The Keihanshin Consortium for Fostering the Next Generation of Global Leaders in Research (K-CONNEX), a Kyoto University-led researcher-development initiative, was launched in February 2015 after being approved by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). In addition to Kyoto University, the Consortium includes Osaka University and Kobe University, as well as businesses and other organizations based in the Keihanshin region, which consists of Kyoto, Osaka, and Hyogo Prefectures.
The initiative came about in response to the myriad of challenges facing today's early-career researchers, threatening to undermine efforts to support their professional development: unstable employment, lack of encouragement for diversity and independence, and widespread pressure for immediate results. The aim is thus to build a platform whereby multiple stakeholders collaborate to cultivate a new generation of researchers.
Program support features
- Five-year junior faculty positions
- New faculty project startup funding of up to 10,000,000 yen for two fiscal years
- Collaborations leveraging the strengths of the Keihanshin area
- Training and support from mentors and university research administrators (URAs)
- Post-training career planning and placement support
K-CONNEX
Visit the official K-CONNEX website for details:
- The Keihanshin Consortium for Fostering the Next Generation of Global Leaders in Research
http://k-connex.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index-en.html
Related link
- MEXT announces projects selected for funding under the FY2014 program, "Building a consortium for developing human resources in science and technology" (24 October 2015)
http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/boshu/detail/1352788.htm (in Japanese)
