[Okayama University] Okayama University General Technological Department Releases 'Skill Map' - Initiatives for Providing Technical Staff's Expertise

June 13, 2026 National University Corporation Okayama University

https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/

◆ Overview

The General Technological Department, which constitutes the Technology General Management Headquarters of the National University Corporation Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City, President: Yasutomo Nasu), has published a skill map of its approximately 90 educational and research technical staff members on the General Technological Department's official website.

Previously, Okayama University has disclosed information on technical staff members through the "Directory of Researchers and Engineers, Okayama University" and the Japan Science and Technology Agency's (JST) "researchmap." This newly released skill map organizes their skills under the concept of "technical classifications," visualizing the technical domains associated with the research equipment they mainly operate and their daily duties. This visualization enables more precise and accurate requests when assigning tasks to technical staff and strengthens cooperation between the General Technological Department (the governing body) and related departments.

The General Technological Department of Okayama University was established in FY2023 following the integration of the educational and research technical staff into a unified organization. It consists of four divisions (Medical Technology Division, Design/Manufacturing/Social Infrastructure Technology Division, Educational Support Technology Division, Equipment Analysis/Animal & Plant Resources Technology Division) along with Sci-Tech Coordinators. To address a wide range of business fields, technical staff members with highly diverse and specialized skills are deployed. In the future, the department plans to implement initiatives aiming for "Jinki Ittai" (Man-Machine Integration, a classification dedicated to shared research equipment). By leveraging the Core Facility Portal, Okayama University (CFPOU) research equipment sharing system to link equipment information with technical classifications, the department aims to further contribute to technology provisioning.

Regarding this release of the skill map, Norihito Sato, who serves as Head of the General Technological Department, Vice Trustee (in charge of Research and Academic-Industrial Collaboration), Vice President (in charge of Academic Affairs), and Senior URA, commented: "Under the 'Okayama University Research University Declaration' and aiming to realize the 'Okayama University Long-Term Vision 2050,' Okayama University is strongly promoting the sophistication of its technical staff, utilizing programs such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's 'Regional Innovation and Characterized Research University Acceleration Program (J-PEAKS).' We want to dispel the traditional image of technical staff who tend to be hidden behind researchers, and stand at the forefront as 'protagonists' driving the research university, walking alongside researchers and other stakeholders. This skill map is one of the methods for sophistication, and we will continue to polish it going forward. Please look forward to the initiatives of Okayama University's technical staff."

Okayama University is strongly advancing reforms in research environments such as research infrastructure and shared environments (core facilities) with technical staff taking the initiative. Please look forward to the active roles of the technical staff at Okayama University, an open, regional core, and unique research university.

This information was released by Okayama University on June 12, 2026.

〇 Okayama University General Technological Department Skill Map

https://techall.okayama-u.ac.jp/skill-map/

Okayama University General Technological Department Website Skill Map (Technical Classifications)

Okayama University General Technological Department Members

◆ References

- Okayama University Vision 3.0 / Okayama University Long-Term Vision 2050

https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/profile/ou-vision.html

- National University Corporation Okayama University Research University Declaration

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003808.000072793.html

- Okayama University Regional Innovation and Characterized Research University Acceleration Program (J-PEAKS)

https://j-peaks.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/

- Okayama University General Technological Department

https://techall.okayama-u.ac.jp/

- Okayama University Core Facility Portal

https://corefacility-potal.fsp.okayama-u.ac.jp/

- SX Platform: An economical rental/leasing platform for research equipment from "Ownership" to "Sharing"

https://sxplatform.jp/

- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) "Guidelines on the Personnel System for Technical Staff, etc."

https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu10/toushin/mext_00006.html

◆ Reference Information

- [Okayama University] "Task Force on Strengthening and Promoting Research Equipment Sharing Systems (Team Sharing)" has started to strengthen and promote the "Man-Machine Integration" research infrastructure!

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003103.000072793.html

- [Okayama University] Okayama University Technology General Management Headquarters