# Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center
**Wikidata**: [Q22123962](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22123962)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fukuoka-asian-urban-research-center

## Summary
The Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center (URC) is a research institute and think tank located in Hakata-ekimae, Japan. Operating as a public interest incorporated foundation, the organization is dedicated to the research industry, specifically focusing on generating new knowledge within the Asian urban context.

## Key Facts
- **Also Known As**: URC
- **Location**: Hakata-ekimae, Japan
- **Legal Status**: Public interest incorporated foundation
- **Industry**: Research
- **Classification**: Research institute, Think tank
- **ROR ID**: 01tgfh512
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/11b7_lkd1g
- **Wikipedia Presence**: 1 sitelink (Japanese language edition)

## FAQs
### Q: What type of organization is the Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center?
A: It is classified as both a research institute and a think tank. Unlike universities that combine teaching with research, this entity exists specifically to conduct systematic investigation and generate new knowledge.

### Q: What is the legal status of the center?
A: The organization operates as a public interest incorporated foundation. This legal form indicates it is a private entity established for the public good, distinct from government agencies or standard for-profit corporations.

### Q: Where is the center located?
A: The Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center is based in Hakata-ekimae, Japan.

## Why It Matters
The Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center serves as a dedicated engine for discovery regarding Asian urban issues. By operating as a specialized research institute rather than a university department, the organization can concentrate resources and talent purely on investigation, free from teaching obligations. This structure allows researchers to pursue long-term, high-risk studies relevant to urban environments and the Asian context. As a designated think tank, it also plays a role in bridging the gap between fundamental inquiry and policy-oriented research, contributing to the solution of complex societal problems facing cities in the region.

## Notable For
- **Dual Classification**: Uniquely classified as both a fundamental **research institute** and a policy-oriented **think tank**, bridging the gap between academic inquiry and practical application.
- **Specialized Focus**: Distinct from general research bodies through its specific focus on Asian urban research.
- **Public Interest Status**: Distinguished by its specific legal standing as a public interest incorporated foundation, highlighting its role in serving the community good.
- **Digital Identity**: Assigned a unique Research Organization Registry (ROR) ID (01tgfh512), validating its status within the global research community.

## Body

### Organizational Profile
The Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center is an entity formally recognized within the research industry in Japan. It is structured as a public interest incorporated foundation, a status that denotes its commitment to activities that benefit the public sphere. The center is physically situated in the Hakata-ekimae area.

As an organization, it defines itself by the primary purpose of conducting research. While it falls under the broad umbrella of research organizations, it is specifically categorized as an **instance of** both a "research institute" and a "think tank."

### Classification and Function
The center functions as a research institute, an organizational form dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation. This distinguishes it from universities, which divide their focus between teaching and research, and companies that conduct research for commercial ends. As a research institute, the Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center exists purely to pursue inquiry.

Simultaneously, its classification as a think tank suggests a role in influencing policy and public decision-making. While general research institutes focus on fundamental scientific inquiry, think tanks typically apply research to specific policy issues. The center's dual classification suggests a capacity to operate in both the fundamental discovery and policy application spheres.

### Identification and Data
The organization is tracked across several knowledge management and digital identification systems:
*   **ROR ID**: 01tgfh512 (Research Organization Registry).
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/11b7_lkd1g.
*   **Wikidata/Reference**: The entity is referenced with a sitelink count of 1, specifically corresponding to the Japanese language Wikipedia.

### Distinctions
While the broader category of "research institute" is often differentiated from "think tanks" (the former focusing on broad inquiry and the latter on policy), the Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Center explicitly occupies the intersection of these two categories. It is further distinguished from scientific or learned societies, as it is an operational entity conducting investigation rather than a membership-based association.

## References

1. ROR release v1.63