Investigation with Integrity, Innovation for Impact — Science Tokyo launches I4Collective

Science Tokyo has launched on March 1, 2025, the Investigation with Integrity, Innovation for Impact (I⁴) Collective, a unit conducting strategic analysis and information sharing that contribute to strategic decision-making directly under the president and chief executive officer of the Institute.

The I⁴Collective, or I4C, analyzes measures and strategies for discovering, developing, and sowing the science and technology seeds required to realize a better, brighter future. While examining issues particularly through the lens of deep tech,* one of Science Tokyo’s strengths, I4C integrates academic and technology-focused perspectives to survey trends and analyze risks at home and abroad. It shares the results of its investigations and analyses across the Institute and the global community, and as an on-campus unit, trains talent who are poised to undertake such analysis in the future.

• Technology based on scientific discoveries obtained through research in a specific natural science field that, if commercialized and transferred to society, has the potential to create impact in society, such as solving economic and societal issues that need to be solved by the nation or the world as a whole

• Utilizes the unique characteristics of Science Tokyo in the deep tech field
  Welcomes the participation of researchers at the forefront of science, engineering, and the medical and dental sciences
  Applies the knowledge and intuition of these researchers in the analysis process
  
• As a university-based analysis unit, I4C shares its findings openly with the public (excl. commissioned projects for external organizations).
• As a collective, I4C unites researchers and practitioners in economics, political science, sociology, international relations, and other fields from inside and outside the Institute to form flexible analysis teams in line with specific target projects.
• As part of an academic institution, I4C develops and runs programs to train “think tank” talent for analysis in the deep tech field.

I4C, a homophone of the English expression “I foresee,” reflects the future-oriented approach of the organization and Science Tokyo as an institution. Through information sharing and policy recommendations based on strategic foresight and analysis of knowledge and technology in the deep tech field, I4C strives to contribute to the realization of a better life, society, and planet by maximizing the value of knowledge.