Calculation of Personnel Costs for Researchers in Collaborative Research Projects
To further promote research and development within the local community and industry, our university has long encouraged collaborative research with private companies and other organizations. In addition to direct costs (such as personnel expenses [research support staff], honoraria, travel expenses, equipment costs, and consumables—expenses directly necessary for conducting the research), our collaborative partners have also borne the burden of indirect costs (expenses required for conducting the research that are not covered by direct costs).
Meanwhile, the “Japan Revitalization Strategy 2016” (approved by the Cabinet in June 2016) set a government target to “triple the amount of corporate investment in universities and national research and development corporations by fiscal year 2025, bringing it above the OECD average.” Additionally, the “Guidelines for Strengthening Joint Research through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration”(November 2016, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) propose revising cost calculations for joint research projects and calling on industry to bear an appropriate share of the costs as a means of rationalizing cost allocation in industry-academia collaboration. Furthermore, in June 2020, a supplementary edition of the “Guidelines for Strengthening Joint Research through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration” was issued,As part of efforts to rationalize cost-sharing in industry-academia-government collaboration, a new proposal has been put forward calling on the private sector to invest in the "value" generated by such collaboration.is being done.
In light of this, we are now offering "compensation for time spent on collaborative research,"Revised the Rules for Joint Research to enable the calculation of personnel costs for research personnel* involved in joint researchIt has been decided that we will do so.The research capabilities of researchers engaged in collaborative research are a vital asset to the universityWe believe that this is the case.We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation regarding the necessity of establishing a system that allows us to account for the research time spent by research staff on collaborative projects as direct personnel costs..
Revisions
(1) Calculation of personnel costs for researchers involved in joint research
Before revision: None
Revised: Allows for calculation based on an hourly rate corresponding to the number of hours worked*
*Personnel costs calculated by multiplying the pre-set hourly rate by the number of hours required for the joint research (within the scope agreed upon with the joint research partner) may be recorded as direct costs.For calculation purposes, the hourly rates are set at 6,000 yen per hour for professors, 5,000 yen per hour for associate professors, 5,000 yen per hour for lecturers, and 4,500 yen per hour for assistant professors (it is also possible to set rates higher than these standard rates based on agreement with the collaborative research partner).Furthermore, 80% of the personnel costs received will be allocated to the research staff’s research expenses (additional allocation) or salaries (additional payment), while 20% will be utilized for expenses to revitalize education and research (administered by the University Headquarters).
(2) Scope of Application and Effective Date
[New Contracts] New contracts with a research start date on or after November 1, 2020
[Amended Contracts] Amended contracts involving changes to expenses where the revised research start date is on or after November 1, 2020