Nagoya University

🚲 Mobility
🇯🇵 Japan

About

Nagoya University is a premier Japanese research institution committed to creating world-leading intellectual achievements. As a “Comprehensive University,” it bridges engineering, humanities, and social sciences to address modern societal challenges, with a particular focus on sustainable urban mobility, carbon neutrality, and digital innovation through deep-tech partnerships.

Presentation

Nagoya University (part of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System – THERS) is a leading global research university that aspires to contribute to human welfare and regional development. Its vision centers on a free and open academic philosophy, fostering “courageous intellectuals” who tackle global issues.

The university acts as a Technology Provider and Co-design Partner, frequently collaborating with industry giants (like Fujitsu and Toyota) and startups to translate academic research into real-world applications for smart cities and sustainable industry.

Vision & Mission

Nagoya University is guided by its Academic Charter which fosters a “free and open-minded academic endeavor.” Its mission is to contribute to the happiness of humankind through creative research and the development of “courageous intellectuals.” By bridging advanced engineering with social sciences, the university strives to innovate for a sustainable future, acting as a global knowledge hub that addresses both local regional challenges and global societal issues.

Solutions, Products and Services

Problems addressed

Nagoya University focuses on the complexity of modern urban life, specifically:

  • Urban Mobility: Reducing congestion and carbon emissions while improving accessibility for an aging population.
  • Environmental Stability: Achieving decarbonization through advanced materials and energy management.
  • Societal Resilience: Modeling human behavior to predict and manage the impacts of urban policy and disasters.
  • Target Audience: City planners, national governments, industrial partners, and citizens in the Tokai region and globally.

Solutions, Products and Services

The university offers interdisciplinary research programs and collaborative platforms:

  • TMI (Transdisciplinary Mobility Innovation): A program merging humanities and engineering to rethink urban movement.
  • Location AI & Human Flow Analysis: Tools using deep learning to forecast movement and optimize city planning.
  • Digital Rehearsal Technology: High-precision digital twins that simulate the effects of social measures before implementation.

Technological approach / innovative approach The university employs a Transdisciplinary Approach, integrating data science (AI/Machine Learning) with social sciences to ensure technology serves human needs. It utilizes “Social Demonstration Experiments” in local communities to validate research in real-world conditions.

Reference projects and deployments

  • Kōzōji Smart City: Collaboration on autonomous driving and 5G/AI integration to support elderly residents in “New Towns.”
  • Digital Rehearsal with Fujitsu: Modeling human behavior based on diverse values to test urban policies digitally.
  • onoMAtoPoeiAR Project: An AR-based map application using LLMs to transform urban exploration through sensory onomatopoeia.
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