Tokushima University has been working to further strengthen its education, research and social contributions, in order to make even greater advances that solve global issues including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a regional standpoint. Let me briefly introduce the overall structure of the academic organization of our university. Our undergraduate programs are offered through six faculties: the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Dentistry, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry.Our Graduate programs are offered through six Graduate School : the Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation,the Graduate School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Oral Sciences,the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Graduate School of  Medical Nutrition, and  the Graduate School of  Health Sciences. We are also home to the Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, which leads the world in cutting-edge medical sciences research; the Institute of Post-LED Photonics (pLED), which conducts research into innovations that tap into the power of light to secure the future of our world; the Bio-Innovation Research Center (BIRC), which carries out life sciences research; and the Industry-University R&D Startup Leading Institute, which promotes academic-industrial collaboration at the organizational level and adopts a systematic approach to the formation of startups. In addition, our university hospital is a leader in the provision of state-of-the-art medical care. While Tokushima University’s strengths lie in the sciences, we also offer a sound education in the humanities through the Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences. This distinctive array of schools is one of our key features and, over the years, we have nurtured many high achievers. To bring the whole university together in pursuing an integrated approach to education and research, we have established collaborative frameworks known as research clusters and education clusters. In addition, we founded the Center for Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning to enhance partnerships with the community and are pursuing partnerships with companies through the Center for Research Administration & Collaboration and the Industry-University R&D Startup Leading Institute. To secure new sources of external funding, we are making use of the Otsucle academic crowdfunding platform, as well as Academia Industry Alliance Capital (AIAC) which operates partnerships for investment in university-launched business startups, thereby providing support for research activities that are expected to develop into opening up new businesses. These approaches also enable us to work in collaboration with various organizations, including other universities. It is possible to create industries that will have the potential to save the world, through activities carried out in local areas. This was demonstrated by the successful achievement of the recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics, Professor Nakamura Shuji (Materials Department, College of Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)), who earned his master’s degree from Tokushima University’s Graduate School of Engineering, and by Nichia Corporation, for which Professor Nakamura formerly worked. The Institute of Post-LED Photonics (pLED), which has been established with the objective of keeping up this tradition, engages in research activities to create a new industry focusing on "photonics," collaborating with Tokushima Prefecture and playing the leading role in the program led by the Cabinet Office, "Regional University and Regional Industry Development Subsidy Program." Furthermore, Tokushima University has been selected as a participant organization for a program on an open innovation platform for industry-academia co-creation led by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), generally called "COI-NEXT," and has been implementing the initiative for regional revitalization in which local governments, private companies, and universities engage in co-creation activities. We hope that you will continue to support the endeavors of Tokushima University.
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