Establishment of Chuo University's Organization for Social Co-creation Promotion — Launch of "Research Initiatives," a New Interdisciplinary Research Organization Committed to the Social Implementation of Knowledge —

Chuo University has established a new research promotion organization, the "Organization for Social Co-creation Promotion," effective April 1, 2026. The "social return of research outcomes" — applying research results to real-world implementation and driving the creation of innovation that contributes to the development of our resource-scarce nation — has become one of the most important roles universities play in society, alongside the cultivation of the next generation of human resources. The Organization for Social Co-creation Promotion is charged with actively advancing the social co-creation mission of the University — equal in importance to education — by directing the "knowledge" cultivated by each of Chuo University's researchers through their daily research activities toward social implementation, and by bringing together research across the diverse fields nurtured by the University's traditions, as well as interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary knowledge, to drive further research. This aligns with the principles of *Chuo Vision 2035*, the University's medium- to long-term strategic plan.

In addition, within the Institute, an interdisciplinary research organization called "Research Initiatives" will be established, with clearly defined "challenges to be solved" aimed at realizing the vision of society that Chuo University aspires to build. On this occasion, the Institute has identified "Creation of Foundational Technologies through Cross-Disciplinary Integration Contributing to the Well-Being of Individuals and Communities in Urban Settings" as its research theme, derived from the vision of society it seeks to realize. Furthermore, as the first initiative aligned with this research theme, "Urban Community Resilience" has been selected (Principal Investigator: Professor Taichi Tebakari, School of Science and Engineering). Going forward, the University plans to identify several new Research Initiatives, nurture them over a five-year period, refine them as needed, and accelerate the social implementation of research outcomes through co-creation with other universities and institutions.

For further details, please refer to the link below. (Only in Japanese)
https://www.chuo-u.ac.jp/research/introduction/promoting/