Initially known as the Government Mechanical Laboratory, the Mechanical engineering Laboratory(MEL)
was founded in 1937 with the aim of executing original research for contribution to the development of the Japanese engineering industry, and thereby reducing its dependence on overseas technology. Ever since, MEL has discharged a vital role in this connection as a source of unique ideas and creative research which helped to propel the rapid rise in the engineering capabilities of Japanese industry.
Application of mechanical engineering spans a wide range of fields, including electricity, electronics, computer science, information processing, and chemistry. There is consequently considerable overlap between mechanical engineering and other disciplines. As new techniques are developed, it is necessary to oversee their assimilation into the technological community as a whole. For example, mechatronics and opto-mechatronics have an importance that is not confined to the engineering industries; developments in these areas have a significant impact in many others. Considerable benefit can be realized from appropriate combination of techniques from differing fields. Promotion of such effort with an awareness of this fact is a critical part of the role of MEL.
Wile MEL naturally continues to uphold its original aim of developing traditional technologies to over higher degrees of sophistication, the needs of modern industrial society mean that it must now also play an active role in the interfacing of mechanical engineering with other fields, and the development and introduction of a broader spectrum of innovative ideas.
Through its research and the knowledge base which it has built up over the years, MEL assists the implementation of policy by the national government in general and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in particular. At the same time, it meets the needs of Japanese industry for the development of new engineering technologies for the future.
MEL carries out research activities in seven major areas, as follows.
