Posing questions
Turning problems in science, technology and innovation policy and technology management into research questions that data can test, starting from what prior work has and has not established.
Career Paths
In the lab, students learn to pose questions about society and industry, test them by combining data with knowledge from the field, and communicate the results. This experience carries over to work in research, policy, and business. This page describes fields closely related to our research and where our graduates have actually gone.
What you practice through research
Through master's and doctoral research and lab projects, students work on the following.
Collecting and preparing data
Gathering the data a study needs, such as papers, patents, prize records, news articles and free-text survey answers, and preparing it for analysis.
Analyzing and checking
Using statistical, text and network analysis together with qualitative evidence from interviews and documents, and checking that results do not rest on hindsight or chance.
Communicating
Writing up results as papers, conference presentations and reports, and explaining them to people outside the field.
Examples of lab projects: aerospace and defense supply-chain analysis (building a relationship network from news articles), forecasting Nobel Prizes from prize records (joint research with a Nikkei journalist), and Kunitachi City data analysis (analysis of free-text answers to a citizen survey; in Japanese).
Fields related to our research
These are examples of fields connected to our research, not promises of particular employers or salaries. Each student's path depends on their own interests and research.
Think tanks and research institutes
Commissioned research and analysis on science, technology and industry for government and companies; among the work closest to what we do in the lab.
Government and public agencies
Planning and evaluating science, technology and innovation policy, where experience in evidence-based analysis is directly useful.
Corporate R&D planning and analytics
Choosing R&D themes, tracking technology trends and analyzing internal data within companies.
Consulting and investment
Supporting companies' technology strategy and new businesses, or assessing startups for investment.
Doctoral study and research careers
Going on to a doctoral program and pursuing a research career at a university or research institute.
As a working professional
Studying while employed or on leave, and taking the knowledge and methods gained in research back to one's organization.
Where our graduates have gone
Our graduate who completed a master's degree in March 2026 now works at Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (see Team). The lab is still new and has few graduates so far; we will add their paths here as they graduate.
Support toward your next step
Advice from your supervisor
Students can discuss their plans after graduation with their supervisor, alongside their research.
Presenting your research
Conference presentations and journal submissions give students a way to show their work outside the lab.
If you are interested in starting a company
Our activities for students interested in entrepreneurship are described on the Entrepreneurship page.
Thinking about joining the lab?
If you have questions about research topics or career paths, please get in touch.