Tamotsu Nomakuchi‚
President of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Ten years have passed since the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) started as an independent administrative institution. AIST's history dates back to the late 19th century. In April 2001, AIST was established through the integration of 15 research institutes and one training institute under the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Aiming to contribute to realize a sustainable society, AIST has advanced R&D by engaging in Full Research, which means concurrent and coherent research from the basic stage to product realization. AIST has also implemented original efforts to present the research outcomes to our society. Upon such endeavors, we at AIST are now making our best efforts to carry through the Third Medium Term Plan.
In the Third Term (2010-2014), we will undertake R&D focusing on major goals: "solution for the 21st century issues" and "reinforcing functions of an open innovation hub," based on our trials and achievements in the First Term (2001-2004) and the Second Term (2005-2009).
For solving "the 21st century issues," AIST promotes the R&D that leads to "Green Innovation" and "Life Innovation" comprised in the New Growth Strategy advocated by the Japanese government. Humankind has greatly benefited from the development of science, technology and industry, while, on the other hand, we have had to face new issues such as of environment, resources and ethics. AIST has to attain well balanced development, with awareness of such 21st century issues, without simply expanding markets and pursuing conveniences. The R&D during the Third Term of AIST will initiate and support such efforts.
For "reinforcing functions of an open innovation hub," AIST promotes industry-academia-government collaboration, by actively putting AIST's "human resources" and "research facilities" into service to advance R&D, technology evaluation and standardization. AIST has been active in collaboration with universities, public research institutes and industry on a one-to-one basis or in consortiums, and in joint researches or database construction and sharing. Since two years ago, a new legal amendment allows AIST to also participate in more open, positive and large-scale collaborations such as technology research associations. By April this year, AIST has joined 14 such associations. AIST has launched the "Tsukuba Innovation Arena" through industry-academia-government collaboration to establish a global nanotechnology research center, and promotes such large-scale collaborations.
Furthermore, to increase intellectual productivity and creativity, the organizational and business structure of AIST should be reformed. Recently, in October 2010, organizational restructuring was done to improve communication within and without AIST, such as establishing "Research and Innovation Promotion Headquarters" and reinforcing research promotion systems of the 6 priority research fields.
The Great East Japan Earthquake in March resulted in enormous damages in Japan. However, it was an occasion which proved how widely the companies in the affected areas had been contributing to the world through their supply-chains. The actual influential power and significant roles of Japanese industry at home and abroad were re-evaluated, which were somewhat underestimated before the quake. Though AIST also was affected with some damages, it has rapidly recovered and research activities have been restored at an early stage. To encourage and support the Japanese industry as ever, AIST is determined to contribute to realize a sustainable society by accomplishing its own missions under the motto "Full Research in Society, for Society". Finally, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the collaborators and friends abroad for all their thoughtful concerns and heartfelt support rendered to AIST at the time of such an unprecedented disaster.
> About AIST > Greetings from the President
Ten years have passed since the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) started as an independent administrative institution. AIST's history dates back to the late 19th century. In April 2001, AIST was established through the integration of 15 research institutes and one training institute under the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Aiming to contribute to realize a sustainable society, AIST has advanced R&D by engaging in Full Research, which means concurrent and coherent research from the basic stage to product realization. AIST has also implemented original efforts to present the research outcomes to our society. Upon such endeavors, we at AIST are now making our best efforts to carry through the Third Medium Term Plan.
In the Third Term (2010-2014), we will undertake R&D focusing on major goals: "solution for the 21st century issues" and "reinforcing functions of an open innovation hub," based on our trials and achievements in the First Term (2001-2004) and the Second Term (2005-2009).
For solving "the 21st century issues," AIST promotes the R&D that leads to "Green Innovation" and "Life Innovation" comprised in the New Growth Strategy advocated by the Japanese government. Humankind has greatly benefited from the development of science, technology and industry, while, on the other hand, we have had to face new issues such as of environment, resources and ethics. AIST has to attain well balanced development, with awareness of such 21st century issues, without simply expanding markets and pursuing conveniences. The R&D during the Third Term of AIST will initiate and support such efforts.
For "reinforcing functions of an open innovation hub," AIST promotes industry-academia-government collaboration, by actively putting AIST's "human resources" and "research facilities" into service to advance R&D, technology evaluation and standardization. AIST has been active in collaboration with universities, public research institutes and industry on a one-to-one basis or in consortiums, and in joint researches or database construction and sharing. Since two years ago, a new legal amendment allows AIST to also participate in more open, positive and large-scale collaborations such as technology research associations. By April this year, AIST has joined 14 such associations. AIST has launched the "Tsukuba Innovation Arena" through industry-academia-government collaboration to establish a global nanotechnology research center, and promotes such large-scale collaborations.
Furthermore, to increase intellectual productivity and creativity, the organizational and business structure of AIST should be reformed. Recently, in October 2010, organizational restructuring was done to improve communication within and without AIST, such as establishing "Research and Innovation Promotion Headquarters" and reinforcing research promotion systems of the 6 priority research fields.
The Great East Japan Earthquake in March resulted in enormous damages in Japan. However, it was an occasion which proved how widely the companies in the affected areas had been contributing to the world through their supply-chains. The actual influential power and significant roles of Japanese industry at home and abroad were re-evaluated, which were somewhat underestimated before the quake. Though AIST also was affected with some damages, it has rapidly recovered and research activities have been restored at an early stage. To encourage and support the Japanese industry as ever, AIST is determined to contribute to realize a sustainable society by accomplishing its own missions under the motto "Full Research in Society, for Society". Finally, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the collaborators and friends abroad for all their thoughtful concerns and heartfelt support rendered to AIST at the time of such an unprecedented disaster.