The Organization for Industry, University and Government Cooperation (OUIGC) was established in April 2005 as a part of Osaka Prefecture University to be a means of investing the knowledge and technologies the university had amassed back into the community. The organization aims to achieve advancements in industrial technology and create new industries, thereby contributing to local communities. Another goal of the OIUGC is to provide renewed impetus to academic research.

The organization conducts multi-disciplinary joint research with leading researchers from throughout Japan and around the world. It also pioneers research in radiation, environmental research, biochemistry, semiconductor studies and other cutting-edge fields. The OIUGC is also a proactive supporter of research into topics decided through public invitation, and administers major facilities such as radiological research laboratories and a semiconductor clean room affiliated with the university. Furthermore, the OIUGC is actively engaged in all areas of industry-university-government partnerships, including joint research, research by consignment, research grant contracting and other administrative tasks needed for operation of the body; coordination of numerous industry-university-government partnerships; and protection, administration and use of intellectual property.

In order that the OIUGC may properly perform its functions, it has established a General Strategy Coordination Office, Frontier Science Innovation Center, Liaison Office and Intellectual Property Management Office.

University Intellectual Property Headquarters Development Project

Osaka Prefecture University was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology’s (MEXT) University Intellectual Property Headquarters Development Project. Through this, the OIUGC administers intellectual property and manages, protects and promotes the use of industry-university-government tie-ups.　The project has been successful, as can be seen in its ever-increasing number of patent applications and the imminent completion of new regulations pertaining to industry-university-government partnerships and intellectual property. The current University Intellectual Property Headquarters Development Project is scheduled to conclude in FY2007, but moves are already afoot to continue its endeavors thereafter.

External Research Grants

External ReseOsaka Prefecture University incorporated on April 1, 2005. As such, attracting research funding from external sources is a particularly important issue and we are addressing it in a number of ways including applying for grants-in-aid for scientific research from MEXT, joint research costs, research by consignment costs and other research grants.arch Grants

Industry-university-government Partnership Fair

Our faculty labor day and night over their research, and the fruits of those efforts often materialize in the form of theses, patents and other rights. But it is important that universities invest the achievements of their research back into the community. That is why we hold an annual Industry-university-government Partnership Fair as a way to unveil the ideas that the Osaka Prefecture University faculty have created. Each fair showcases over twenty initiatives, a number of which have successfully led to joint research projects. Moreover, our faculty’s embryonic innovations are featured at numerous events, the including New Technology Presentation Meetings held jointly with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and other business matching sessions and fairs held by other organizations.

Visiting Researchers and Trainees

We at Osaka Prefecture University are pleased to host a large number of visiting researchers and trainees. Individuals from the private sector and overseas are welcomed to the university after completion of application and approval procedures. Indeed, we welcome more than a hundred visiting research fellows and fifty trainees every year.

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science is a wide-ranging organization involved in research grants, sending Japanese researchers overseas, and many other projects. We at the university serve to process applications to participate in the JST’s projects.

Minimizing Conflicts of Interest

Having our faculty participate in industry-university-government partnerships can sometimes leave us vulnerable to a range of conflicts of interest. In these cases, it is important that we ensure that the situation is handled in an appropriate manner. To ensure this is done, the OIUGC is charged with managing such conflicts of interest.

Inventions and Patents

Many of our faculty’s research projects have gone on to successful patent applications, and the protection, administration and effective use of these patents is a significant shot in the arm for our industry-university-government partnerships. The OIUGC Intellectual Property Management Office handles all intellectual property for the university.