University of Tsukuba and Mitsui Fudosan Conclude Agreement Regarding Promotion of Industry-Academia Collaboration
- To create new industries through a next-generation science park -

December 20, 2024
University of Tsukuba
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

Tokyo, Japan, December 20, 2024 - Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., a leading global real estate company headquartered in Tokyo, and the University of Tsukuba announced today that they had concluded an agreement regarding the promotion of industry-academia collaboration (“the Agreement”)

The University of Tsukuba started out as a new concept university engaged with many academic fields, and has contributed to the progress of science and technology in Japan as a core institution of Tsukuba Science City, a science park where approximately 20,000 researchers are based. The highly interdisciplinary and international university announced in 2023 that it would push ahead with the IMAGINE THE Future. Forum (ITF.F) project*1, whose objective is to make the multidisciplinary knowledge based on its research capabilities contribute toward the growth of Japan’s industries. It is pushing ahead with the adventure and challenge of creating the future with the goal of solving problems on a global scale.

In April 2020, Mitsui Fudosan established a department dedicated to industry-academia collaboration. Up until now, the company has sought to create new industries through joint research with various universities to generate innovation and deepen its knowledge of science parks centered on academia. In April 2024, the company established the Innovation Promoting Division, intensifying its initiatives to generate innovation and contribute toward the creation of new industries through industry-academia collaboration.

Industry’s expectations of academia are increasing amid the rapidly shifting environment surrounding industry in recent years such as heightened geopolitical risk, accelerating technological advances, and global competition for highly skilled personnel. Under the Agreement, Mitsui Fudosan and the University of Tsukuba will aim to create new industries that will help to achieve a sustainable society through the exploration of the ideal next- generation science park and cutting-edge technologies.

From the left: President Kyosuke Nagata of the University of Tsukuba and President Takashi Ueda of Mitsui Fudosan

■About the Collaboration

Themes addressed by the University of Tsukuba and Mitsui Fudosan under the Agreement are outlined below.

By harnessing their respective strengths, the University of Tsukuba and Mitsui Fudosan seek to generate innovation toward achieving a sustainable society and create new industries through the development of Tsukuba Science City.

1. Collaboration toward further development of Tsukuba Science City as a science park

Tsukuba Science City is a science park where diverse research organizations gather, and an international research network has formed. Tsukuba City’s population has continued to grow since its inception, and the vitality of the region has surged. By harnessing these strengths, the University of Tsukuba and Mitsui Fudosan will rebuild the required functions of a science park at Tsukuba Science City to seek its further development by solving the problems of companies and society.

First, they will take steps to make Tsukuba Science City more attractive as a science park by incorporating Mitsui Fudosan’s know-how in building places and communities. An example is the ITF.F facility which aims to build a base for industry-academia collaboration that will utilize the multidisciplinary research capabilities of the University of Tsukuba. Another is Digital Human Innovation Research Building, a facility to promote innovation by combining digital technologies with people.

Rendering of the ITF.F facility and image of research lab

2．Exploring cutting-edge technologies

The University of Tsukuba conducts cutting-edge research in diverse fields such as AI and computational science, medicine and life science, sports science, aerospace engineering, energy engineering, and environmental engineering. The Agreement aims to generate innovation by harnessing the strengths of the University of Tsukuba, which conducts research in the above fields, and Mitsui Fudosan, which has the ability to create businesses developed in the process of neighborhood creation.

3．Strengthening collaboration beyond local areas

Tsukuba, where the university is located, and the areas of Kashiwa-no-ha and Nihonbashi, where Mitsui Fudosan is progressing neighborhood creation projects, are indirectly connected by Tsukuba Express (rail) and Joban Expressway (road). All three areas are centers of educational and research facilities, boasting top-level concentration of highly skilled personnel in Japan.

Collaboration beyond local areas in the fields of life science and space has already started at these centers, such as Life Science Innovation Network Japan (LINK-J)*2 and Cross U*3. Making the most of these collaborations, the University of Tsukuba and Mitsui Fudosan will work together to strengthen links between Tsukuba, Kashiwa-no-ha, and Nihonbashi with the goal of creating new industries.

4． Collaboration in physical education and sports

The University of Tsukuba engages in state-of-the-art research in the area of sports science. It has accumulated extensive knowledge of sports physiology, sports psychology, and training science. This enables them to scientifically investigate the effects and advantages of multisports training, which involves playing multiple sports to develop diverse athletic skills rather than focusing on a single one.

Mitsui Fudosan is focused on the creation of exciting experiences through sports. In partnership with the University of Tsukuba, the Company plans to spread the value of multisports to communities, starting with Tsukuba Science City, by providing diverse sports programs that utilize the effects of multisports and working with community groups.

■Comments by representatives

■About the University of Tsukuba

The University of Tsukuba, which opened in 1973, was originally Tokyo Higher Normal School founded in 1872 as the first institution of higher education in Japan. Fundamentally an “open university” that combines interdisciplinarity and internationality, its founding philosophy is constant adaptation to social change. A research university offering one of the most diverse academic programs in Japan, from humanities and social sciences to science and engineering, information science, life science and environmental science, medicine, physical education, and art, the University of Tsukuba collaborates with universities and research organizations around the world in both research and education fields. It has produced many prominent researchers, including three Nobel laureates. Designated a National University Corporation by the Japanese government in 2022, the university pushes ahead with the adventure and challenge of creating the future with the goal of solving problems on a global scale.

■About Mitsui Fudosan

Mitsui Fudosan established the Industry-Academia Collaboration Department in 2020. Since then, the Company has collaborated with academic institutions in Japan and overseas that engage in cutting-edge research in science and technology, utilizing their knowledge to generate innovation. In April 2024, the company established the Innovation Promoting Division, which partners diverse players including academia and startups to identify focus areas where the Mitsui Fudosan Group can harness its strengths with the ultimate goal of creating new industries beyond the real estate business.

■ Sustainability in the Mitsui Fudosan Group

Based on the meaning of its “& mark,” “to generate new value with society through cooperation, coexistence and co-creation, we forge ahead, innovating,” the Mitsui Fudosan Group views the “creation of social value” and the “creation of economic value” as two wheels of a cart. Accordingly, we believe that the creation of social value leads to the creation of economic value, and that this economic value then creates even greater social value.
Moreover, we identified six Group Materiality priority issues when formulating our new management philosophy in April 2024. These Group Materiality priority issues are (1) Contribute to industrial competitiveness, (2) Coexist with the environment, (3) Health and Vitality, (4) Safety and security, (5) Diversity and inclusion, and (6) Compliance and governance. The Mitsui Fudosan Group will work to address each of the materialities through its core business activities and contribute to the promotion of sustainability.

(References)
・ Group Management Philosophy and Long-Term Vision
https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/english/corporate/innovation2030/
・ Group Materiality
https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/english/esg_csr/approach/materiality/

* The initiatives outlined in this release are designed to help address the following four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• 1 Imagine the Future. Forum project
  Companies can utilize the Tsukuba area, which is provided by universities and the government, to create innovations to solve global issues.A business that promotes needs-driven development research led by companies while utilizing resources.
• 2 LINK-J
  LINK-J is a general incorporated association established by Mitsui Fudosan and members of academia and industry. Its purpose is to help create new industries by promoting and supporting open innovation through partnerships between industry, public sector, and academia, and revitalizing communities.
  https://www.link-j.org/ (in Japanese)
• 3 Cross U
  Cross U is a space industry co-creation platform established in September 2022 by Mitsui Fudosan and other players in the space sector with the aim of revitalizing space industries. It commenced activities in April 2023.
  https://www.crossu.org/en/