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Tsukuba Study Trip
February 14-18, 2027
Tsukuba Science-City Innovation Platform: From Research Concentration to Industry Creation:
Tsukuba is a nationally developed science city where a world-class university, national research institutes, startups, companies, and local government are located in close proximity.
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Hosted by the University of Tsukuba and the Tsukuba Global Innovation Promotion Agency (TGI), the study trip will explore how a research-intensive region can evolve from research concentration toward industry creation, commercialization, talent development, and global collaboration.​​
-- THEMES
RESEARCH・COLLABORATION・GROWTH
The Tsukuba Study Trip is built around five interconnected themes, each examining a different dimension of how Japan's science city turns research excellence into regional prosperity.
The University as an Anchor for Regional Transformation
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How the University of Tsukuba drives regional transformation, social implementation, and international collaboration.
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From Science City to Ecosystem
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How policy, research institutes, university strategy, startups, and investors come together to shape the “Tsukuba model.”
Microbial Bioeconomy and Sustainability
How the Microbial Bio Consortium and MiCS connect university research with industry needs in health, food, environment, and sustainability.
The Industrial Connection Platform
How TGI and Tsukuba Twin Spark connect university research assets, startups, and corporate partners to form collaboration units and create growth pathways.
Talent Development and Place-Making
he Future Society Design Complex — a student-centered hub for industry-academia co-creation.
-- PROGRAM
Four Days in Tsukuba and Tokyo
From private strategy sessions to a landmark Gala Dinner and immersive site visits, the GIS 2026 is designed for in-depth discussions and impactful connections.
February 14 (evening)
WELCOME RECEPTION
Meet fellow participants and your Tsukuba hosts at an evening reception at Hotel Nikko Tsukuba. It's a relaxed start before the working sessions begin.
February 15
CONVERSATION SESSIONS
A full day of talks and moderated discussions on how Tsukuba grew from a planned science city into an innovation ecosystem. We close by asking what other regions can learn from it.
February 16
SITE VISITS WITH ROUNDTABLES
Visit leading sites in Tsukuba's life-science and robotics ecosystem, including the University of Tsukuba's sleep medicine institute (IIIS) and its MiCS microbial research centre, plus the Future Society Design Complex.
February 17
SITE VISITS
Explore Tsukuba's national research centres, from space and quantum technology to advanced materials and genetic resources. Specific visits are still to be confirmed.
February 18
TOKYO
Travel to Tokyo for a visit to Hitachi's Lumada Innovation Hub, ORIENTAL GIKEN and a meeting with JST's International Affairs Department.
Join the Leadership in Place-making Innovation Initiative
This study trip is part of our broader initiative to advance place-making innovation and enhance the economic impact of universities.
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For GFCC Members: You are invited to collaborate in this initiative and attend this study trip free of registration fees. No further action or form submission is required on this page.
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For General Interest: If you wish to join the initiative and the trip, please fill out the form. We will contact you soon.