To create issue-based open innovation, Kobe University assigns a Creative Manager (CM) to each priority field and promotes large-scale joint research projects while emphasizing collaboration with Kobe, Hyogo, and Kansai.
We aim to further strengthen the Institute for Open Innovation of Kobe University (Institute for OI) and its self-sustaining capacity to have integrated operations with Kobe University Innovation (KUI) Inc., which was established in March 2020 to bolster industry-academia collaboration functions.
Currently, the Institute for OI is working on developing large-scale joint research in four priority areas: medicine, biochemical engineering, smart communities, and maritime-renewable energy.
In medicine, we promote projects in bioresource utilization, remote endoscopic surgery technology, and the development of technologies related to photoimmunotherapy. Moreover, we support new large-scale joint research projects in the microbiome domain, dementia prevention, and regenerative medicine. In biochemical engineering, we are developing large-scale joint research through technological exchanges with bio-startup companies originating from the university by further strengthening and expanding the bio-foundry function, which is among the university’s strengths in advanced bio-research.
In the smart community field, we are developing broad joint research on human mental health (elderly, corporate employees, isolated persons, etc.) in the area of smart health, while aiming to make advancements in the area of smart energy. In the maritime-renewable energy field, we aim to develop joint research in collaboration with wind-research university ventures and initiatives related to the advanced utilization of renewable energy through hydrogen.
In addition to the above four priority areas, we will manage the creation of multiple individual joint research agreements with companies with which we have concluded large-scale comprehensive collaboration agreements.
We, at the Institute for OI, strive to develop open innovation at the university through initiatives to maximize the research capabilities of the university’s departments to solve social and corporate challenges.
April 2022
