Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration
Three research systems aimed at strengthening industry-government-academia collaboration
In order for Sophia University to use our research and technological capabilities to give back to wider society and contribute to social development, it is essential that we deepen industry-government-academia collaboration. Industry-government-academia collaboration involves exchange between universities, private sector companies, governmental organizations, and other parties, including through contract and collaborative research. At Sophia University, we work with private companies on uses for our research, as well as the knowledge, technologies, and expertise produced by this research, leading to the creation of products and practical applications.
The merits of industry-government-academia collaboration for private sector companies and governmental organizations include reductions in the time and resources spent on technological development and greater efficiency in research and development activities. These organizations also provide Sophia University with research funding and personnel, enabling research to move forward effectively and to reflect the needs of society and industry more accurately.
In order to encourage industry-government-academia collaboration that addresses the needs of both Sophia University and our partners, we have established three research systems through which to pursue projects—contract research, external collaborative research, and scholarship research donations and educational research expense donations.
- Contract Research
“Contract research” refers to research undertaken by members of our faculty, working in our university, under contract with an outside organization. The costs of the research project (“contract research expenses”) are borne by the organization proposing the contract.
Intellectual property rights derived from “contract research” are determined by the contracts or “Memorandum of Understanding,” following consultation between both parties.
- External Collaborative Research
“External collaborative research” refers to the acceptance by the University of outside researchers (external collaborative researchers) who work together with the University’s faculty and staff. The necessary expenses, “external collaborative research expense,” are borne by the collaborative researchers (corporations and others).
Intellectual property rights derived from “external collaborative research” are determined by “External collaborative research contracts” or “Memorandum of Understanding,” following consultation between both parties.
- Scholarship research donations and educational research expense donations
“Scholarship research donations” are those for which the recipients (lecturers, etc.) are designated.
“Educational research expense donations” are those to the juridical entity Sophia School Corporation. (A research representative can also be designated)
How to Engage Collaborative or Contract Research
For information on the research seeds being explored at Sophia University, see the Sophia University Research Outcome Report webpage. For details regarding procedures, etc., see the Industry Government and Academia Collaboration Intellectual Property page on Web Piloti.
Policy
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Universities are entrusted with the mission of contributing to education, research, and society. At Sophia University, our goal is to produce research results that lead to problem-solving in society and industry, with the objective of the betterment of society at large. This goal is based on our educational motto “For Others, With Others.”
In order to achieve this goal, Sophia University has inaugurated the Industry-Government-Academic (IGA) Collaboration Policy as follows.
- We will promote collaborations among industry, the government, and university, contribute to social welfare and development, and foster research activities.
- We will institute a promotional organization to foster collaborations with regional communities, national and local public organizations, and the industrial sector.
- We will make research information accessible to the public in a timely and comprehensive manner.
- We will respond with promptness and flexibility to various needs in promoting IGA collaborations. These include linking university researchers with the government and industry, fostering collaborative and contract research, and facilitating technology transfer based on intellectual property.
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Under Sophia University’s “Industry-Government-Academic (IGA) Collaboration Policy,” one of our goals is to channel our research results to the betterment of society. In line with that policy, we believe it is crucial to create a policy to ensure the smooth operation of the creation, protection, and use of intellectual property. The “Sophia University Intellectual Property Policy” is defined as follows.
1. Creation of Intellectual Property
1) We will promote the creation of intellectual property by taking positive measures to foster the development of human resources and the enrichment of the research environment.
2) We will promote awareness activities to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property.
3) We will stimulate research activities through IGA collaborations, and commit to the creation of intellectual property.2. Protection of Intellectual Property
1) We will evaluate, inherit, and acquire the rights to intellectual property originating from the inventions of corporate employees in the Sophia Corporation. By doing so, we will take measures to use intellectual property effectively in the industrial sector and protect the rights.
2) We will handle rewards and license fees, etc. for inventors in order to foster an intellectual property creation cycle.
3) We will manage inherited intellectual property and periodically reevaluate its value.3. Use of Intellectual Property
1) In order to put intellectual property to its effective use in industry, we will take measures for the transfer of technology to industrial use.
2) We will make intellectual property accessible to the public in order to contribute to society at large.
3) We will make use of results from collaborative research, technology transfer, etc., by transforming them into resources to improve the research environment and increase research funds. This, in turn, will lead to the creation of new intellectual property
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Yoshiaki Terumichi
President, Sophia University
Sophia University, founded by the Society of Jesus, has conducted research activities based on the Catholic spirit, centering our academic pursuit on truth-seeking and contributing to cultural development and human welfare. With society undergoing drastic change amid globalization and diversification trends, the issues that it is challenged with have become increasingly intricate; and therefore, the interdisciplinarity and social roles of academic research fields are becoming more and more complex. Under such circumstances, Sophia University respects the individual autonomy of each researcher, while promoting high ethical standards in the conduct of research, and is focused on creating and communicating research outcomes that can contribute to society at large.
In light of Sophia University’s founding philosophy and educational spirit, and in accord with the “Statement on Research for Military Security” announced by the Science Council of Japan on March 24, 2017, Sophia University will not conduct research for military security and dual use (military- and civilian-use).
Therefore, Sophia University will not approve applications for external funds supporting research for military security and dual use (military- and civilian-use). In more concrete terms, we will not apply for funding from the National Security Technology Research Promotion, a competitive research funding program of the Ministry of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency), the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD)’s research funding program, etc.
External Collaborative and Contract Research Track Record
For information regarding the Faculty of Science and Technology and Graduate School of Science and Technology, which have been involved in many past projects, please refer to Sophia Sci-Tech, the newsletter of the Sophia University Association for Promoting Science and Technology.