Science Tokyo's Designated National University Scheme
Under the Designated National University Corporation (DNU) system, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology designates national university corporations that are expected to develop world-class education and research activities to a considerable degree and, as a result, create innovation and significantly boost the level of education and research at Japanese universities.
Message from President and Chief Executive Officer Naoto Ohtake
Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) was established in 2024 following the merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Institute of Technology. The Institute was founded while drawing on the tradition and innovation of its predecessor universities, both of which were Designated National University (DNU) corporations before the merger.
Science Tokyo’s DNU Scheme aims to develop world-leading education and research based on the activities cultivated by the Institute’s predecessor universities in order to realize a better life, society, and planet through the power of science. This involves taking on new challenges to solve global-scale issues that arise in society. As a hub of knowledge that strives to create a better future, the Institute will contribute to the realization of a prosperous, sustainable society by nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals and returning its research findings to the public.
The Institute will verify the results and effects of its current DNU Scheme at the end of the fourth mid-term goals period — including the pre-merger initiatives of its predecessor universities — and draw up a new scheme for the fifth mid-term goals period as a united Science Tokyo .
Scheme overview
Science Tokyo’s DNU Scheme, firmly rooted in the convergence between science, technology, and healthcare, expresses the Institute’s resolute intentions to create a vibrant future together with society while serving as a center of international excellence in education and research.
In line with its mission of “advancing science and human wellbeing to create value for and with society," the Institute will foster science professionals who are willing and able to lead the advancement of science and society, return the power of science back to society to realize a bidirectional growth model that gains insights from the public, and as a result, develop sustainably as a world-leading science and technology university.
Science Tokyo’s current DNU Scheme includes the following initiatives, organized here under the six specified components required of DNUs by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Strengthening of research capabilities
- Establish vision-realizing integrated research organizations that seamlessly deliver various results, including conducting basic research and passing down the findings to society as tangible value
- Establish an organization to identify and analyze research areas required to solve societal issues
Acquisition and fostering of human resources
- Launch academic programs that are consistent with the transition to the aforementioned integrated research organizations
International cooperation
- Form a global network that includes major universities in Asia and the Pacific Rim, and serves as a hub for research and education aimed at solving societal issues
- Employ young researchers from overseas partner universities who support Science Tokyo’s integrated research organizations as postdocs, assistant professors, or tenure-track assistant professors
- Expand the aforementioned global network to technical and medical universities in Japan
Collaboration with society
- Build industry-government-academia consortia that involve companies, national research institutes, hospital organizations, social entrepreneurs, and others who are united in their aspirations to realize a shared vision
- Formulate a vision for solving societal issues from a long-term perspective through dialogue with the public
- Introduce a system that clearly distinguishes between open innovation sections and strategically closed innovation sections
- Return the results of Science Tokyo’s education and research to society through advanced continuing education
Strengthening of governance
- Formulate a comprehensive strategy in close consultation with the president and chief executive officer (CEO) and the president and chief academic officer (CAO)
- Drive Science Tokyo’s “virtuous cycle system” and lead relevant collaborations with society under the direct leadership of the president and CEO
- Establish the aforementioned cross-disciplinary integrated research organizations, promote research and talent development, and allocate appropriate internal resources under the direct leadership of the president and CAO
Strengthening of financial base
- Establish a university management fund
- Boost efforts to obtain donations from philanthropists , companies and foundations at home and abroad, and others who share and support Science Tokyo’s vision
- Establish a fund management system to manage funds based on scientific evaluation of acceptable risks
