Okayama University: First Phase of Senior and Middle-Career Researcher Support Package "Establishment of Okayama University Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor" ~A System to Extend Retirement to 75 and Continue Research Activities~
Okayama University has announced the first phase of its Senior and Middle-Career Researcher Support Package, establishing the "Okayama University Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor" system. This groundbreaking initiative, the first of its kind in Japan, extends the retirement age to 75 for Honorary Professors, enabling continuous research activities and supporting researchers across all career stages.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 11:06
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April 23, 2026 (Reiwa 8)
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) announced on April 17, 2026, at its regular press conference (President's announcement), the "First Phase of the Okayama University Senior and Middle-Career Researcher Support Package: Establishment of Okayama University Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor ~A System to Extend Retirement to 75 and Continue Research Activities~".
Until now, the university has operated the "Okayama University Young Researcher Development Support Package," which provides comprehensive support specifically for young researchers. For example, the "Okayama University Research Professor and Associate Research Professor System" has been implemented since fiscal year 2018 as one of the university-wide supports for young researchers with excellent research achievements. This "Research Professor System" promotes associate professors to actively serve as independent Principal Investigators (PIs) by granting them the title of Research Professor and providing incentives such as research fund allocation and enhancement of research activities. Furthermore, since April 2020, the "Associate Research Professor System" has been implemented for lecturers and assistant professors. Data shows that those granted these titles have achieved high research results and are progressing towards promotion.
While systems such as the "Research Professor System for Associate Professors," the "Associate Research Professor System for Assistant Professors and Lecturers," and the "Research Assistant Professor System" for those immediately after obtaining a degree or postdocs to focus on research existed, there was no system for "professors."
This time, two new systems have been established for professors: the "Distinguished Professor System" for those with outstanding research achievements, and the "Honorary Professor System," which is awarded after renewing the Distinguished Professor title three times.
Upon certification, a Distinguished Professor's title is valid for two years. During this period, incentives for indirect costs are provided, and the burden of management and administrative duties is reduced. If a Distinguished Professor is awarded the certification three times (not necessarily consecutive, total of three times: six years) and meets the qualifications for an Honorary Professor of the university, they gain the right to be granted the title of Honorary Professor.
For Honorary Professors, retirement from the university is extended from 65 to 75 years old, effectively extending their retirement. Their current salary and the leadership of their laboratory will continue (with an interim evaluation in the fifth year). Furthermore, associate professors assigned to the laboratory can be promoted to professor, meaning "junior staff will not be unable to become professors because a senior person is present." This kind of system is the first of its kind in Japan.
Regarding this new system, Norihito Sato, Vice President (in charge of Research and Industry-Academia Collaboration), Vice President (in charge of Academic Affairs), and Senior URA, commented, "In designing this system, we conducted hearings with various individuals, including young researchers. With an increasing number of professors in their 40s, a comprehensive researcher support system that accompanies researchers of all ages, from young to middle and senior, is indispensable. Although the criteria may differ, Okayama University will continue to take on new challenges and reforms as a research university that can provide full support at any age."
This initiative is being implemented as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities as Regional Core and Distinctive Institutions (J-PEAKS)" (implementing body: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science), for which the university has been selected. We will continue to proactively implement measures to support excellent researchers of all ages, ahead of other universities and research institutions nationwide. Please look forward to the challenges of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university.
〇 Comment from President Yasutomo Nasu
I believe that time passes more quickly as one gets older. Young researchers quickly become middle-career researchers, and middle-career researchers quickly become senior researchers. Support for young researchers has been implemented for many years under the "Okayama University Young Researcher Development Support Package" and is expanding. This new system will not cause young researchers to feel hardship. I believe it is also important to make the career progression at this university clearer and more attractive for young researchers when they eventually become middle and senior researchers. The establishment of the Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor is one such initiative.
Currently, there are about two researchers in the science faculty who meet the criteria for Honorary Professor, but we will firmly implement support for senior and middle-career researchers to increase this number. Under the declaration of Okayama University as a Research University, we will accelerate our steps towards realizing Okayama University Long-Term Vision 2050: "A Research University that co-creates the future of the region and the planet and contributes to global innovation." Please look forward to our efforts.
〇 National University Corporation Okayama University Regular Press Conference (President's Announcement) on April 2026
Okayama University Senior and Middle-Career Researcher Support Package Phase 1 "Establishment of Okayama University Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor" ~A System to Extend Retirement to 75 and Continue Research Activities~
[Yasutomo Nasu, President of Okayama University]
[Norihito Sato, Vice President (in charge of Research and Industry-Academia Collaboration)]
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) announced on April 17, 2026, at its regular press conference (President's announcement), the "First Phase of the Okayama University Senior and Middle-Career Researcher Support Package: Establishment of Okayama University Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor ~A System to Extend Retirement to 75 and Continue Research Activities~".
Until now, the university has operated the "Okayama University Young Researcher Development Support Package," which provides comprehensive support specifically for young researchers. For example, the "Okayama University Research Professor and Associate Research Professor System" has been implemented since fiscal year 2018 as one of the university-wide supports for young researchers with excellent research achievements. This "Research Professor System" promotes associate professors to actively serve as independent Principal Investigators (PIs) by granting them the title of Research Professor and providing incentives such as research fund allocation and enhancement of research activities. Furthermore, since April 2020, the "Associate Research Professor System" has been implemented for lecturers and assistant professors. Data shows that those granted these titles have achieved high research results and are progressing towards promotion.
While systems such as the "Research Professor System for Associate Professors," the "Associate Research Professor System for Assistant Professors and Lecturers," and the "Research Assistant Professor System" for those immediately after obtaining a degree or postdocs to focus on research existed, there was no system for "professors."
This time, two new systems have been established for professors: the "Distinguished Professor System" for those with outstanding research achievements, and the "Honorary Professor System," which is awarded after renewing the Distinguished Professor title three times.
Upon certification, a Distinguished Professor's title is valid for two years. During this period, incentives for indirect costs are provided, and the burden of management and administrative duties is reduced. If a Distinguished Professor is awarded the certification three times (not necessarily consecutive, total of three times: six years) and meets the qualifications for an Honorary Professor of the university, they gain the right to be granted the title of Honorary Professor.
For Honorary Professors, retirement from the university is extended from 65 to 75 years old, effectively extending their retirement. Their current salary and the leadership of their laboratory will continue (with an interim evaluation in the fifth year). Furthermore, associate professors assigned to the laboratory can be promoted to professor, meaning "junior staff will not be unable to become professors because a senior person is present." This kind of system is the first of its kind in Japan.
Regarding this new system, Norihito Sato, Vice President (in charge of Research and Industry-Academia Collaboration), Vice President (in charge of Academic Affairs), and Senior URA, commented, "In designing this system, we conducted hearings with various individuals, including young researchers. With an increasing number of professors in their 40s, a comprehensive researcher support system that accompanies researchers of all ages, from young to middle and senior, is indispensable. Although the criteria may differ, Okayama University will continue to take on new challenges and reforms as a research university that can provide full support at any age."
This initiative is being implemented as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities as Regional Core and Distinctive Institutions (J-PEAKS)" (implementing body: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science), for which the university has been selected. We will continue to proactively implement measures to support excellent researchers of all ages, ahead of other universities and research institutions nationwide. Please look forward to the challenges of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university.
〇 Comment from President Yasutomo Nasu
I believe that time passes more quickly as one gets older. Young researchers quickly become middle-career researchers, and middle-career researchers quickly become senior researchers. Support for young researchers has been implemented for many years under the "Okayama University Young Researcher Development Support Package" and is expanding. This new system will not cause young researchers to feel hardship. I believe it is also important to make the career progression at this university clearer and more attractive for young researchers when they eventually become middle and senior researchers. The establishment of the Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor is one such initiative.
Currently, there are about two researchers in the science faculty who meet the criteria for Honorary Professor, but we will firmly implement support for senior and middle-career researchers to increase this number. Under the declaration of Okayama University as a Research University, we will accelerate our steps towards realizing Okayama University Long-Term Vision 2050: "A Research University that co-creates the future of the region and the planet and contributes to global innovation." Please look forward to our efforts.
〇 National University Corporation Okayama University Regular Press Conference (President's Announcement) on April 2026
Okayama University Senior and Middle-Career Researcher Support Package Phase 1 "Establishment of Okayama University Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor" ~A System to Extend Retirement to 75 and Continue Research Activities~
[Yasutomo Nasu, President of Okayama University]
[Norihito Sato, Vice President (in charge of Research and Industry-Academia Collaboration)]