Cactus Communications Begins Joint Research with Kyoto University Hospital on 'Paperpal'

Cactus Communications, provider of the researcher support service Editage, has announced the commencement of a joint research project with Kyoto University Hospital in March 2026 to evaluate the impact of the AI academic writing support tool 'Paperpal.'

This joint research will verify how the use of AI academic writing support tools influences the efficiency of researchers' writing processes and the dissemination of research findings, utilizing indicators such as the volume of papers published and the proportion of papers in the top 10% of citations.

In recent years, issues concerning Japan's research capabilities—specifically the relative decline in publication productivity and international impact—have been highlighted, with improving the international dissemination of medical research findings becoming a critical theme. As researchers face increasing time constraints, writing in English poses a significant burden, particularly for non-native speakers. This research project aims to provide data-backed evidence on the extent to which AI-assisted writing support can contribute to productivity in research activities.

Comment from Makoto Yuasa, CEO, Chief Growth Officer (CGO) of Research Solutions Business at Cactus Communications:

'We have been supporting researchers through both AI and expert services to help them overcome linguistic and time barriers and share their research more effectively. We believe this joint research is a significant step toward quantitatively evaluating the utility of AI academic writing tools and considering the optimal implementation and utilization of such tools in research environments.'

Future Outlook:

Moving forward, Cactus aims to generate insights into reducing researchers' writing burdens, accelerating the dissemination of research findings, and improving productivity through AI tool utilization in collaboration with Kyoto University Hospital. The findings are expected to be published through academic conferences and journals upon completion of the study.

About Paperpal (https://paperpal.com/ja)

Paperpal is an AI academic writing support tool provided by the science communication and technology company Cactus Communications. The AI technology behind Paperpal is built not only by learning from published research but also by incorporating over 20 years of expertise from professional academic editors at Cactus's brand, Editage. By using Paperpal, researchers can receive real-time support, such as accurate, context-aware English expression suggestions and AI-driven word reduction and rewriting, comparable to professional English proofreading.

About Cactus Communications

Founded in 2002, Cactus Communications is a science communication and technology company specializing in research funding, publishing, and AI-driven products and solutions designed to accelerate scientific discovery. Its flagship brand, Editage, offers comprehensive research solutions, including expert services and advanced AI products such as Mind the Graph, Paperpal, and R Discovery. Cactus also manages medical communications under the Cactus Life Sciences brand. The company operates globally with offices in Tokyo, Princeton, London, Aarhus, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, and Mumbai, employing over 3,000 professionals.