Unveiling ceremony at Ookayama Campus. President and CEO Naoto Ohtake, and President and CAO Yujiro Tanaka. October 1, 2024. (©JAPAN Forward by Hidemitsu Kaito)
On October 1, two of Japan's leading universities, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), merged to form the Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo).
This is the first time two Designated National University Corporations, recognized by the government for their top-tier education and research standards, have combined.
Tokyo Tech was founded in 1881 and TMDU in 1928. The newly merged university now has around 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers programs across six science and engineering faculties, as well as medical and dental faculties. The university's campuses are located in Tokyo's Meguro and Bunkyo wards.
Notably, Science Tokyo is the first among Japan's National University Corporations to adopt a dual leadership structure, with a Chairperson responsible for university management and a President in charge of academic affairs.
Interdisciplinary Research Focus
Science Tokyo aims to foster groundbreaking interdisciplinary research, bridging the fields of science, engineering, medicine, and dentistry. Its mission is to advance science and promote human well-being while collaborating with society to create new value.
The university places emphasis on the synergy between materials science, a key area in science and engineering, and the medical and dental fields. An example of this is the dental resin developed by TMDU in the 1970s, which is now widely used worldwide.
Moreover, TMDU's dental faculty consistently ranks within the top five in global subject-specific rankings.
Science Tokyo is prioritizing ten key research areas, including quantum science and oral science, with the goal of becoming a world leader in advanced science, engineering, and medicine.
Over 40 new research projects are already underway, contributing to the university's development of a world-class research environment.
Science Tokyo also plans to leverage its global campuses to enhance educational programs that attract outstanding international students and researchers. Additionally, it will place a strong emphasis on supporting university-based startups.
The university's President and CEO Naoto Ohtake shared his thoughts on the merger: "Initially, I was surprised by the differences in academic cultures and philosophies between the two universities. However, we are dedicated to establishing an open institution that excels in science, engineering, and medicine while making a meaningful contribution to society."
Decline in Global Rankings
With Japan's declining population, universities are facing increasing pressure to reform their research, education, and management practices.
A significant concern is the declining global competitiveness of Japanese universities. A study by the education ministry's research institute revealed that Japan ranked 13th in the number of highly recognized research papers from 2020 to 2022. This marks a sharp drop from its fourth-place ranking between 2000 and 2002.
In the 2025 global university rankings published by a British education magazine, only two Japanese universities were listed in the top 100: the University of Tokyo at 28th and Kyoto University at 55th. Tokyo Tech was ranked 195th, while TMDU fell in the 401-500 range.
Japanese universities are sometimes described as stable but lacking in innovation. As society undergoes rapid changes, emerging fields such as financial engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence are driving significant changes.
In response, Harvard University established the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in 2007. Similar trends have been seen in other institutions. Meanwhile, universities across Asia, fueled by rapid economic growth, have been gaining global prominence.
In 2001, Tokyo Tech, TMDU, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and Hitotsubashi University had already formed an alliance to establish a globally competitive research and education system.
However, in 2022, the decision was made to establish Science Tokyo to further strengthen collaboration between the fields of science, engineering, medicine, and dentistry.
Future Developments
Science Tokyo is aiming to be designated as a University of International Research Excellence, which would provide substantial government funding. It plans to apply in the second round of submissions, which will begin this fiscal year.
To generate additional revenue, Science Tokyo is planning to engage in real estate ventures in partnership with private companies. It aims to make effective use of the land owned by both Tokyo Tech and TMDU.
With growing pressure on universities to improve their finances, some institutions are already taking action. For example, the University of Tokyo has announced a tuition increase for students enrolling in April 2025.
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Author: Hidemitsu Kaito
