| year |
history |
| 1928 |
The National Craftworks Institute was established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
With an aim to "conduct scientific reform of Japan-specific technical arts, realize their mass-production, and increase their export," the National Craftworks Institute, the Japan's first national design research institute, opened in Sendai as a result of the city's strong invitation movement. |
| 1940 |
The headquarters was relocated to Tokyo, and the institute became the National Tohoku Craftworks Institute of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
The National Craftworks Institute produced prototypes by using new materials and technologies they developed, and lent them to producing districts in various regions to spread modern design. Unlike conventional designs that focused on visual appearance, the prototypes were developed based on the concept of modern design that focused on usability and operability. After that, similar craftworks institutes were established at several locations across Japan. In 1940, the headquarters was relocated to Tokyo, and the Sendai institute became the National Tohoku Craftworks Institute. |
| 1952 |
Renamed as the Industrial Arts Institute Tohoku of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
In 1952, the National Craftworks Institute was renamed as the Industrial Arts Institute. The headquarters remained in Tokyo, while the Industrial Arts Institute Tohoku was located in Sendai.
When the 1960s began, businesses started doing their own design, so the Industrial Arts Institute, which had completed its major role, was reformed as the Industrial Products Research Institute (an organization that belongs to the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, which is a predecessor of the AIST) in 1969. |
| 1967 |
Government Industrial Research Institute, Tohoku, of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology was established.
During the period of high economic growth, the Government Industrial Research Institute, Tohoku, a predecessor of AIST Tohoku, was established in response to strong request from local industry to promote research into effective use of regional resources. |
| 1993 |
Renamed as Tohoku National Industrial Research Institute of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
The research institutes under the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology were reformed with an aim of "promoting techno-globalism," and the Government Industrial Research Institute, Tohoku was renamed and reformed as the Tohoku National Industrial Research Institute in 1993. |
| 2001 |
Became National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Tohoku (an independent administrative agency) |
| 2015 |
Transferred to National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Tohoku (a national research and development agency) |
| 2017 |
50th anniversary of the Government Industrial Research Institute, Tohoku |