Connecting Ideas, Accelerating Innovation, Creating Impact

The Hokkaido University × J-PEAKS Collaborative Research Platform is a project established under the university’s Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS), a national initiative launched to foster leading and distinctive research universities.

Since its selection in 2023, Hokkaido University has focused on identifying interdisciplinary, applied, and industry–academia collaborative research projects that highlight the university’s distinctive strengths. These projects are supported through a comprehensive and agile funding scheme designed to facilitate the establishment of new research centers.

The ultimate goal of these centers is to drive university-based innovations that contribute to social change. HU Vision 2030, the university’s guiding framework, articulates two core principles: Excellence—achieving global distinction in education and research—and Extension—expanding the university’s impact through innovation and practical solutions for society.

Message from the President

In today’s world, universities are called upon more than ever to play an active role in advancing society and enhancing people’s lives. Achieving this goal requires nurturing the seeds of new knowledge through the convergence of diverse fields and translating those achievements into innovation.

To meet these expectations, Hokkaido University has declared in its HU VISION 2030 that it aims to become a university that not only enhances research excellence but also possesses the capacity for societal deployment (Extension) — the ability to translate research achievements into solutions for social challenges. To realize this vision, the University has launched the Collaborative Research Platform, a program that provides integrated and focused support to promote outstanding interdisciplinary and applied research.

The nature of the challenges we have faced has evolved with the times, yet our core principles — the Frontier Spirit and Practical Learning — that define our approach to research have remained unchanged. Through this project, we will unite our efforts to contribute to solving global and regional challenges over the next 10 to 20 years and to foster the creation of new academic disciplines.

President
Kiyohiro Houkin

About Hokkaido University × J-PEAKS Collaborative Research Platform

The research platform consists of three stages: Incubation, Acceleration and Grand Challenge.

The Incubation Stage provides support for young researchers in their efforts to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and industry-academia collaborations.

The Acceleration Stage is home to projects that conduct unique and distinctive interdisciplinary research and industry-academia collaborations, creating foundations for the potential new research centers.

Finally, the Grand Challenge Stage focuses on developing a flagship research center.

There are currently 12 projects in the Incubation Stage, six projects in the Acceleration Stage, and one project in the Grand Challenge Stage under the Hokkaido University x J-PEAKS Collaborative Research Platform.

Comprehensive Support from Research to Impact

The J-PEAKS Planning and Management Office brings together core research development and management professionals from across the University’s research support organizations, enabling flexible and tailored support based on the needs and progress of each research unit.

Each research unit is assigned a mentor and receives comprehensive, hands-on support, including assistance with securing external research funding, computing and shared equipment costs, access to shared facilities, analytical expertise and digital infrastructure, intellectual property consultation, and communication of research outcomes.