抄録
Since its move to the new Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC), Ritsumeikan University has built an exchange network for research activities. Its focus has been to establish a new research system based on academia-industry partnership. The outcome of the four-year effort has been remarkably beyond expectation. The present paper gives a historical overview of the project and summarizes its present state. As sense of crisis of research and education in private universities provided an impetus to start the program. Features of the current academia-industry collaboration at BKC include a Unified Research Institute of Science and Technology and a Liaison Office. The institute constitutes of a Science and Technology Institute, Research Centers and an SR Center. The seven Research Centers that cover principal disciplines in the University have been actively pursuing joint research programs with other organizations. The Liaison Office, at the core of the collaboration program, serves as the interface with companies and other organizations outside the University. Collaboration with other universities, international activities, and patent application and licensing are among future agenda, as well as creation of an infrastructure of the development of venture businesses.
