the Collaborative Research Institute Between Mercari R4D Lab and The University of Osaka

Objective

In recent years, it has become progressively more difficult to predict the impact of the emergence and dramatic advancement of new technologies, such as generative AI and LLMs. As a result, it is increasingly important for companies engaging in the social implementation of these technologies to take responsibility for ensuring that their corporate activities and services are appropriate from more than just a technical perspective. In analyzing the issues and impact that such implementation is expected to have on society, companies should also include diverse perspectives in humanities and social sciences fields, such as ethics, law, sociology, and philosophy.

In 2020, Mercari’s research and development organization R4D began joint research with The University of Osaka Research Center on Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI Center) in research and corporate activities. Through this joint research, the two organizations have carried out R&D in humanities and social science fields, such as the enhancement of R&D ethics reviews at Mercari, AI ethics, and a case study on initiatives to equalize the gender pay gap.

In 2025, Mercari, Inc. established the Mercari R4D Research Alliance Laboratory, a collaborative research institute shared between Mercari R4D Lab and The University of Osaka, as part of ELSI Center. This institute aims to further develop the two organizations’ joint research projects and leverage expertise in the humanities and social sciences to pave the way toward achieving Mercari’s mission of circulating all forms of value. The institute will also use Mercari as a fieldwork environment to carry out research into various topics related to corporate activities, turn the knowledge gained into academic output, and share that output with society at large.

Overview

Vision of the Mercari R4D Research Alliance Laboratory：

Leverage expertise in the humanities and social sciences to guide the way to a world that circulates all forms of value

Examples of research projects

• ・Fundamental research on the circular economy
• ・Reestablishing fundamental questions and concepts regarding value, circulation, and value circulation
• ・Establishing academic studies on value circulation
• ・Practical research on corporate activities
• ・Enhancing research ethics reviews, addressing ELSI for new technologies and services, creating training and education programs, etc.
• ・Social impact achieved through research results
• ・Researching outreach activities and their implementation
• ・Researching ideal forms of industry-academia collaboration and corporate research institutes
• ・Cultivating and expanding collaboration with research partners including The University of Osaka and other universities, other companies and organizations such as local governments