Promotional Project for Advancement of Academic Research at Private Universities

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) provides financial assistance and infrastructure support to private universities conducting research under a scheme entitled "Promotional Project for Advancement of Academic Researches at Private Universities". The projects may fall under any of the four categories laid down by the MEXT:

  • "High-Tech Research Center" Project,
  • "Academic Frontier" Project,
  • "Collaboration with Local Communities" Project and
  • "Open Research Center" Project.

The Keio University SFC was granted assistance under two categories -- "High Technology Research Center Project" and "Academic Frontier Promotion Project".


High-tech Research Center Project adopted in academic year 2005


The project aims to understand the emergence of a new social order in Japan that takes into account falling birthrate and increase in longevity by utilizing the techniques of advanced fundamental technologies such as nursing science, medical care welfare, engineering, information communication technologies et cetra. The project aims at creating various information systems and application thereof that distribute information in different ways. Both the system and its application establish a close connection between individuals, individual and organizations and organizations. The project further identifies intrinsic care abilities inherent in the social system itself in order to prove its practicality and then apply it widely in society.

Project Leader: Kikuko Ota, Professor, Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care
Project website: High-tech Research Center Project adopted in academic year 2005


Academic Frontier Project adopted in academic year 2004


The "Digital Asia" project conducts research on the establishment of a Digital Asia by utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in collaboration with other research institutions in Japan and abroad. Based on technologies for environmental management, risk management and information technology, the project comprehensively understands and verifies Asia's regional strategy. The project organizes the following three groups that will conduct research activities from the academic year 2004 to 2008: 1. Digital Asia Platform Project, 2. Digital Asia Communityware Project, 3. Digital Asia Regional Strategy Concept Project.

Project Leader: Hiromichi Fukui, Professor, Faculty of Policy Management
Project website: Digital Asia Project adopted in academic year 2004


High-tech Research Center Development Project adopted in academic year 2000


The Research on Next-generation Cyberspace is a comprehensive research meant to decipher various issues emerging in cyber space in the near future, through a multi-pronged approach. The present research conducted under the auspices of the HRC Project can be regarded as a sequel to the "Research on Basics and Application of Digital Media" conducted under the aegis of the Center of Excellence (COE) Project, which was tackled for five years from 1996. The research subjects are highly concentrated and specific in the present project. This project has completed in the academic year 2004.

Former Project Leader: Nobuo Saito, Professor, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
Project website: High-tech Research Center Development Project adopted in academic year 2000