The University of Tokyo and AGC to Commence Collaborative Research Utilizing the University of Tokyo Institute for Open Innovation ｜ News

July 22, 2019R&D

The University of Tokyo and AGC to Commence Collaborative Research Utilizing the University of Tokyo Institute for Open Innovation

Accelerating New Business Generation Through Industry-Academia Collaborative Research

AGC (Headquarters: Tokyo; President and CEO: Takuya Shimamura), together with the National University Corporation, the University of Tokyo ("University of Tokyo"; President: Makoto Gonokami) will utilize the University of Tokyo's Institute for Open Innovation to commence the institute's first large-scale collaborative research project. The industry-academia collaborative research will start this August with the aim of generating new business.

The University of Tokyo has carried out many industry-academia collaborations in the domain of basic research, producing various research results. The University of Tokyo Institute for Open Innovation was opened on December 1, 2018, with the aim of creating business from these research results. Launching this institute has established a system for smoothly creating business from research results accumulated in industry-academia collaborative basic research so far.

Meanwhile, in the field of glass, the University of Tokyo and AGC have launched Corporate Sponsored Research Programs that pursue the potential of construction materials and Social Cooperation Programs that aim to generate cutting-edge glass processing and other technologies. AGC and the University of Tokyo have also been carrying out collaborative research on long-term themes in various fields. An example in the field of fluorine chemistry is launching Social Cooperation Programs with the aim of cultivating new domains, transcending the boundaries of the fields of fluorine chemistry, organic chemistry, and life sciences.

Now, the university and AGC will combine their research and development skills to embark on collaborative research utilizing the University of Tokyo Institute for Open Innovation, with the aim of developing research results for the University of Tokyo and generating new business for AGC. In order to further strengthen business competitiveness, they have signed a collaborative research agreement that transcends the framework of conventional industry-academia collaboration in terms of the treatment of technical results and intellectual property. With the participation of this institution, a collaborative research space will be established in the University of Tokyo Faculty of Engineering's Asano Campus and collaborative researchers from AGC will be assigned there to advance cross-organizational collaboration.

There is an increasing demand to create innovation utilizing industry-academia collaboration in order to ensure Japan's economic growth and strengthen its business competitiveness. Through this collaboration at the University of Tokyo Institute for Open Innovation, the University of Tokyo and AGC hope to accelerate the creation of new business and contribute to the progress of academia.

REFERENCE

Overview of the University of Tokyo Institute for Open Innovation

Name:	the University of Tokyo Institute for Open Innovation
Launch Date:	December 1, 2018
Overview of Institute:	The institute was launched with the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's open innovation facilitation project. The institute aims to use the university's expertise and technology to generate new social value through carrying out large-scale joint research with corporations and establish a platform for open innovation that contributes to economic growth.
Research fields:	Organisms & engineering, functional materials, outer space & the environment, AI & informatics
Head of Institution:	Mutsuhiro Arinobu (Vice President, University of Tokyo)
URL：	www.ioi.t.u- tokyo.ac.jp/

AGC Project at the Institute

AGC Representative Collaborative Researcher:	Takashi Okazoe (Material Integration Laboratories, Technology General Division, AGC Inc.)
Content of AGC Collaborative Research:	Technology related to fluorine and other chemistry, technology related to glass processing, etc.

Bldg. 9, where the Collaborative Research Space will be set up

MEDIA INQUIRIES: AGC Inc.; Contact: Kitano; TEL: +81-3-3218-5603; E-mail: info-pr@agc.com; Management Division, Institute for Open Innovation, University of Tokyo
Contact: Kamijo, Maeno; TEL: +81-3-5841-7236; E-mail: ioi-lia.adm@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp