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Co-creation Research Center
In April 2021, Tohoku University established the "Co-creation Research Center", a collaboration scheme to develop a collaboration base for planning and implementing co-creation programs, such as joint research and human resource development, to further promote and develop industry-academia co-creation.
Merits of Co-creation Research Center
In order to establish closer cooperation, we will set up a cooperation base with companies in the university.
Since various activities are acceptable under the scheme, a wide range of co-creation activities can be planned and carried out at any time.
With the support of our faculty, companies will have flexible access to university researchers, knowledge, and facilities.
For the development of co-creation activities, companies and the university both assign their personnel to serve as the members of the Co-creation Research Center who will operate and support it.
Since it is premised on the continuous promotion of cooperation, a multi-year contract is required.
Structure
The minimum unit of Co-creation Research Center is composed of one specially appointed faculty member from a company that supervises the operation and one faculty member from a department of the university that supports the operation.
Furthermore, a cross-departmental operation support team can be established by designating more personnel from each side.
Co-creation Activity Expenses
In addition to personnel expenses for specially appointed faculty members from a company, a company will be responsible for expenses required for co-creation activities, such as expenses for preparing the activity environment and intellectual contribution expenses for activity support.
* 30% of aggregated expenses will be charged separately as Indirect Expenses.
How to Apply
1. A company will be required to submit the "Agreement Form" for the establishment of the Co-creation
Research Center to the administration office of the department to which the faculty member who will be
responsible for providing operational support belongs.
2. "Co-creation Research Center Agreement" will be finalized after our internal review.
In addition, submission of personnel documents related to secondments or cross-appointments will be required.
For detail information, please contact the administration staff of the department.
Co-creation Research Center List
※1: Please take advantage of Co-creation Research Center for a variety of purposes, including "Research Promotion", "Research Theme Exploration", "Human Resources Development", and "Facilities Utilization".
Co-creation Research Center Related Topics
This section provides news, event information, media coverage, and activity pages related to Co-creation Research Centers. Please refer to the respective links for details.
Topics
March 11, 2026
The interview article on the “Tohoku Electric Power × Tohoku University Co-creation Research Center,” titled “‘Knowledge’ Accelerates Social Implementation: Markets Are Both Global and Regional — Industry-Academia Collaboration between Tohoku University and Tohoku Electric Power,” was published in The Yomiuri Shimbun Online on March 11, 2026. Please click here for details.
January 15, 2026
The activities of the “dentsu Japan × Tohoku University Diversity Work Model Co-creation Research Center” were introduced on a website. Please click here for details.
December 23, 2025
A research achievement from the “Fujitsu × Tohoku University Discovery Intelligence Co-creation Research Center,” titled “Automatic Extraction of Causal Relationships from NanoTerasu Measurement Data Leading to the Elucidation of Superconductivity Mechanisms,” was published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports on December 22, 2025. Please click here for details.
December 19, 2025
The reports on the 3rd National Conference of Fujitsu Small Research Lab (SRL) have been published. The “Fujitsu × Tohoku University Discovery Intelligence Co-creation Research Center” is part of Fujitsu SRL. Please see the first part and second part for details.
December 2, 2025
At the 11th Forum of the Tohoku University Rare Metal and Green Innovation Research and Development Center and the 3rd Industry-Academia Collaboration Forum of the Tohoku University Materials Science Core Research Cluster, held on December 2, 2025, the Chief Operating Officers of three Co-creation Research Centers established with IHI Corporation, Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc., and EBARA Corporation gave presentations. Please click here for details.
October 29, 2025
The 3rd Co-creation Research Center Networking Event was held. Please click here for details.
July 1, 2025
An interview article on the “Niterra × Tohoku University MIRAI no ME Co-creation Research Center” has been published. Please click here for details.
October 7, 2024
A feature video on the “Niterra × Tohoku University MIRAI no ME Co-creation Research Center” has been released. Please click here for details.
September 2, 2024
The 2nd Co-creation Research Center Networking Event was held. Please click here for details.
August 22, 2024
Companies that have established Co-creation Research Centers participated in the JASIS 2024 Topics Seminar, held as part of the Exhibition of Advanced Scientific Instruments and Analytical System & Solution. Please click here for details.
June 11, 2024
Supersulfide molecules studied by the “Shimadzu × Tohoku University Supersulfides Life Science Co-creation Research Center” were featured on Nippon Television’s program “Kazlaser to Manabu.” Please click here for details.
May 20, 2024
The activities of the “Shimadzu × Tohoku University Supersulfides Life Science Co-creation Research Center” were introduced on a website. Please click here for details.
February 7, 2024
An article on the “Alps Alpine × Tohoku University Co-creation Research Center for Connected Value Creation” was published in the web journal “GJ!” Please click here for details.
December 27, 2023
The initiatives of the “Seiko Epson × Tohoku University Co-creation Research Center for Sustainable Materials” were featured in a television program. Please click here for details.
Activity Pages of Co-creation Research Centers
The activities of the following Co-creation Research Centers are updated on their respective websites.（alphabetical order）
- DENSO x Tohoku Univ. Co-creation Research Center for Green Innovation
- Dexerials x Tohoku Univ. Photonic Meta Sensing Co-creation Research Center
- DOWA x Tohoku Univ. Co-creation Research Center
- EBARA CORPORATION×Tohoku Univ. Co-Creation Research Center for Creating the Future with “NAGARE”
- Fujitsu and Tohoku University Discovery Intelligence Lab.
- JEOL x Tohoku Univ. Advanced Material Analysis Co-creation Research Center
- Menicon X Tohoku University Co-creation Research Center for Miru Mirai
- Seiko Epson Corporation x Tohoku Univ. Co-creation Research Center for Sustainable Materials
- Shimadzu x Tohoku Univ. Supersulfides Life Science Co-creation Research Center
- TAI x Tohoku Univ. Reconfigurable AI-Chip Research Center
- Toyota Motor East Japan x Tohoku Univ. Co-creation Research Center for Environmentally-Friendly Manufacturing