Strategic Professional Development Program for Young Researchers
Top Runner Development Program Engaging Universities,
National Labs, and Companies
Strategic Professional Development Program for Young Researchers
Top Runner Development Program Engaging Universities,
National Labs, and Companies
Diligently deepening one’s expertise in their respective field has characterized the traditional top-runners. TRiSTAR, however, aims to draw out the potential beyond that specialized domain, fostering researchers who can transcend all borders, whether in fields or industries, and create novel value. We believe this is the path leading to the top-runners of the next generation.
Through the interaction among researchers who have mastered their individual fields, they can evolve into top-runners transcending disciplines, akin to the achievements of Leonardo da Vinci, who left a pioneering legacy in various fields. It is our ideal that an increasing number of such researchers emerge.
Seemingly unrelated research areas may exhibit unexpected synergy, giving rise to entirely new perspectives. In this process, entirely new career paths may unfold. Just envisioning this possibility brings excitement. The program for empowering individuals to become top-runners at the forefront of the era is TRiSTAR.
In the 20th century, researchers deepened their understanding of academic disciplines through specialization, but this approach also became a factor contributing to the fragmentation between fields. The form of academic inquiry in the 21st century seeks to integrate the advancements made in various fields, fostering the creation of new innovations. This can be likened to Research 2.0.
TRiSTAR is a program designed to cultivate the capability to overcome barriers encountered in diverse academic settings. To develop an optimal training scheme for researchers, an agile approach, evolving uniquely, is adopted to support transborder researchers.
By transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries, researchers can uncover new possibilities that they may not have been aware of, broadening the horizons of potential in the process.
Confronting the severe situation of Japan’s diminished research capabilities head-on, our serious commitment lies in establishing a researcher development program that holds global recognition within Japan. Simultaneously, we aim to create an exciting environment, starting from Tsukuba, where top-notch researchers engage passionately in their work, fostering spontaneous innovation through vibrant interactions. We believe this is the mission we must fulfill.
TRiSTAR is one of the answers to fulfill this mission. Leveraging the environment as the largest research and development hub in the country, with the significant potential of collaboration between industry, government, and academia, we aim to establish a program for cultivating the next generation of transborder researchers.
Envisioning a future where outstanding researchers from around the world converge here, generating unprecedented achievements, we hold firm to this belief.
TRiSTAR represents three stars that have three meanings.
Firstly, the collaboration between three types of institutions: universities, national laboratories, and companies.
Secondly, the three competencies that TRiSTAR fosters: the depth of specialized knowledge, overarching perspective, and the management skills.
Finally, the three initiatives that TRiSTAR undertakes: research support, upskilling, and research environment improvement.
The symbol of three star birds flapping their wings expresses our hope that these 3 x 3 elements will encourage researchers transcend borders and spread their wings to the world.