Okayama University Holds Exchange of Views with Shimane University for Matching Trainees in R&D Management Human Resource Development

June 6, 2026
National University Corporation Okayama University

https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/

◆Overview

National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu) held an exchange of views with Shimane University, the system-strengthening institution (sending university), on May 29, 2026, at the Tsushima Campus for the purpose of matching trainees under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) "Project for Developing Systems for R&D Management Personnel."

This project aims to strengthen the research capabilities of universities nationwide by promoting the active roles of R&D management personnel, resolving the quantitative shortage and improving the quality of such personnel throughout Japan, and promoting the establishment of appropriate treatment and career paths. This meeting was held to align the expectations of the sending university, Shimane University, with the training content of the receiving university, Okayama University, to discuss future goals and the future vision of R&D management personnel, and to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, in preparation for the first acceptance of trainees under this project starting in October of this year.

On the day, participants from Shimane University included Wataru Inoue, URA of the Open Innovation Promotion Headquarters (a candidate for dispatch), Tomoaki Kato, Supervising URA and Specified Duty Staff, and Mitsuo Kogure, Deputy Director of the Research and Regional Creation Department (concurrently) Manager of the Research Promotion Division. From Okayama University, participants included Masaki Kawamoto, Lead Vice Director of the Research and Innovation Co-creation Organization; Akira Imai, Director of the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Headquarters and Senior URA; Masashi Matsumoto, Research IR Director and Senior URA; Seiji Yamamoto, Manager of the Research Cooperation Division; Takayuki Abe, Manager of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Division; and other相关人员 related to this project.

At the beginning of the meeting, URA Inoue expressed his aspirations for the training. Subsequently, Supervising URA Kato explained the current status and challenges of open innovation and URA at Shimane University, as well as expectations for the training. After that, Okayama University provided an overview of the training content to be offered, and the person in charge of each training menu that URA Inoue had requested—Research IR, analysis and formation of new research hub organizations, regional platform training in the digital field, and project management training—explained the details of the content.

In the Q&A session, in addition to detailed points regarding the actual acceptance, discussions were held on issues faced by both universities, such as the regional characteristic of having few companies with R&D functions and the resulting difficulty in forming large-scale joint research. It was discussed that both sides would like to consider responses together during the future training.

Regarding this matter, Norihito Sato, Vice Director (in charge of Research and Industry-Academia Co-creation), Vice President (in charge of Academic Affairs), and Senior URA, who is the project implementation manager, commented, "We are very honored to receive trainees from Shimane University this time. Being able to discuss common challenges and the direction we should aim for as local national universities in the same Chugoku region is valuable not only from the perspective of project management but also from the perspective of university management. Our universities must change. The core of that change is human resources. We will firmly promote transformation with an eye on the present and future of R&D management personnel. Please look forward to the initiatives of Okayama University and Shimane University."

Okayama University will continue to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders and promote the advancement of the development and operation of R&D management personnel. To leverage this, it will rapidly advance flexible organizational and system reforms that are not bound by conventional frameworks. Please continue to look forward to the challenges of Okayama University and Shimane University, open regional core and distinctive research universities that co-create the future of the region and the planet and realize social change.