Program to the Global COE Program, a demand arose from within Keio University for a new type of research center that would connect and fuse various research fields in a cross-disciplinary manner, based on the achievements of these programs. In response, the Keio Advanced Research Centers (KARC) (abbreviated as "Sendoken") was established on February 1, 2007. Organizationally, it was positioned as a center within the "Organization for the Promotion of Integrated Research" (the predecessor of the current Office for Research Coordination and Administration as of 2019), an organization established to strategically develop cross-disciplinary comprehensive research under the leadership of the President.

The objectives of the Keio Advanced Research Centers (KARC) were stated as being able to be established, reorganized, and operated as a university-wide research hub spanning across faculties and graduate schools, and to rapidly support the vitalization of research activities by enabling flexible personnel management of researchers. Its features include aiming for research in new fields, such as interdisciplinary areas, that are not confined to conventional departmental research by creating a pioneering and strategic research hub for Keio University; responding to dynamic research activities; and enabling a smooth conclusion when research is completed.

To achieve these objectives, it is possible to establish "centers within the center" within the Keio Advanced Research Centers (KARC) to conduct actual research projects. These "centers within the center" operate on a designated campus with a certain amount of external funding as research expenses, and by functioning as independent research centers, they are expected to generate research outcomes through vigorous research activities. Furthermore, it is also possible to establish "startup centers" within KARC, which can advance research even without having secured external funding, with the aim of conducting more full-fledged research center activities in the near future.

It is expected that by utilizing the Keio Advanced Research Centers (KARC), research at Keio University will be further vitalized and produce significant research outcomes.

Tomoyuki Fushimi, Director, Office of Research Development and Sponsored Projects, Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration)