Osaka University and Shimadzu Corporation start the REACH Laboratory Project

Osaka University and Shimadzu Corporation started the REACH* Laboratory Project at the Osaka University Shimadzu Omics Innovation Research Laboratories in April 2021. This project is intended for Shimadzu employees and aims to cultivate young technicians and researchers in the university’s doctoral course.

*REACH: Recurrent & Re-skilling Academia and Industry Collaboration for Higher Education

In recent years, recurrent education, the development of individuals who study and work in society over their total lifespan in a recurring way, is increasingly necessary in a society facing rapid technological innovation and changes in market structure. This trend has led economic sectors and governmental agencies to urge universities to consider providing opportunities for relearning for working individuals in order to meet the needs of society.

In such a setting, Osaka University, in cooperation with its external stakeholders, is promoting “recurrent education” focusing on advanced human resource development, e.g., doctoral programs for working adults.

The REACH Laboratory Project, the first step in the university’s new recurrent education endeavors, has begun in the Osaka University Shimadzu Omics Innovation Research Laboratories. This project supports young technicians and researchers in their late 20s and early 30s in obtaining their doctoral degrees so that they can obtain expertise in new academic fields and build networks both within Japan and overseas.

In this project, employees at Shimadzu enter the university’s doctoral course for the purpose of obtaining their doctoral degrees in 2~3 years while working at the REACH Laboratory at Omics Innovation Research Laboratories. Participants will work with faculty advisors on research topics that closely relate to projects at Shimadzu, and after obtaining their degree, they will engage in the practical use and commercialization of their research outcomes.

In 2021-22, the first year of this program, one individual entered the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, performing research on analysis of nucleic acid medicine.

Moving forward, the university will consider human resources development in various fields, including social sciences, in this project. We hope that those who study in this project will take the lead in the practical application and commercialization of new technologies and products to contribute to society.

Osaka University Shimadzu Omics Innovation Research Laboratories (Shimadzu Corporation website)