1.Common goal: Contribution to society's sustainable development
The first and foremost goal of AIST is the contribution to society's sustainable development by means of research and development activities in the field of industrial technology. R&D of earth-friendly industrial technologies is vital to restoration of the green planet, which has been long neglected since the era of the Industrial Revolution.

The 3rd Japan-Korea joint Forum on Science and Technology

2.Hosting International Symposiums
The International Affairs Department is in charge of international co-operative activities. In 2001, several international symposiums were held including "AIST Waterfront Symposium" commemorating the opening of AIST Tokyo Waterfront and "AIST International Symposium on Nanotechnology -Potential Industrial Technology in 21 Century-". In addition to the AIST symposiums, a number of researchers of AIST attended various bilateral international meetings such as the 3^rd Japan-Korea Science and Technology Forum, Workshop on Italy-Japan Interdisciplinary Materials Science and Technology, Japan-Australia joint Symposium on Nanotechnology.

3.Conclusion of the co-operation agreements with NIST, CNRS and other research institutes
Following the conclusion of the co-operation agreement with NIST (US National Institute of Standard and Technology) upon certification issue of a product's compliance with standards, we effected General Agreement on Comprehensive Research Co-operation with CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). We are aiming at establishing a close partnership with major research institutes of different countries.

4.Mr. Sakuraba, Senior Researcher, appointed as an Antarctic wintering team member
Many AIST researchers went abroad to attend various international meetings in 2001 although the number shrank slightly since the September 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA. Eighteen researchers were sent to various international organizations including UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) and International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Toshiaki Sakuraba, senior researcher set off to the South Pole as a member of the 43rd Antarctic Wintering Team on the November 28.

5.Entrepreneurial Boom
Seven venture businesses have been set up based on the research results at AIST. We encourage the new businesses in terms of technology transfer, patent acquisition to break new ground for the researchers who have an interest in creating new business fields. The department of industry-academia-government collaboration is assigned to the supporting activities in this area.

Firstly, TLO, "AIST Innovations" was established to facilitate technology transfer. This is the first authorized organizations under the Technology Licensing Organization Law. The mission of AIST Innovations is to transfer the technologies based on the AIST's intellectual properties. Coordinators of Collaboration Department and Collaboration Centers are providing assistance to the technical guidance, co-operative researches and so on together with Manufacturing Technical Support Office established at each Collaboration Center.

6.More Funded Research Projects and Increase in Number of visiting professors of Affiliated Postgraduate Institutes
The number of research projects funded by the organizations outside AIST has increased from 5 in 2000 to 41 at the point of September 2001. As for partnerships with academia, the number of the visiting professors at the related postgraduate schools are 198 (as of September 2001), a significant increase compared to that in 2000.

7.Expansions of research exchanges in Tsukuba city
The research institutes affiliated to the former Agency of Industrial Science and Technology had kept various research partnerships with research organizations which are in a close tie with them, including Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Communications Research Laboratory and so on. The AIST initiated a new research workshop together with National Institute for Materials Science which was also re-established as one of the independent administrative institutions in April 2001. In August, the AIST co-hosted a seminar on industrial development with Tsukuba city, entitled "Local Industry in Tsukuba city and Partnership with the AIST" .

8.AIST•Technology Information Seminar
It is essential to set a course to realize the industrial technology which contributes to our society's sustainable development. AIST set up the Technology Information Department and Planning Headquarters to enforce the strategic planning of the organization. Technology Information Department is in charge of organizing "AIST Technology Information Seminar" which is intended to offer latest information of R&D projects, systems etc. of national institutes which may be useful in promotion of R&D activities.

Geological Museum

9.Geological Museum Opens on Holidays
The AIST research centres throughout Japan were opened to public for the first time since the AIST was established. As the open house day in Tsukuba coincided with a public holiday, over 3000 people visited the institute to see the achievements of the research activities. In addition, Information Technology Research Institute and Intelligent System Institute had a separate open house respectively. Geological Museum which boasts a large collection of valuable specimens has been open on holidays since June. High school students from Miyake Island were invited to a lecture upon volcanoes by a researcher who specializes in the research of volcanoes on the island.

10.AIST Series to be published in March 2002
The AIST series of educational books upon industrial technology are to be published by Maruzen Co., Ltd. from March 2002. Information & Publication Division takes charge of public relations / publication including AIST hosting lectures, press conferences and so on.