> Research results > Topics > AIST has concluded MOUs on research cooperation in energy/environment-related fields with 6 US national laboratories
* AIST promotes its cutting-edge R&D in energy/environment fields, by concluding comprehensive research cooperation MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) with 6 US national laboratories: 5 laboratories of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the Department of Commerce (DOC).
* Under close cooperation with US national laboratories, AIST aims at innovative technology development toward realization of a low carbon society, through joint research, international standardization and researcher exchange programs in the fields of renewable energies such as photovoltaics and hydrogen storage material technology, and in the fields of nanotechnology/materials related to energy/environment.
* In the fiscal year 2009, AIST plans to send nearly 20 researchers to USA, to implement the research cooperation.
On the occasion of the visit to USA of Minister Toshihiro Nikai, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), (President: Dr. Tamotsu Nomakuchi) concluded MOUs with 5 research organizations of the US Department of Energy, and with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the US Department of Commerce at Washington, D.C. on May 4, 2009. Specifically, the cooperation takes place in joint research and researcher exchange programs.
Brief outlines of the MOUs:
1. With Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), for cooperation in the fields of fuel cells and hydrogen, computational science on materials, and CCS (CO2 capture and storage),
2. With Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), for cooperation in the fields of photovoltaics, nano-electronics/nano-materials, computational science on materials, and reciprocal use of joint-use facilities of nanotechnology,
3. With National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for cooperation in the fields of photovoltaics, bio-fuels (of cellulose origin), and energy analysis,
4. With Laurence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), for cooperation in the fields of bio-fuels (of cellulose origin), and fuel combustion,
5. With Laurence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), for cooperation in the fields of bio-fuels (of cellulose origin), nano-materials for energy, and CCS (CO2 capture and storage),
6. With National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the Department of Commerce, for cooperation in R&D supporting the development of technical standards.
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| Dr. Gallagher, Deputy Director, NIST (left), Dr. Nomakuchi, President, AIST(right). |
Front row, from left to right; Mr. Nikai, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Dr. Chu, Secretary of Energy Back row, from left to right; Dr. Nomakuchi, President, AIST, Dr. Arvizu, Director, NREL, Dr. Stulen, Vice President, SNL, Dr. Symons, Director, Nuclear Science Division, LBNL, Dr. Doesburg, Principal Associate Director, LLNL, and Dr. Wallace, Principal Associate Director, LANL |
(1) Joint research started between AIST and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the fields of fuel cells and hydrogen, following the visit of Minister Nikai of METI at LANL in August 2006.
(2) At the Japan-US summit talk in February 2009, it was confirmed that the two countries would promote research cooperation in the fields of energy and environment. Accordingly, experts of AIST, METI, and NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) visited US national laboratories several times to discuss feasible programs to promote the research cooperation.
(3) Such efforts resulted in the MOUs of research cooperation with the 5 research organizations of DOE in 8 cutting-edge research fields of:
1) photovoltaics
2) fuel cells and hydrogen
3) bio-fuels (of cellulose origin)
4) computational science related to materials
5) CCS (CO2 capture and storage)
6) fuel combustion technology
7) nano-materials for energy
8) energy analysis
and reciprocal use of joint-use facilities of nanotechnology.
(4) Also, with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), AIST concluded MOU for research cooperation supporting the development of technical standards in the fields of nanotechnology, energy and environment, biotechnology, etc.
Outlines of the US national laboratories that signed the MOUs with AIST, May 4, 2009:
◆Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
* National laboratory of the US Department of Energy, established in 1943, located in Los Alamos, New Mexico
It specializes in energy and environment related research such as nuclear energy, renewable energy. [return]
◆Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)
* National laboratory of the US Department of Energy, established in 1949, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico
It emphasizes research of bioscience, computer/information science, engineering science, materials science and technology, microelectronics/micro-systems. CINT (Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies) is managed jointly with Los Alamos National Laboratory.[return]
◆National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
* National laboratory of the US Department of Energy, established in 1977, located in Golden, Colorado
It became a national laboratory under DOE in 1991, and changed its name to the present one. It is a basic research institute, in charge of R&D related to renewable energies, e.g. photovoltaics, bio-fuels, wind energy, etc., and to energy efficiency. [return]
◆Laurence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
* National laboratory of the US Department of Energy, established in 1952, located in Livermore, California
It implements research in the fields of energy, environment, biotechnology, etc.[return]
◆Laurence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
* National laboratory of the US Department of Energy, established in 1931, located in Berkeley, California
It conducts research in broad areas, such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, energy, nanotechnology, environmental engineering. Many Nobel Laureates were and are working at LBNL, and Dr. Steven Chu served as Director of the Laboratory until he became the US Secretary of Energy.[return]
◆National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
* National laboratory of the US Department of Commerce, established in 1901 originally as National Bureau of Standards (NBS), and renamed National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) in 1988
It is in charge of improvement of metrological standards and development & evaluation of technical standards. Its 4 focused fields are biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology and innovative production technology.[return]
Mr. Koichi Sakuta
International Affairs Department, AIST
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