KYOTO UNIVERSITY PIONEERING RESEARCH UNIT
FOR NEXT GENERATION

  Our unit “Kyoto University Pioneering Research Unit for Next Generation: KUPRU” was established in July 2006 with the aim of encouraging pioneering research by young scientists. The KUPRU is partially supported by the “Special Coordination Fund for Promoting Science and Technology” (July 2006 to March 2011) from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

   The KUPRU aims to establish a career development system for outstanding young scientists, who are involved in interdisciplinary science and engineering research, in cooperation with the Graduate School of Engineering, Institute for Chemical Research, Institute of Advanced Energy, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere and Disaster Prevention Research Institute.

Talented young scientists were invited to apply for tenure-track appointments to develop individual research programs with the strong support of the world leading scientific community and the state-of-art facilities of Kyoto University. Excellent scientists will be recommended or promoted to an Associate Professor’s position in a related department or institute at Kyoto University after a five years term in the program. The KUPRU provides a unique carrier development opportunity for young scientists to be involved in advanced optical science and technology and sustainability science, which is expected as interdisciplinary science for next generation.

The following KUPRU programs are currently been enforced in Uji and Katsura campuses.

(1) Review interdisciplinary and creative research proposals from the departments or institutes of science and engineering.

(2) Invite twelve assistant professors with their outstanding research plans under financial support of the “Special Coordination Fund for Promoting Science and Technology”. Startup and annual research funds, as well as the state-of-art facilities at Kyoto University are provided.

(3) Recommendation or promotion to an Associate Professor’s position at Kyoto University based on their achievements, such as publications, international activities, and awards after a final assessment.

This program provides unique opportunity for young scientist to track a tenured/regular Associate Professor’s position at the department or institute, which propose interdisciplinary and creative research. Exploring researches conducted by excellent young scientists will be encouraged in the departments and institutes, and acceleration of interdisciplinary research and development of human resources will also be accomplished.

In April 2011, 5 young assistant professors were promoted to tenured/regular position in relevant department/institutes at Kyoto University based on the excellence of results at a final assessment.

In April 2011, the KUPRU was restarted under Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research. The KUPRU continue our mission as before.