Kanazawa University

What Kanazawa University does

Kanazawa University is a Japanese National University Corporation (国立大学法人 金沢大学) tracing its origins to the 1862 Kaga Domain Hiko Sanshujo smallpox vaccination institute and formally organized as a university in 1949, operating under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It is headquartered across multiple campuses in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, including Kakuma, Takaramachi, and Tsuruma campuses, and serves undergraduate, graduate, and professional students through colleges spanning humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, medical and pharmaceutical sciences, and transdisciplinary sciences. The institution employs 1,001–5,000 staff and is structured around named research institutes including the Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Cancer Research Institute, Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences, and Institute for Frontier Science Initiative.

The university's research and technology portfolio includes the VEEM-ZEB AI-powered digital twin for zero-energy building evaluation (rule-based symbolic AI integrated with VR, analyzing approximately 48,000 design scenarios and achieving 7.62% average annual air conditioning energy savings), Nanoendoscopy-AFM methods for cancer cell elasticity measurement, high-speed AFM imaging of the CaMKII brain enzyme, engineered extracellular vesicles for antigen-specific immune tolerance, and discoveries in Wnt-mediated cancer metastasis and CHD1 protein condensates. Educational product lines include the College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation, the School of Tourism Sciences and Design, the Entrepreneurial and Innovation Studies program, and the HaKaSe+ doctoral research support program.

Kanazawa University's revenue model combines MEXT government operating subsidies, government-set tuition and enrollment fees across undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, externally funded research grants and commissioned research contracts, and industry collaboration income. The go-to-market approach is event-driven, with recruitment through general and special selection channels, international student admissions, open campus events, entrance examination briefings, and high school partnerships; educational delivery is primarily on-campus with supplementary web-based information services and international exchange programs. Named industry and academic partners include Toshiba, Choshu Industry, University of Electro-Communications, Fuzhou University, Yonsei University, and Woosuk University.

Name

Kanazawa University

Legal name

National University Corporation Kanazawa University (国立大学法人 金沢大学)

Website

https://kanazawa-u.ac.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1862

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kanazawa University is a Japanese National University Corporation serving undergraduate and graduate students across humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine, and interdisciplinary fields, with notable research strengths in nanotechnology, life sciences, cancer research, and tourism sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB), Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Academic research programs
• Interdisciplinary sciences
• Nanotechnology research
• Graduate medical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kanazawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Public national university funded by government tuition fees from undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs including law school, medical programs, and special programs.
2. Government Funding: National university receiving operational funding from Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for research and education activities.
3. Research Grants and Contracts: External funding from research grants, commissioned research, and collaborative research with industry partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kanazawa University is a Japanese national university providing higher education from undergraduate through doctoral levels across humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and interdisciplinary studies. It conducts research across nanotechnology, life sciences, cancer, tourism sciences, and regional studies through specialized institutes including NanoLSI, the Cancer Research Institute, and the Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences. The university also engages in industry-academia collaboration, technology transfer, and regional revitalization initiatives for the Noto region.

Product overview

Kanazawa University is a Japanese national university offering higher education across multiple disciplines including humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine, and pharmacy. The university's research portfolio includes AI-powered digital twin technology (VEEM-ZEB), advanced microscopy techniques (Nanoendoscopy-AFM, high-speed AFM), immunotherapy research (engineered extracellular vesicles), neuroscience tools (artificial synaptic vesicles), and tourism sciences. Educational programs span undergraduate to doctoral levels through faculties including the College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation (with Tourism Design, Entrepreneurial Studies, and Smart Science programs), College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, and College of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Research institutes such as the Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences, Cancer Research Institute, and Nano Life Science Institute support specialized research activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Institute for Frontier Science Initiative (新学術創成研究科): Graduate school research institute combining multiple disciplines including Convergence Science, Nano Life Science, and collaborative programs
• Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences (先端観光科学研究所)
• Technical Support Center (技術支援センター)

Products and services

• Tourism Design Education Program Undergraduate program within the College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation that trains next-generation leaders to create new tourism value from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Entrepreneurial and Innovation Studies Program School within the College of Transdisciplinary Sciences for Innovation focused on entrepreneurship education and social transformation.
• Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences Research Services Interdisciplinary research institute analyzing tourism-related behaviors, services, and policies using humanities and data science approaches, supporting research collaboration and policy advisory.
• HaKaSe+ Doctoral Research Support Strategic university project supporting doctoral students and strengthening research capabilities across disciplines.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.62% average annual air conditioning energy savings through VEEM-ZEB digital twin technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fuzhou UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Researchers from Kanazawa University and Fuzhou University in China jointly developed an AI-powered digital twin model called 'VEEM-ZEB' for real-time energy and comfort evaluation for zero-energy buildings. This international collaboration enables analysis of approximately 48,000 design scenarios with 7.62% average annual air conditioning energy savings.
• Woosuk University (又石大学校)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Korea's Woosuk University's Future Fusion University visited Kanazawa University's Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences for opinion exchange. Both institutions agreed to continue discussions on potential collaboration in research and education areas.
• ToshibacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025Collaboration on perovskite solar cell testing facility at Kanazawa University's solar park testing site. The project involves installing tandem perovskite solar cells with lead-stabilization technology for outdoor evaluation, supporting Japan's carbon neutrality goals.
• Choshu IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025Industry partner collaborating on perovskite solar cell technology testing at Kanazawa University's testing facility, part of Japan's solar technology advancement initiative running until December 2026.
• University of Electro-CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025Academic partner collaborating on perovskite solar cell outdoor evaluation testing facility with Kanazawa University, Toshiba, and Choshu Industry.
• Kai Kaga (界 加賀)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Collaboration on Kaga Wellness Project involving research exchange at Yamashiro Onsen ryokan. Discussion on new tourism value creation using regional resources.
• Araya Totei Toteian (あらや滔々庵)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Collaboration on New Hot Spring Treatment Project at Yamashiro Onsen. Research on wellness tourism value creation with local hot spring industry.
• Yonsei UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 October 2021Department-level partnership agreement signed between Frontier Institute of Tourism Sciences and Yonsei University's Advanced Fusion Sports Science Research Institute for collaborative research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kanazawauniv_o
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/KanazawaUniv
• Facebookfacebook.com/kanazawa.univ
• Instagraminstagram.com/kanazawauniv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kanazawa-university

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kanazawa University