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Message from Chief Executive Manager

Tsukuba University was established in 1973 within the Tsukuba Science City, a national project aimed at promoting science and technology and enhancing higher education. Over the years, the university has undergone various system reforms that have contributed to the transformation of universities in Japan. For example, in terms of personnel systems, the university does not have a departmental structure, positioning all affiliated researchers as independent researchers. This approach has led to the emergence of new research fields in a free and open environment.

Since introducing the Western-style Tenure Track System for the first time in Japan in 1994, the university has continuously improved the system while enhancing the research capabilities of young scholars. From 2013, with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities,” the university implemented the “International Tenure Track System,” allowing young researchers to conduct research abroad for a certain period.

The Tsukuba region hosts 29 public research and educational institutions and approximately 150 private research institutions and companies (as of January 2022). With a population of 20,000 researchers, including 10% holding doctoral degrees, Tsukuba is Japan’s largest research and development hub, boasting significant potential.

In this program, leveraging the international tenure track efforts and achievements of the university, collaboration among universities, national laboratories, and companies will be fostered. The goal is to transcend institutional differences in setup, research fields, and industries, promoting the creation of knowledge and cultivating young researchers with a transborder perspective.

Chief Executive Manager
NAGATA, Kyosuke
President, University of Tsukuba
Message from Lead Institution Executive Manager

Researchers who excel on the global stage require the ability to integrate knowledge across diverse fields and interdisciplinary domains. In the TRiSTAR program, we provide opportunities for the convergence of knowledge from different fields, serving as a resonant space for universities, national laboratories, and companies. Through the practical application of interdisciplinary research approaches, we aim to cultivate researchers equipped with “Depth of Specialized Knowledge,” “Overarching Perspective,” and “Management Skills.”

Specifically, within this program, experienced researchers and educators affiliated with universities, national laboratories, and companies will offer advice, fostering new knowledge, ideas, and innovations. We strive to support the growth of young researchers and align their development with academic career paths. Additionally, through collaborative interactions among young researchers, we aim to build an ensemble of knowledge with transferrable problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. This ensemble is expected to give rise to leaders who contribute to both academia and society within their respective research domains, elevating the ensemble into a network of knowledge.

Tsukuba is a Science City with numerous national and private research institutes, providing state-of-the-art research facilities and technology. This environment enables researchers not only to conduct advanced research using the latest technology but also to function as a hub for industry-academia collaboration. Recognizing the importance of the wisdom of researchers in the humanities and social sciences, essential for creating a better society based on advanced science and technology, Tsukuba is considered an ideal experimental ground. We aim to maximize the advantages of this Science City, utilizing it to generate research talent that will shape the future.

Lead Institution Executive Manager
SHIGETA, Yasuteru
Vice President and Executeve Director for
Research, University of Tsukuba
Message from Program Manager

For me, “study” literally means “learning” and “always raising queries”. I have been studying astrophysics for nearly 40 years, raising such queries as: where is the truth, what is the essence, and are there any possibilities that no one has thought of yet? I have heard that, according to the Michelin Guide, a one-star restaurant is one that offers good food in a given category, and a three-star restaurant is one that offers overall excellence that makes it worth the trouble to visit. I have been conducting research in my specialty, astrophysics, aiming for a one-star restaurant, so to speak, but in the last 10 years, I have started interdisciplinary collaboration with life science and medicine, aiming for overall excellence like a three-star restaurant. The program’s nickname, TRiSTAR, also has the meaning of three stars, evoking a three-star restaurant. The “trans-border researcher” that TRiSTAR aims for is a researcher who, beyond deepening his or her own expertise, can create new co-creation that transcends the barriers (borders) of disciplines and industries based on the potential of his or her specialty, and create an unprecedented research flow. In the pursuit of developing possibilities that transcend various borders, you may also discover a new career path. Why don’t you challenge new possibilities through this program?

Program Manager (PM)
UEMURA, Masayuki
Specially Appointed Professor,
Chief of Supporting Office for the
Development of Young Human Resources,
University of Tsukuba