Research Center for Social Transformation

Japanese

About the Research Center for Social Transformation

The Research Center for Social Transformation promotes initiatives that connect the research results to social implementation in order to solve problems at the global and local levels in line with the needs of local communities.
In diverse fields where the seeds of research possessed by Saitama University match the needs of local communities with regard to the issues they face, the Center will undertake research and development from basic to application and fuses and develops the research results, while aiming to create a virtuous cycle of innovation to produce new seeds of research. As the only national university in Saitama Prefecture, we will work with local communities on the resolution of issues we are facing and utilize the research results in society to contribute revitalization of local industry.

News

January 13, 2023

Kickoff Symposium on the "Decarbonization Leading Area" held
January 1, 2023

Research Center for Social Transformation officially established

Greetings

　Saitama University has three basic policies: to fulfill universal role as a seat of knowledge, to strive to solve the challenges facing contemporary society , and to contribute to the global community. Based on these policies, Saitama University’s 4th period mid-term goals and mid-term plan that started in 2022 set out the target of undertaking research and development towards the practical use in society of the scientific theory and fundamental knowledge gained through research and producing innovation to bring about societal transform in order to solve issues faced by society at the local and global level and help to achieve a better society. Along with this, one of the visions under the Saitama University Action Plan 2022-2027 that sets out the initiatives for strategic and priority implementation during the term of the 4th period mid-term goals is Vision 2: formation of a co-creation base for enhancing research and solving societal issues, and with this vision we will work to contribute to the resolution of global issues and of issues faced by a range of stakeholders in local communities.
　On the basis of this mission, Saitama University established the new Research Center for Social Transformation within its organizational research structure in January 2023, and launched the Department of Decarbonization and Department of Regional Co-creation. Department of Decarbonization will work to achieve carbon neutrality in the local area, while Department of Regional Co-creation will fuse and develop the diverse range of research seeds possessed by Saitama University and work on initiatives to leverage the research results to social implementation in order to fulfill needs related to providing solutions to ensure people can enjoy a healthy life in a super-aging society. It is our intention to work with the local community and bring about innovation together, and to contribute to the local community. We look forward to your kind cooperation and support.

January 1, 2023

Keiichi　Watanuki

Director,
Research Center for Social Transformation
Research and Development Bureau
Saitama University

Departments

Department of Decarbonization

Department of Decarbonization has two groups: the Decarbonization Leading Area Promotion Group and the Decarbonization Technology Research and Development Group. The Decarbonization Leading Area Promotion Group will undertake initiatives pertaining to the Saitama Public-Private-Academia Green Co-creation Model which was proposed by Saitama University, the Shibaura Institute of Technology, and TEPCO Power Grid, Inc. Saitama General Branch and selected as the model for one of the 26 nationwide Decarbonization Leading Areas (Saitama City) by the Ministry of the Environment in April 2022, while the Decarbonization Technology Research and Development Group will undertake innovative research related to decarbonization.

faculty list

Department of Regional Co-creation

Department of Regional Co-creation has two groups: the Regional Co-creation Research Base Promotion Group and the Research and Development Group. The Regional Co-creation Research Base Promotion Group will work alongside local government, universities, industry, and other parties on the building of a venue for co-creation with the local community under the vision of creating a place where everyone in a super-aging society can enjoy good health and a good quality of life, while the Research and Development Group will work under a strong alliance with industry on innovative research activities to address local issues with the goal of achieving this vision.