Research Units
An open research organization that expands the possibilities for researchers

In 2026, the Graduate School of Science and Technology will start “Research Units,” which researchers can freely establish and operate based on their own ideas and responsibilities, without restrictions related to their affiliations. In order to lead the world of science and technology, which is rapidly advancing, the Graduate School of Science and Technology will not actively “manage” research activities, but rather trust the skills and abilities of individual researchers to maximize their potential. Any faculty member can establish a research unit regardless of their position or seniority. Considering a laboratory as the smallest unit of research activities, a research unit is an extremely open research organization in which participation from multiple laboratories is involved. Its members are not limited to Keio faculty members, but will also include researchers and students from many domestic and overseas institutions. Research Units are classified into two types according to their size: Type A, which is large in scale, and Type B, which is small to medium in size. In advance of the official launch in April 2026, dozens of research units have already been spontaneously proposed and are preparing to begin full-fledged activities. Many of these research units blossomed as the result of the multitude of interactions among the diverse pool of researchers gathered within the campus, where new methodologies for advancing science and technology and contributing to society are actively discussed.