Kyoto University Office of Research Acceleration

With a tradition of "academic freedom," Kyoto University has produced countless unique and innovative research. To progress toward the future with the internationalization of academic research and the rise of diverse societal challenges, we must adopt new initiatives to enhance our research capabilities.

Taking a broad view of the university, the newly established “Kyoto University Office of Research Acceleration” will shape and carry out evidence-based approaches to research advancement. It will play a key role in strengthening Kyoto University’s research capabilities and driving the next generation of scholarly progress. It will also offer strategic and coordinated support for the university’s research efforts, ensuring that Kyoto University remains a prominent force in the global academic world.

The establishment of this new organization is an important step in our university’s ongoing effort towards further advancement. Together with all stakeholders, we hope to continue the challenge of opening up the future of Kyoto University.

Nagahiro Minato
President, Kyoto University

The newly established “Kyoto University Office of Research Acceleration”, serves as a central hub dedicated to enhancing Kyoto University's research capabilities and opening new frontiers for the future. Going beyond traditional research support, this new office brings together specialized professionals, such as URAs (University Research Administrators), and administrative staff as a cohesive team to strategically advance research initiatives.

Our mission is to foster an environment that enables each researcher to focus on the free and outstanding creation of knowledge, while enhancing the research potential of Kyoto University.

To achieve this mission, we support the development of evidence-based strategies by taking a broad view of the university’s overall research activities. We are committed to proposing effective resource allocation, promoting research communication, building global research networks, exploring new research areas, and nurturing the next generation of researchers.

Five divisions will be set up within Kyoto University Office of Research Acceleration. These divisions will work together to support research activities at Kyoto University by designing and implementing strategies based on analysis of global research landscape, enabling advanced research environments, and building a fair and trustworthy research infrastructure that takes into account the domestic and international developments.

To ensure that Kyoto University continues to be a world-leading research university, we will keep taking on new challenges.

We appreciate your guidance and support, and look forward to working together.

Susumu Kitagawa
Executive Vice-President for Research Promotion
Director-General, Office of Research Acceleration

Kyoto University Office of Research Acceleration supports the free and outstanding “creation of knowledge” across all fields at Kyoto University. Established as a new support organization, it is composed of faculty, administrative staff, and specialized personnel who work together to strengthen the strategic approach and system of research promotion, based on thorough analysis of research activities.

The Office will undertake the following mission and provide a comprehensive management service for the promotion of research:

Analyzing and evaluating research activities
Proposing research strategies and planning
Providing research support
Developing the research environment
Ensuring research integrity
Recruiting and training a diverse range of specialized personnel

Research Promotion Division

Our Research Promotion Division provides comprehensive support from the initiation of research projects to the dissemination of research results in line with stakeholder needs. It also supports the development of new research areas, promotes interdisciplinary research, encourages international research expansion, and implements programs to support the development of early career researchers at Kyoto University.

Research Facility Division

Our Research Facility Division will develop and operate core facilities for each research area, providing researchers with seamless one-stop access to facilities and equipment. It will collaborate with research institutions and private companies in Japan and overseas to foster technical experts in specialized fields and develop cutting-edge analytical equipment.

Research Integrity Division

To ensure research integrity and transparency, our Research Integrity Division will address issues related to research integrity, security export controls, and conflicts of interest through the implementation of various guidelines. It will strengthen risk management systems for research integrity and research security, ensuring a safe environment for researchers to conduct their work.

Strategic Planning and Design Division

Based on a comprehensive analysis of research activities at Kyoto University, our Strategic Planning and Design Division will design and propose research strategies and various plans to advance research. It will also take the lead in managing human resources to secure and develop diverse, specialised personnel, as well as developing mid- to long-term strategies to strengthen Kyoto University's research capabilities.

Analysis and Evaluation Division

In addition to analysis of the research landscape and relevant policies both globally and locally, our Analysis and Evaluation Division develops Kyoto University's own assessment indicators to understand and monitor the diverse research activities at the university. It will also contribute to the university's strategic decision-making and resource allocation through the analysis of this data.

Administrative Section

The Administrative Section manages tasks related to general affairs, human resources, and accounting for the Office of Research Acceleration. It will work with each division to guarantee the smooth progress of various initiatives aimed at strengthening research capabilities.