Keio Research Institute at SFC

* This laboratory has been completed.

Objectives

Since the establishment of SFC, Fujisawa City has been planning its “Forest of Health and Culture” concept for the area of Endo, located in the northwest quadrant of the City, and much debate has been conducted on distinctive town development that would incorporate this area as a hub for cultural creation. “Report on Campus Village Concept – Development and Conservation Plan for Areas Surrounding SFC” (March 1992) was the outcome of discussions on a development concept plan between Fujisawa City and academic staff at the campus at the time of its inception whereby SFC would be the center of town development and would blend in harmoniously with its surroundings. However, this plan is yet to be realized. It has taken 25 years, but a few of the long-awaited “issues that were considered essential, but difficult to achieve, for town development” are on the move. For example, Shonan Keiiku Hospital has opened (November 2017) and urbanization control areas are being converted to urbanization promotion areas.
Taking this background into account, and with the premise of responding to today’s social issue of a super-aged society with a low birthrate, this Consortium has the ultimate objective of town development that is built on “a future lifestyle created by SFC” (next-generation campus village), which leverages new technologies such as IoT and AI, and gradually expands (spins out) from the central hub of Fujisawa City’s “Forest of Health and Culture”.
Subcommittees will be established to deal with research topics focusing on elements that are essential to realizing such town development. Each subcommittee will work on its own theme and deliver outcomes and recommendations. Based on the subcommittee deliverables, the Town Development Working Group, also established within the Consortium, will coordinate with relevant organizations to promote the target area’s town development. The aim is to renovate the campus village concept and have a town development plan that will contribute to a renewed concept in Year 3.

Outline of Research Activity Plan (Year 1)

[Research plan]
Each subcommittee will convene its own meetings for its members and clearly set out what issues will be handled, who will investigate what area of the issue, and an execution schedule.

• • Development of an environment and systems necessary for empirical research
  • Review of what is required for realizing unmanned shops
  • Understand health issues within target area and have an accurate understanding of current situation
  • Coordinate with related parties in order to conduct empirical research
  • Consider approach to be taken with landowners and leaseholders within target area

[Activity plan]

• • Subcommittees meet (a couple of times a year; each subcommittee to work on their own topic)

– Sharing of information on the status of engagement for each issue and discussion between members

• • Symposium (November)

– Introduce consortium objectives and engagements as an ORF session.

Researchers, managers and professors