Opening New Career Paths for PhDs in University Research Management: TechManage and Akaliqu Form Strategic Partnership

TechManage, which supports technology transfer for universities and research institutions, and Akaliqu, which provides career development services for graduate students and researchers, entered into a business alliance on May 1, 2026, to support the recruitment of University Research Administrators (URAs). By leveraging TechManage’s deep connections in university research promotion and Akaliqu’s network of PhDs and postdocs, the companies aim to secure URA talent and expand career options for doctoral graduates.

In March 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) launched the “Doctoral Talent Activation Plan,” aiming to triple the number of PhD holders by 2040 compared to fiscal 2020. Under this initiative, universities are increasingly deploying URAs—specialists who handle project management, grant applications, and contract negotiations—to reduce administrative burdens on researchers. According to MEXT, the number of institutions employing URAs doubled from 102 in 2016 to 206 by fiscal 2021.

However, universities often struggle to fill URA positions due to a lack of awareness and understanding of the role. Through this partnership, TechManage will share recruitment challenges identified during its technology transfer activities with Akaliqu, which will then use its specialized recruitment network to facilitate optimal talent matching.