Connecting researchers at Tokyo Tech Research Festival 2018

On November 15, Tokyo Tech Research Festival 2018 was held at the Ookayama Campus. This event was held to connect Tokyo Tech researchers across disciplines and promote new interdisciplinary collaborations.

Creating opportunities for interdisciplinary research

At the venue, 35 Tokyo Tech researchers gave presentations on their various specialties. Following each presentation, approximately 150 participants had discussions with the researchers.

Using CollaboMaker, an interactive bulletin board system developed by Tokyo Tech’s university research administrators (URAs) exclusively for use inside the university, presenters highlight individual areas of research in which they are interested in pursuing joint projects.

Other unique approaches were also applied at the event, such as allowing researchers to leave comments tags on posters to promote exchange of opinions with others they had not had a chance to meet.

Osamu Watanabe, Executive Vice President for Research, gave Best Presentation Awards to four researchers selected by a vote by participants.

At the reception after the presentations, many researchers mentioned that they were able to find clues to promote interdisciplinary research.

Close to 70% of participants formed new connections

In a survey after the festival, about 65% participants said they were able to meet other researchers whom they felt could make good collaborators.

Some researchers formed plans for collaboration through the sessions at the festival, and others met researchers engaged in different areas who had similar keywords associated with their work. There were also some researchers who felt it was a great chance for them to gather opinions from an interdisciplinary viewpoint, even though the encounters might not lead immediately to new research.

URAs aiming for large-scale research 10 years into the future

URAs are professionals who provide support for researchers at universities and other institutions, as well as assume roles in research management. URAs are already working at many institutions. They provide support to researchers starting up new research projects and assistance in project management. Tokyo Tech has a wide range of URAs in the Office of Research and Innovation and other research institutions throughout the university, assigned to various research projects.

URAs assist researchers interested in collaboration to coordinate with other laboratories and obtain funding. From small scale studies on feasibility to large-scale, decade-in-the-making studies representing Tokyo Tech’s achievements, URAs continue working with researchers to realize a better future.

• Tokyo Tech Research Festival 2018 | Tokyo Tech URA