In 2024, Shimadzu Corporation started SPARK^* (hereinafter, “this system”), a system to support employees acquiring doctorates by encouraging both their doctoral studies and routine work activities. This system supports the acquisition of university degrees by those interested in obtaining a doctorate where their domain of research from a work strategy perspective fits with the theme of the research plans at the academic institution.

In collaboration with Osaka University, Shimadzu has developed the REACH Project, which supports our engineers and researchers to obtain doctorates, and also recruits graduate students from Osaka University upon completion of their master’s degree (first semester) and dispatches them to the second semester of their doctoral degree to engage in joint research.

SPARK is intended for Shimadzu employees who have been approved by an in-house inspection process. Applicable employees are free to select the university where they will study. The tuition is paid for by Shimadzu, with the goal of acquiring knowledge related to cutting-edge research at universities, and fostering human resources who will take the lead in collaborative research with  universities. At present, Shimadzu employees responsible for research and development and product development are enrolled in doctoral courses using this system, at Kyoto University and the Kyoto Institute of Technology.

At Shimadzu Corporation, promoting programs to foster advanced Experts is raised in our medium-term management plan. Our aim is to create and acquire human resources who can take the lead in innovation with a variety of partners for the purpose of solving the problems facing society.

• *SPARK: Shimadzu Ph.D. scholarship for Professional Advancement through Research and Knowledge