Since its establishment in 2017, the International Clinical Cancer Research Center (ICCRC) at Kobe University Hospital has been promoting advanced cancer treatments, developing innovative medical devices through medical-engineering collaboration, and fostering exchanges with international medical institutions. For it to realize these goals, it has continued to strengthen its ties within the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster.

In 2020, Kobe University's joint proposal with Kobe City and industry leaders for the "Kobe Vision for the Healthcare of Tomorrow" was selected by the Cabinet Office for the Revitalization of Regional Universities and Industries Project. Then in 2023, the university was designated as a “the Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS)” by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, further enhancing the role of this center within the university. Amidst these developments, the Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Medical Device Engineering was established in 2023, followed by the launch of the undergraduate Faculty of Medical Device Engineering in April 2025.
Furthermore, in October 2024, the Medtech Innovation Center (MIC) opened on the ICCRC premises as a hub for "human resource development through a hands-on curriculum using medical device development and related projects as training materials." These efforts aim to make the center a true base for cutting-edge medical research and education.

Going forward, the ICCRC will continue to fulfill its role as a branch of the university hospital, sharing functions with the main hospital and advancing "state-of-the-art surgical and endoscopic cancer treatments." At the same time, the center will serve as a hub within the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster to "demonstrate collaboration among industry, academia, government, and healthcare to build an ecosystem for medical device development" and "advance R&D in next-generation medical technologies while fostering interdisciplinary talent that bridges medicine and engineering." As such, we aim to fulfill our role in contributing to the realization of regional revitalization by promoting further growth in the medical and related industries and by supporting local employment and retention of young talent. We greatly appreciate your continued understanding and support of the ICCRC's clinical, research, and collaborative initiatives.