Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) opened its doors on October 1, 2024, following the merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Naoto Ohtake began his duties as the inaugural president and chief executive officer (CEO).
On the same day, Ohtake appointed Yujiro Tanaka as president and chief academic officer (CAO) of Science Tokyo, marking a great step forward following the unprecedented integration of two national university corporations.
By taking advantage of the traditions and innovations of both merging communities, Science Tokyo will become a new type of institution, which no other university has been able to achieve. It aims to serve as a center of international excellence in education and research while forging a vibrant future for and with society.
Message from President and CEO Naoto Ohtake
I am deeply honored to serve as the inaugural president and CEO of Science Tokyo.
Our joint efforts to unite the rich histories and cultures of two esteemed institutions are underpinned by the convergence of the medical, dental, and engineering disciplines under one unifying concept — science. I take my duties as the president and CEO very seriously and will lead Science Tokyo while respecting the history and culture of both merging universities. Science Tokyo will form an open community of vitality and goodwill, where students, faculty, staff, and other members work hand in hand with society to envision a better, brighter future. We will rise to the challenge of pioneering new academic fields and industries, addressing urgent societal issues such as infectious diseases and the shift towards carbon neutrality.
Science Tokyo will create positive impact in society by actively promoting liberal arts education, education in highly specialized fields, basic and applied research, clinical research, and industry-academia-government collaboration. As our expanding community embarks on this new journey, we ask for your warm support and invite you to join us.
Message from President and CAO Yujiro Tanaka
I am pleased to have been appointed as the president and CAO of Science Tokyo, which was established on October 1, 2024, through the merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Institute of Technology. I look forward to working with all of you.
Science Tokyo's mission of "advancing science and human wellbeing to create value for and with society" was formulated after careful consideration with input from over 6,000 individuals. Before the formation of Science Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology had a long track record of advancing science, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University was home to many faculty and staff members who were active contributors to both education and medical treatment. Therefore, it was essential to maintain a "for the benefit of all" perspective to which all of these members could relate. In particular, the covid-19 pandemic made us acutely aware of the importance of societal support and reaffirmed the significance of creating something new for and with society through collaboration with industry and government.
The mission of Science Tokyo incorporates two main types of values:
- Values that focus on the advancement of science. These values place importance on curiosity.
- Values that focus on human wellbeing. These values emphasize doing good for the benefit of all.
Science Tokyo is based on freedom of thought, and therefore, neither of these values take precedence over the other. As an institution, we explore both types of values, but do not force any particular ones on individuals. We hope to build an environment where everyone can grow personally, fulfill their aspirations, no matter how small or large, and advance science, human wellbeing, or both through their endeavors. We also hope that by creating a mechanism for exchange, the two types of values will naturally blend within the community.
Science Tokyo will advance science and human wellbeing, and will create new value for and with society. To this end, we also plan to enhance and expand our open innovation initiatives to further boost industry-academia-government collaboration.
Science Tokyo is the first national university corporation in Japan to have a chief executive officer and a chief academic officer at its helm. I will continue to support President and CEO Ohtake, a leader in science and engineering, and as we move forward together to realize Science Tokyo's mission, I sincerely ask for your support.
Let us work together to create a university marked by freedom and openness.