An Overview of Projects Planned for 2009
The BEANS Laboratory will be implementing the following
R&D projects in 2009.
R&D Project 1: Development of processes for integrating
biomaterials and organic matter
1) Process technologies for nano-interface fusion
2) Process technologies for the formation of higher order
bio/organic structures
R&D Project 2: Development of processes for theformation of 3D nanostructures
1) Technologies for forming ultra-low damage/high-density
3D nanostructures
2) Technologies for forming hetero-functional integrated 3Dnanostructures

3) Technologies for forming 3D nanostructures for space applications
R&D Project 3: Development of micro/nanostructure largearea continuous manufacturing processes
1) Process technologies for large-area formation of high-grade
nanofunction membranes in a non-vacuum environment2) Process technologies for continuous micromachining andintegration of fibrous substrates
R&D Project 4: Development of a knowledge database fornext-generation device fabrication
technologies integrating dissimilar fields
We are also collecting information from dissimilar fields ontangible requirements for producing innovative devices that
may lead to new lifestyle improvements.

Entering the 2nd Year of the BEANS ProjectAtsushi Yusa, BEANS Project Leader
results will necessarily be produced thorough research
management. Therefore, all the managers of this project theresearch directors and the project leader, must attempt toachieve balance in their management so as to anticipate adegree of uncertainty in the original plan and respect theresearchers’ independence and spontaneity, while guiding theresearchers in a direction that does not veer from the basicplan. In this case, the implementation plan serves as thefulcrum of the balance and helps the managers determine thecorrect approach when research does not proceed as hoped.
Based on such determinations, the managers may revise ormodify the initial plan within the scope of the basic plan. More
important is that all researchers fully understand their goals
and share their results with other researchers and centers.
Cooperative relationships among research topics and membersof the BEANS Project will come about naturally as a result. I
realize that this approach was not adequately achieved in thefirst year of the project and feel strongly that these ideas can bebetter incorporated in our project management this year.
The next goal for the second year is to strengthen
collaboration among research centers, as mentioned earlier.
This year we will begin a new topic of integrated research
between the 3D BEANS Center and Life BEANS Center
Kyushu, which was suggested and planned based on
preliminary experimental results produced in the first year. By
applying low-damage etching technology, the core technology
at the 3D BEANS Center, to organic thin film formation
technology at Life BEANS Center Kyushu, we have begun tosee some potential for forming 3D structures of organic matterthat do not occur in the natural world. This is a research topicappropriate for the BEANS Project, and I am confident that it
will be received as creative and revolutionary throughout theworld. We are also planning similar topics of integrated research
between the Macro BEANS Center and the Life BEANS Centerand between the 3D BEANS Center and the Life BEANS
Center. Hence, the second year of the project will be shiftingfrom the preparation stage to serious topics of integrated
research, and I anticipate that we will produce results worthy of
the BEANS Project that will attract much attention.
If we liken the first year of the BEANS Project to a period ofpreparing for takeoff, then the second year will see us spread
our wings to lift off of the runway. With diligence and hardwork, we can skillfully catch an updraft and ride it to greatheights where the flying is smoother. In this I ask for yourcontinued support and cooperation.

The initial year of the BEANS Project spanned a shorterthan-usual nine-month term, which seemed to be over before itbegan. Our work during this period could be describedsuccinctly as start-up activities for launching the project. For
example, we provided facilities at the University of Tokyo’sKomaba Research Campus, the Kyushu University Center for
Future Chemistry, and the Tsukuba East Office of the National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology withclean rooms, private sitting rooms, and labs for the exclusive
use of the BEANS Project. We also worked on equipping thelabs and enhancing the environment of the facilities by
installing large machinery and lab equipment during the earlystage of the project. At the same time, we naturally focused ourefforts on research tasks scheduled for the first year by taking
advantage of the university-owned research facilities. Thisquickly resulted in some ingenious research results, that could
only have been made possible by the BEANS Project. Our
research findings were covered in academic publications andother media under the subject of MEMS and transducer
research, raising the profile of the BEANS Project.
By working to coordinate research centers and integrate
research tasks, which is a goal of the BEANS Project, we arebeginning to develop integration among research topics. Of
course, not all research projects go according to plan, andprogress can be erratic depending on the nature and degree ofdifficulty of the topic. However, I believe the project as a wholeis proceeding in the right direction.
After reviewing the results from the initial year, as well as
the problems or difficulties that were encountered, we have set
a primary objective for the second year to achieving smooth andefficient project implementation. From the first year, we havelearned the importance of establishing expected results andclear target values at the time of drafting the plan. Even when aplan is drafted, however, there are always unforeseen
circumstances that prevent research from proceeding as
anticipated. This is also the enjoyment and thrill of research.
Consequently, even though researchers go through the motionsof drafting a plan initially, they tend to feel that such a plan ispointless and neglect to conduct mid-year reviews of the planand to monitor progress. In other words, at times researchers
can become mired in research conducted for their own interests
or research that produces immediate results, losing sight of theoriginal goals. Of course, one cannot completely negate suchdigressions because they occasionally lead to importantdiscoveries and inventions. However, within the BEANS Project
research we cannot allow researchers to stray from the end goal
or expected achievements. We also cannot simply assume that7