News & Announcements

The Urban Resilience Research Center (UReC) of Osaka Metropolitan University has been accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as the Joint Usage/Research Platform for Leading-edge Urban Studies, and has developed an open joint usage and joint research platform for external researchers. To further enhance the domestic and international networks cultivated through these efforts and to promote “leading-edge urban studies,” we hereby invite proposals for joint research projects as outlined below.

Eligible projects include interdisciplinary research that transcends existing academic fields, research integrating the humanities and sciences, research that strengthens collaboration with local communities and civic organizations, and research expected to lead to policy recommendations. In particular, we welcome proposals that contribute to strengthening the role of this open platform for joint usage/research, such as: (1) joint research that utilizes the extensive research resources* accumulated by UReC in the field of urban studies; (2) joint research that promotes collaboration between researchers affiliated with Osaka Metropolitan University and those belonging to other research institutions; (3) research that aims to bridge domestic and international urban studies through the use of Field Plazas and Overseas Centers/Offices**.

* UReC collects materials related to urban studies, which are managed as the “Urban Library.” For details, visit: https://www.omu.ac.jp/orp/urec/library/

** For site-based urban research, Field Plazas are located in Nishinari and Toyosaki in Osaka City. Overseas Centers/Offices for research exchange and collaboration with institutions in East Asian cities are located in Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, and Yogyakarta.

Details

1.    Research Themes

Potentials include but are not limited to sustainable urban development, including community living and urban development, housing for the elderly, urban and regional planning, disaster prevention planning.

2.    Number of Projects to Be Accepted

Approximately two.

3.    Research Period

From late June 2026 (upon receipt of the acceptance notice) to March 31, 2027. Note that part of research results must be presented at the meeting held by the Platform at the end of FY2026.

4.    Research Funding

Up to 500,000 yen. Depending on budgetary constraints, the approved amount may be less than the requested amount.

5.    Eligibility

Applicants must form a research group consisting of five or more members, including at least one researcher affiliated with UReC. Members of the research group do not all need to be researchers in the narrow sense; participation by local government officials, members of civic organizations, and individuals from economic organizations is welcome. Researchers affiliated with UReC can be found at: https://www.omu.ac.jp/orp/urec/about/members/.

Please contact one of these researchers, obtain their consent to join your research group, and then submit your application.

6.    Selection

The Plartform’s Project Selection Committee will review applications, and results will be announced by the end of June.

7.    Application Procedure

• Application Form:

　Application_Form_for_Joint_Research_ProjectFY2026 (30.4KB)

• Application Period: June 1 (Mon) – 9:00 AM on June 12 (Fri)
• Submission Address:  urec-joint_office[at]ml.omu.ac.jp as an email attachment in PDF format

8.    Contact Information

The Executive Office of Joint Usage/Research Platform for Leading-edge Urban Studies
Urban Resilience Research Center, Osaka Metropolitan University
3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi, Osaka, 558-8585 Japan
Tel: (+81)6-6605-3444
E-mail: urec-joint_office[at]ml.omu.ac.jp