抄録
The characteristics, working environment and role of coordinators in middle-scale local universities, responsible for industry-academia-government collaboration, are described, along with tasks for the universities in such collaboration as well as their present activities. The circumstances of Gifu University were reviewed to identify the role expected and specific tasks to play it. Willingness of the university staff and proactive information disclosure are prerequisites for the collaboration. Actions taken for publicity included brochures about the university staff and industry-academia-government collaboration, newsletters, lectures at public agencies, and visits to local industrial sites. Efforts were made to exploit given situation and human resources as efficiently as possible. Specifically for site visits, a new platform was created for cooperation with local financing bodies. This series of campaign contributed to increase in collaborative research contracts from 84 in 2001 to 160 in 2002 to 177 in 2003. The key to the success was willingness and cooperation of people involved, showing the importance of human connection.
