Japan’s research capabilities have declined significantly in recent years, and the path to recovery remains unclear. On the 1st, a new university, Tokyo University of Science, was born. In order for the integration of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University, which are known for their leading research capabilities in Japan, to serve as an opportunity to improve their research capabilities, it is necessary to continue verifying the effects of integration on research sites.

It emphasizes “medical-engineering collaboration,” which takes advantage of the strengths of both parent universities and utilizes science and engineering research results in medical settings. A comprehensive research institute responsible for basic research and a new industry creation research institute to promote industry-academia collaboration will be established. Although there are concerns that factions will arise at each parent university, one professor affiliated with the new university says, “Having been at different universities has led to a lack of preconceived notions.This has led to a sense of unity. I hope.

On the other hand, improving the research environment is essential to improving research capabilities. The key to predicting the future will be whether researchers can realize concrete effects, such as securing time to devote to research and increasing research funding.

The new university aims to be certified as an “International Research University of Excellence,” which will receive a large amount of support from the government every year. Accreditation is expected to improve the research environment and lead to the development of young researchers, including doctoral students. The government plans to certify only a few schools across the country, and will be competing with the University of Tokyo and others for the slot following Tohoku University, which became the first. All eyes will be on whether they can survive here. (Susumu Ono)