Inner Resource's Device Management System 'reprua' Joins EPOCH Project to Enhance Research Capabilities

Inner Resource's 'reprua': Transforming Research Infrastructure in Japan

On August 17, 2026, Inner Resource, a company based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, specializing in device management systems for the research industry, announced that its innovative cloud-based system, 'reprua', has been accepted as a participating organization in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)'s Advanced Research Infrastructure Renewal Project (EPOCH). This initiative is pivotal for enhancing Japan's research capabilities, especially at the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, in collaboration with Nagoya Institute of Technology.

Background and Challenges Addressed

In Japanese universities and research institutions, the traditional model has each laboratory independently owning and managing research equipment. This situation presents several challenges hindering the enhancement of Japan's research competitiveness, including:

- Over-reliance on individual researchers for maintenance and management, leading to issues of equipment aging.
- Inefficient duplication of equipment purchases.
- Limited access to equipment for young researchers, mainly due to funding shortages.

To combat these challenges, the EPOCH initiative aims to transition from individual ownership of equipment to shared utilization, promoting a strategic management framework for core facilities in partnership with Tokai National Higher Education and Research System.

Role and Value of 'reprua' in the Project

Within the scope of the EPOCH project, 'reprua' will play several crucial roles, contributing significantly to the modernization of research foundations:
1. One-stop Equipment Utilization: The system will create a seamless environment for researchers to search for, reserve, and track the usage of necessary equipment through the 'reprua' platform, enhancing user experience.
2. Maximized Research Resources: By streamlining complex application processes and management tasks, 'reprua' will free up valuable time and resources, allowing researchers to focus more on their core academic activities.
3. Support for Self-sustaining Research Management: The system will support a sustainable cycle by visualizing usage data and billing information, thus facilitating reinvestment into facility upgrades through collected fees.

Project Overview

- Project Name: EPOCH - Innovation Core Facility Project for the New Era of Research Environment at Tokai National Higher Education and Research System
- Participating Institution: Tokai National Higher Education and Research System
- Collaborating Institution: Nagoya Institute of Technology

Future Prospects

Through this collaboration, Inner Resource aims to greatly contribute to the development of a collaborative ecosystem that will support research infrastructure in the Tokai region, and ultimately throughout Japan. 'reprua' plans to further enhance its functionalities, including purchase management, inventory management, and equipment management, pushing forward the efficiency of research-related activities across academia, industry, and government sectors. This initiative will play an essential part in reinforcing Japan's research infrastructure and enhancing research capabilities nationwide.

About the Institutions and Company

Tokai National Higher Education and Research System

Merged from Nagoya University and Gifu University, this national university corporation aims to become one of the world's leading research universities by providing advanced educational and research environments. Learn More

Nagoya Institute of Technology

This national university focuses on engineering and aims to foster highly skilled professionals while promoting innovative academic research to solve societal challenges. Learn More

Inner Resource

Inner Resource develops and operates the cloud-based purchasing management, inventory management, and equipment management system 'reprua'. The company was founded on June 7, 2017, and has been dedicated to enhancing research efficiency.

- CEO: Hideki Sawada
- Location: 9-3, 2 Bancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, THE BASE Kojimachi E-302

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