New Year's Greetings / 1
Activities of the Micromachine Center / 2
Activities of the BEANS Laboratory / 6
Members' Profiles / 8

New Year’s Greetings
As we welcome in 2010, it gives me great pleasure to wish you all a happy New Yearand to offer some thoughts on this new beginning. First, I would like to express mygratitude to all who have given their cooperation and support to the Micromachine
Center and the BEANS Laboratory.
Last year I was appointed chairman of both entities at the joint board meeting heldon September 17 and assumed my duties on the following day. While I am deeply
honored to receive such an important responsibility, at the same time I fully realize themagnitude of these duties. As chairman I will strive to continue our efforts indeveloping micromachines, MEMS, and other micro/nano fields, and I shall be gratefulfor your support.
Hisao Sakuta,Forgive me for starting out the New Year on a somber note, but as you know theChairman
state of Japan’s economy remains dire due in part to the failure of Lehman Bros. theMicromachine Centeryear before last and the Dubai debt crisis this past fall. In order to break out of thisBEANS Laboratory
situation, it is essential that we intensify our efforts in technological development,
which is the key to keeping Japan’s industries internationally competitive. For thisreason, we must double our efforts in technological development related to MEMS and other micro/nano fields, now
considered important industrial technologies.
To do this, the BEANS Project to develop next-generation device manufacturing technologies that fuse different
fields, which was established to develop core process technologies required for creating innovative next-generation
devices and to build a platform for this development, has set its sights on developing applications in a wide range offields that include energy and the environment, safety and security, and health and medical care, as well as intraditional fields of application. We hope to increase and expand the market for micro/nano devices by creating new
devices to support Japan’s industry across diverse fields.
The BEANS Project is now entering its third year, which is the interim evaluation year. In 2010, the achievementsof the project will become more evident and will help us establish a roadmap for developing base technologies
required to produce innovative next-generation devices. Therefore, I would like to thank you all in advance for yourcontinued support and cooperation with regard to the activities of the BEANS Laboratory.
On another note, the Micromachine Center has entered its 18th year this January. However, after the three laws onreforming the public interest corporations system went into effect in December 2008, the Micromachine Center
decided to shift from its current public interest status to a general incorporated foundation in order to maintain alevel of freedom amid the rapidly fluctuating social environment and ensure a stable environment for conducting
operations. Accordingly, we have submitted an application to the Cabinet Office for making this change. In the eventthat our application is approved, we will reevaluate our roles and responsibilities as a general incorporated foundation
and will continue our activities in the hope of contributing to Japan’s international competitiveness in industry and tothe creation of a future affluent society.
In regard to the activities of the MEMS Industry Forum under the Micromachine Center, this year we will continue
working with all those involved in studies aimed at strengthening an infrastructure for the future creation ofnanotechnology R&D centers. We ask for your continued support and cooperation in this matter as well.
Finally, on behalf of the Micromachine Center and the BEANS Laboratory, I would like to offer you all mysincerest wishes for a fruitful year. Thank you and Happy New Year.
January 20101