Tokyo Institute of Technology and Innovations and Future Creation Inc. conclude organizational partnership agreement

Tokyo Tech and Innovations and Future Creation Inc. (Mirai) concluded an agreement on May 13 regarding organizational collaboration and cooperation to make more efficient use of university research outcomes in society.

Yoshinao Mishima, President, Tokyo Tech (center)
Hiroyuki Okada, Representative Director, Innovations and Future Creation (left)
Toshihisa Adachi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Innovations and Future Creation (right)

Tokyo Tech has implemented bold reforms since April 2016 on both educational and research fronts. It is working toward further strengthening industry-academia collaboration to respond swiftly to problems and requirements of society by passing these outcomes back to society and the economy. Mirai has achieved numerous successes in new business creation and training support. It has already worked with Tokyo Tech in promoting collaborative research and academic instruction, strengthening personnel training, and providing support for startup companies.

With this agreement, cooperative activities on both sides will be further strengthened. Both parties will build a platform to generate and foster startups by making use of Tokyo Tech's technologies and personnel. They also systematically promote industry-academia collaboration, international activities, entrepreneur education. The parties will take advantage of Tokyo Tech's new Research Unit* system to create and operate new research units based on societal requirements, and promote collaboration with overseas corporations, universities, and research centers.

Mirai is in the process of setting up a venture capital fund focused on investing in startup companies related to Tokyo Tech in order to accelerate and substantiate its collaborative activities with Tokyo Tech. With the fund that will be able to access to Tokyo Tech's yet undisclosed inventions, both parties will proactively promote initiatives to accelerate the creation of tech startup companies.

*

Research Unit: A system of responsively advancing cutting-edge research with small-scale teams under distinguished leaders. Each unit is set up for five years with a specific mission and works toward its accomplishment. As of April 2016, 10 research units have been established.

• Press Release on Tokyo Institute of Technology and Innovations and Future Creation Inc. conclude organizational partnership agreement
• Innovations and Future Creation Inc. (Japanese)