Nagoya University

What Nagoya University does

Nagoya University is a Japanese national university corporation founded in 1871 and headquartered in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya. It operates as a public higher education and research institution under Japan's MEXT, governed within the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (THERS) alongside Gifu University. The university serves approximately 15,959 students (9,524 undergraduate and 6,435 graduate, including 2,543 international students) across 9 undergraduate schools and 14 graduate schools, with instruction delivered in both Japanese and English through 40 G30 international programs.

The institution's core offerings are academic degree programs, postdoctoral research positions, and contract research delivered through specialized institutes including the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute (KMI), Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research (ISEE), and Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS). It has produced six Nobel Prize laureates since 2001 and maintains 162 international partner institutions, supported by physical Global Campus locations at the University of Edinburgh, University of Freiburg, NC State University, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños. An innovation ecosystem has produced 180 startups from the university community.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: government tuition and admission fees set under national standardization, MEXT operational funding, JSPS and government agency research grants, and corporate partnerships including a joint AI research center with Toyota Systems. Pricing is publicly disclosed and follows standardized national university fee schedules, with scholarships and exemptions available. The university pursues a community-led go-to-market via education fairs, exchange agreements, and global campus networks rather than direct commercial sales.

Name

Nagoya University

Legal name

Nagoya University

Website

https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Nagoya University is a Japanese national university corporation offering undergraduate and graduate programs across 9 schools to roughly 16,000 students, including 2,543 international students, supported by six Nobel-affiliated research institutes and a 162-partner global network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG), Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH), Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus (EDAHAEAK)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University research
• Graduate programs
• International exchange
• Nobel laureate faculty

Headquarters

HQ city

Nagoya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and admission fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and research student tuition fees
2. Government funding: National university corporation receiving operational funding from MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
3. Research grants and contracts: Funding from JSPS, government agencies, and industry partners for specific research projects
4. Corporate partnerships: Joint research centers and collaborative agreements with companies like Toyota Systems, industry partnerships for innovation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nagoya University is a Japanese national university corporation delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across 9 schools and 14 graduate schools in both Japanese and English, including humanities, education, law, informatics, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agricultural sciences. It operates specialized research institutes, joint-use research facilities, and a Global Multi-Campus Institute with satellite campuses in Edinburgh, Freiburg, NC State, and the Philippines. The university provides industry collaboration through joint research centers, corporate partnerships, and a startup ecosystem that has produced 180 startups.

Product overview

Nagoya University is a leading national university in Japan offering undergraduate and graduate academic programs across multiple disciplines including humanities, education, law, informatics, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agricultural sciences. The university operates as an educational and research institution rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings include academic degree programs (taught in both English and Japanese), research activities across various scientific fields, campus facilities and student support services, and international exchange programs. The institution has been awarded six Nobel prizes since 2001 and maintains partnerships with 162 international institutions. Key offerings include the G30 International Programs (40 English-language programs), Global Campus locations at partner institutions, and various research institutes focused on areas such as space-earth environment, materials science, and transformative bio-molecules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• G30 International Programs: English-language undergraduate and graduate programs for international students
• NUPACE
• Global Campus
• Asian Satellite Campuses Institute (ASCI)
• THERS

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 180 startups launched from university ecosystem
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• University of FreiburgflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Delegation visit to celebrate opening of Global Campus and renewal of joint degree program in Medicine. Deep partnership in medical education and research.
• Toyota SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Joint AI research center established to tackle social challenges through collaborative research combining Toyota Systems' industry expertise with Nagoya University's academic research capabilities.
• GlycoMIRAI (CNRS and French institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026International glycoscience laboratory launched to advance glycoscience research across France and Japan. Marked by French ambassador visit; represents significant international research collaboration.
• University of EdinburghflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Nagoya University opened new Global Campus at University of Edinburgh in March 2026, establishing strategic partnership for research and education collaboration.
• JA Aichi Shinren (Aichi Prefectural Credit Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Agreement signed between Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama and Chairman Mikio Isomura to boost regional agriculture through human resource development, supporting startup companies, and building networks for industry-academia collaboration in central Japan. Focus areas include innovation in food/agriculture and solving agricultural challenges faced by local communities.
• North Carolina State UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025Global Campus established at NC State; partnership celebrating 40 years of academic collaboration. Prime Minister Kishida visited the Global Campus in 2024.
• Aichi Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2025Comprehensive collaboration agreement for joint research in cancer research, combining clinical expertise with academic research capabilities.
• Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. (Meitetsu)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2025Industry-academia collaboration agreement signed for research and development initiatives.
• University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2023Strengthened partnership with expansion of PhD Programs offered on satellite campus at UPLB. Ongoing collaboration since 2023 with scholarship renewals and cooperation discussions.
• Gifu University (THERS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (THERS) partnership established in 2020 connecting Nagoya University and Gifu University as partner institutions in a national university corporation for regional development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tokyo Institute of Technology: National technical university focused on engineering and science; shares Nagoya's strength in technical fields, industry partnerships (e.g., with manufacturers), and English-taught graduate programs, and competes for the same international STEM talent.
• Kyoto University: Another top-tier Japanese national research university with a similar nine-school structure, deep Nobel-winning research tradition, large international student body, and joint research centers with industry. Direct competitor for faculty, students, and grant funding in Japan.
• Tohoku University: Top Japanese national research university with similarly broad undergraduate and graduate programs and a strong industry-partnership tradition. Competes for the same applicant pool, government funding, and corporate-sponsored research.
• Hokkaido University: Large Japanese national research university with comparable scope across humanities, sciences, and engineering, and similar English-language international programs. Peer in the cohort of Japan's former Imperial Universities.
• University of Tokyo: Japan's flagship national research university and the most direct domestic peer. Both are national university corporations offering comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs across nine-plus schools with comparable Nobel-grade research output, English-language programs, and global partnership networks.
• Kyushu University: National research university of similar scale, member of Japan's designated-national-university cohort along with Nagoya, with overlapping programs in engineering, informatics, and medicine and direct competition for government designation funding.
• Osaka University: National research university with comparable scale, multi-school structure, and engineering/medical emphasis. Competes with Nagoya for industry partnerships in the Kansai/Chubu corridor and for JSPS and MEXT funding.

Emerging players

• Tsinghua University: Leading Asian research university with comparable scale, English-language master's and doctoral programs, and deep industry partnerships in technology and manufacturing; competes for global talent and research partnerships, particularly with Southeast Asian and European institutions.

Broad incumbents

• Waseda University: Private Japanese research university with broad academic coverage and large international student body; competes with Nagoya for international applicants and corporate partnerships, but as a private institution differs in funding model.
• Keio University: Top private Japanese research university with comparable graduate program breadth and corporate ties through its alumni network in industry; offers an alternative to national universities for high-achieving domestic and international students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NagoyaUniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NagoyaUniversityPR
• Facebookfacebook.com/nagoya.university.en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/nagoyauniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/nagoya.university

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nagoya University