Application for Academy Center Certification
World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
Host Institution

Kyushu University

Research Center

International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER)

Host Institution Head

Chiharu Kubo

Center Director

Petros Sofronis

Administrative Director

Shunichi Masuda

Please prepare this application based on the content of your Center’s progress report and the progress plan you submitted for the Center’s
final evaluation. Summarize the Center’s future plans with regard to the following 8 items within five A-4 pages. (Also fill out the
appendices at the end of this form.)

1. Overall Image of Your Center* Describe the Center’s overall image including its identity.

I2CNER’s vision is to contribute to the creation of a carbon-neutral society through basic researchunderlying technology that will address the energy challenge for Japan and the world, and establish amodel international academic environment for the 21st century. In executing this vision, I2CNER aims
to enable energy technologies which, when deployed, lead to a large reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions (70-80% by 2050 from 1990 levels). I2CNER’s mission and accomplishments are directly inline with Japan’s vision for a robust energy future: energy security, economic efficiency, andenvironmental protection without compromising safety (3E+S). A unique and important component of
I2CNER is the Satellite Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC), whichfacilitates complementary research activities and pioneers student and researcher exchanges with theUS.
We built our vision on a balanced energy scenario for Japan involving a combination ofrenewable energy deployment and carbon capture and storage technologies, with the addition ofhydrogen into the energy system. I2CNER’s research efforts are intimately tied to this scenario because
the short-, mid-, and long-term milestones of each of our research project roadmaps were
established in consideration for the removal of the roadblocks in the development and deployment
timing of the various promising technology options within the scenario. By necessity the researchteams are composed of scientists and engineers from disparate disciplines and the research addresses
phenomena that span many decades in spatial and temporal scales. I2CNER’s roadmaps and research
portfolio updates are also informed by the Institute’s scientific exchanges with a stellar list of
distinguished scientists from 25 partnering institutions across the globe.
The relevance of the I2CNER research efforts and objectives to enabling the green innovation
initiative of the government of Japan is demonstrated by the large number (122) of collaborative
projects in which its researchers have been involved with industry. A total of 53 projects resulted intechnology transfer events. Since inception, I2CNER has filed for 239 patents and was granted 67
patents.
Evidence of I2CNER’s international stature and relevance can be seen in its 2816 publications since
inception with a total number of 47147 citations and an h-index of 88 which is on par or better than the
h-index of peer institutes. Our researchers have joint publications with researchers from 573 institutions
around the world, and 343 internationally recognized researchers visited I2CNER for scientific interactionand exchange. The Institute’s researchers are globally engaged and have been responsible fororganizing, co-organizing, or serving on the scientific committees of 207 international conferences, 278
international conference sessions/symposia or workshops, and 68 I2CNER international workshops. In
addition, I2CNER researchers have received a total of 310 national and international awards from various
professional societies and institutions around the world.

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I2CNER

I2CNER provides a rich environment for young researchers to pursue transformative research in a
non-traditional and highly multi-disciplinary and international setting. A vital interdisciplinary program is
the fusion of applied math with energy engineering, based on the Institute’s burgeoning relationshipwith Kyushu University’s (KU) Institute of Mathematics for Industry (IMI) and various departments at theUIUC. Of the 91 young researchers, 21 went on to take faculty positions at universities in Japan(excluding KU) and the world and 7 moved to industry and national laboratory positions.
I2CNER is spearheading KU’s globalization efforts within the University Reform Revitalization
Program, and I2CNER faculty are instructors in the international programs of KU. I2CNER’s operational
principles in research served as an example for the establishment of the Kyushu University Platform ofInter/Transdisciplinary Energy Research (Q-PIT) on October 1, 2016, an umbrella organization to
integrate campus efforts in research and education on energy across its various units, including social
sciences, economics, law, and political sciences.
In summary, I2CNER is a highly successful research and education test bed. It is a national andglobal experiment that tackles key scientific challenges along the path to providing Japan with carbon-

neutral and sustainable energy supplies and the advancing of low-carbon energy transition despite
limited energy resources through internationalization of scientific research and education in Japan, theUS, and the world at large. I2CNER is unique as the only Japan-led multi-university institute in the world
constructing the path to a carbon neutral society.

2. Mid- to Long-term Research Objectives and Strategies* Describe new challenges in the Center’s research objectives and plans after FY2020.

While I2CNER’s accomplishments have propelled Japan to the international forefront of carbon-neutralenergy research and associated technology development, there are still major challenges ahead. Our
focus continues to address basic science and engineering for energy with the overall goal of reduced CO 2
emissions. In response to the Final Evaluation’s Site Visit Report’s advice/recommendation, our Energy
Analysis Division (EAD) assessed the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of each individual research project.
We are using this assessment to make best use of resources and better focus our research directions inorder to meet the long-term carbon-neutrality goals. As a result, I2CNER will streamline its research portfolio
by reshaping its strongest research themes and phasing out those that are less impactful according to TRL.
In addition, I2CNER will continue to invest in disruptive, high-risk high-payoff science as well as directed,
discovery research, such as the biomimetic activation of small molecules for the reduction of CO 2 and N 2
to produce hydrocarbons and NH 3 .
Moving forward, the three streamlined thematic research clusters or ‘Thrusts’ will be Advanced
Energy Materials, Advanced Energy Conversion Systems, and Multiscale Science andEngineering for Energy and the Environment. This structure allows us to capture our most relevant
existing capabilities and to organize them for the best future impact. It also provides an efficientmechanism for top international and Japanese researchers to work interactively to accomplish common
goals which cut across disciplines. I2CNER will continue to rely on the central role of the current EAD thatwill be integrated in the Multiscale Science and Engineering for Energy and the Environment Thrust. This
includes the continued use of Roadmaps to set research goals and assess progress for each individual
research project within the thrusts. I2CNER sees that this Research-Project Roadmap approach, whichhas proven highly successful in the past, should direct the science and resource planning for the future.
The Advanced Energy Materials Thrust combines the best features of the development ofmaterials for hydrogen generation, transport and storage, and materials for efficient energy conversion,
particularly for fuel cell and regenerative energy applications. More specifically I2CNER will carry out
research on i) low cost high-strength, hydrogen-compatible stainless steels having yield strength 600MPa(current research status of TRL~4) by developing the next generation of hydrogen/fatigue andhydrogen/impurity interaction models, ii) highly selective catalysts for CO 2 -free power generation via
alcohol (energy storage medium) oxidation and acid reduction (fuel regeneration) for the I2CNER
polymer electrolyte alcohol electrosynthesis cell aiming at 70% efficiency (TRL~4), iii) interface design ofmolecular and hybrid catalysts for water splitting and artificial photo-synthesis for photoconversion
devices that can provide low cost solar fuels with reasonable cost and efficiency (TRL~3); and iv)
biomimetic activation of small molecules (TRL~3).
The Advanced Energy Conversion Systems Thrust focuses on the development and evolution ofsystems which either lower carbon emission, increase energy efficiency, or both: i) the thermo-neutralelectrolysis cell has the potential to take a large share in the electrolyzer market due to its high efficiency
and low cost. I2CNER’s research will focus on the electrode structure in relation to water-assisted phase

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I2CNERseparation, the quantitative prediction of oxygen reduction, and the degradation mechanisms fortechnological functional oxides (TRL~4), ii) the energy storage system utilizing reversible fuel cell / novel
battery is a promising means to modulate/adjust supply and demand in electricity markets. We havedeveloped an air-battery based on SOFC/SOEC concepts where H 2 is used to reduce hematite to metallic
Fe thereby storing reducing equivalents as metallic Fe rather than H 2 . Future research will optimize thisdevice for higher roundtrip efficiency, capacity, and operating temperature (TRL~4), iii) I2CNER will
advance the exciting photovoltaics technology of hybrid perovskite solar cells whose adoption in the PV
markets can lead to drastic CO 2 reductions. I2CNER research will focus on increasing the efficiency of thelead-free systems we developed and found to exhibit promising durability (TRL~4).
The Multiscale Science and Engineering for Energy and the Environment Thrust pulls
together the range of challenges facing Japan’s and the world’s energy transition, namely the transition
from largely fossil fueled energy technology to a carbon-neutral or a carbon-free energy supply. In
addition, this Thrust enables the coordination of carbon reduction technologies, energy efficiency
technologies, and guidance for social, political, and investment strategies to coordinate this transition.
Negative emission technologies, contributed to by our CO 2 separation and monitoring technologies, areexpected to be supported by the public. I2CNER’s research will focus on i) PVT measurements andaccurate equations of state for new refrigerants for next generation adsorption heat-pumps that will
penetrate our society as the energy demand due to air conditioning increases (TRL~4). Our research on
activated carbons has already shown great promise for record adsorption capacity of ethanol and CO 2
(TRL~4), ii) further development of nanosized CO 2 separation membranes (TRL ~4) and CO 2 monitoring
technologies (TRL~7)—through improved understanding of the geophysics of CO 2 storage (TRL~1) andreservoir characterization (TRL~5)—will enable effective Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) deployment.
I2CNER will continue to explore the efficient and selective conversion of captured CO 2 into value added
products (TRL~4). In addition, capitalizing on talent and resources across KU, we will invite newmembers (WPI Professors) to diversify I2CNER’s expertise and research portfolio of the Thrust to include
the integration of renewable energy with the grid, the interaction of the energy networks with theenvironment, and social and economic dynamics. These members have already interacted with I2CNER
through our current Applied Math and Economics Initiative. New WPI Professor Murata of the Dept.
of Electrical Engineering will apply optimization theory to model residential energy consumption,accounting for customer behavior. New WPI Professor Managi of the Dept. of Urban and Environmental
Engineering will investigate “welfare” models of energy, work, leisure, health, and finances to rank socialand economic systems. From the Institute of Mathematics for Industry, new WPI Professor Shirai will use
Persistent Homology to understand porous materials for CO 2 storage and new WPI Professor Hirose will
use machine learning to analyze data and discover customer behaviors that affect the power grid.
3. Management System of the Research Organization* Describe the system of organizational management via which the center will execute the above-described research strategy and plan.

* In Appendix 1-3, list the Principal Investigators, enter the number of center personnel (researchers, research-support staff, andadministrative staff), and provide a diagram of the Center’s organizational management system.

To make best use of financial resources beyond 2020, I2CNER’s research operations, international
engagement, brain circulation, technology transfer, and socioeconomic outreach will be executed andadvanced through the “Three Thrust, Two Platform” approach. The three research Thrusts, outlined in
Section 2, will be interwoven with the Platform for International Collaborations and Partnerships
for I2CNER to maintain its international identity and the Platform for Societal Implementation andIndustrial Collaboration that will ensure technology transfer through the large and growing network of
I2CNER’s industrial interactions. I2CNER will continue to operate under the strong leadership of Director
Sofronis who will report to Executive Vice President (EVP) in charge of Research and Finance, Prof.
Kazuhide Inoue. Administrative Director Masuda with his extensive experience working in industry, both in
the U.S. and Japan, will continue the oversight of the Administrative Office.
I2CNER’s research program beyond 2020 will be anchored on 24 PIs (23 presently in I2CNER) andoperate under the umbrella of three research thrusts with the following composition: i) Advanced Energy
Materials: Tenured I2CNER PIs Yamauchi, Kubota, Staykov, Sofronis; tenured I2CNER Associate
Professors Yoon, Takahashi, and M. Watanabe; and KU PIs Ogo and Sugimura. The research activities of
the thrust will be supported by the international PIs Kirchheim and Somerday of the platform forinternational collaborations and partnerships, ii) Advanced Energy Conversion Systems: Tenured I2CNER
PI Matsumoto; and KU PIs Adachi, Ishihara, Takata, Fujigaya, and Sasaki. The research activities of thethrust will be supported by the international PIs Tuller, Kilner, Lippert, and Gewirth of the platform forinternational collaborations and partnerships, iii) Multiscale Science and Engineering for Energy and the

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Environment: Tenured I2CNER PIs Saha and Fujikawa; tenured I2CNER Associate Professor Chapman, KU
PIs Tsuji and H. Watanabe; I2CNER WPI Professor Itaoka; international PI Zhang, and international PI
Stubbins to be appointed effective April 1, 2020.
I2CNER’s Platform for Societal Implementation and Industrial Collaboration will be tasked
to accelerate impactful technology development and transfer to industry, and foster the advancement ofinteractions with national and international agencies. This platform will focus on the goals currently
pursued by the Industrial Research Division, augmented with a societal dimension to advance theengagement of I2CNER with industry and society at a broader institutional level. Resources will besought to staff the platform with an expert that can bring the I2CNER research accomplishments to theattention of national and international corporations and help I2CNER execute its mission as a resource tonational agencies such as METI on the current state-of-the-art in energy research. With regard to thesocial implementation, I2CNER’s research will seek to deal with critical policy issues in Japan such as theaging, shrinking population with regard to low-carbon energy transition and will consider the impact of
behavior, specifically the environmental and social equity impacts of household consumption andparticipation in the energy system. The Industrial Advisory Board will continue on with its role inadvising on research relevance and counseling on technology transfer. Lastly, this platform will beworking with the PIs and faculty of the three thrusts to pursue joint research funding among national
agencies of the government of Japan, e.g. JSPS, and counterpart international agencies, e.g. US NSF.

4. Plan for Promoting the International Circulation of World’s Best Brains* Describe your policy and concrete plan for promoting the international circulation of the world’s best brains, which is an importantfunction of the WPI Academy.

I2CNER will maintain its international identity through the Platform for International Collaborations
and Partnerships. This platform will involve Illinois, MIT, Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) at ETH, Imperial
College, London, University of Edinburgh, Göttingen, and other institutions from the list of our 25
partnering institutions, e.g. the Helmholtz Institute Forschungszentrum Juelich. Through this platform,
I2CNER will continue its successful program on graduate student and postdoc exchanges, and facultysabbaticals. In addition, all 8 of our overseas Principal Investigators are world-class researchers who are
actively involved in I2CNER’s research operations. They spend between one to seven weeks at KU andtheir ongoing relationships with the faculty of KU are having a transformative impact upon I2CNER’s
overall research culture.
The Kyushu-Illinois memorandum of understanding (MOU) was renewed and went into effect on
August 26, 2019 and a specific agreement for student exchange was signed on September 30, 2019.
The revised MOU has cemented the strategic partnership between the two universities and broadened
the collaborations to other colleges and departments (such as engineering, social sciences, humanities,
economics, law, agriculture etc.). The Satellite Institute at the UIUC will continue to facilitate cooperative
research activities and personnel exchanges as follows: i) Kyushu faculty, postdoc, and student visits toIllinois will be facilitated by departmental and university personnel that will assist with visas, visitor
accommodations, and sabbaticals, ii) shared facilities and laboratory and office space will remain
available, iii) Satellite office will be maintained and the director’s time will be arranged, iv) tuition waivers
will be explored for up to 4 PhD students from Kyushu if they come to Illinois to take courses, andengage in collaborative research.
Our international collaborations will be advanced by young researcher exchanges, travel, andsabbaticals. These operations will be supported by the Gaisan Yokyu in the short term and by funds ourresearchers will secure. Successful examples are the upcoming sabbatical or Prof. Chapman at UIUC
through the Progress 100 Program, the collaboration of PI Takata with the University of Edinburgh
through Progress 100 and ThermaSMART (European Union Horizon 2020 project), the collaborations of
PI Ishihara with PSI and PI Matsumoto with European centers and universities through SICORP, JST
Programs respectively with the Swiss Federal Science Foundation and the European Interest Group forJapan. Also, I2CNER researchers will leverage the established infrastructure, research culture, andinternational partnerships of the Institute to continue already established joint international programs
such as the Partnerships in International Research and Education (PIRE) with UIUC and the Core-to-Core
Program with the Imperial College, London, PSI, and MIT. Lastly, I2CNER will continue to work with the
University of Göttingen to establish an International Research Training Group that can be co-funded by
the German Research Foundation (DFG) and JSPS.
I2CNER’s annual international symposium and international thematic research workshops over the
past decade have proven to be successful platforms for international engagement and exploration of
new scientific directions as they have attracted hundreds of distinguished researchers from across the

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I2CNER

globe. I2CNER will continue organizing this symposium and workshops within the Annual KU “Energy
Week” event supported by the KU’s Platform Q-PIT. In addition, I2CNER will continue to organize withother WPI Centers the WPI-Symposium at the E-MRS meetings and the biennial Japan-France Workshop
on Nanomaterials, NanoMat. Lastly, the successful I2CNER Seminar Series to engage key members of theinternational community from academia, national laboratories, industry, and government agencies (policy
makers) will be continued.

5. Plan for Disseminating the WPI Program Achievements* Describe your policy and concrete plan for disseminating WPI center achievements both within the host institution and to otheruniversities, especially their experience and know-how accumulated on establishing top world research institutes and advancing system
reforms.

Drawing from its international research experiences and approaches, I2CNER will continue its
central role within Q-PIT by helping to cross-pollinate a wide range of collaborations on energy research
between KU research units of diverse disciplines including social sciences, economics, law, and politicalsciences. This will allow I2CNER to capitalize on opportunities to broaden and enrich its energy portfolio
while also helping Q-PIT advance its mission to catalyze interactions between disparate disciplines andunits.
I2CNER will continue its efforts to support the KU Administration’s i) institutionalized crossappointment employment system as in the case of Prof. Y. Baryshnikov of UIUC that was employed by
IMI during the summer of 2019 and is to be employed in the summer of 2020, and ii) Intra-University
Faculty Transfer System. By way of example, in FY2020, three additional senior KU PIs from other KU
units will be transferred to I2CNER. To advance the career of promising young researchers, I2CNER will
work with the Inamori Frontier Research Center at KU.
I2CNER in collaboration with the College of Engineering will continue the successful undergraduate
exchange program that involves an one-month visit to Illinois by KU undergraduates for research under
the supervision of Satellite faculty and interactions with Illinois’ Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies(CEAPS) to enhance their cultural experience of the University. In association with this student
exchange, I2CNER will continue hosting summer visits of American undergraduates at KU laboratories
and the tradition of organizing the annual student-exchange workshop in Fukuoka under thesponsorship of the US Consulate.
A significant mission of the Platform for Societal Implementation and Industrial
Collaboration will be the engagement of the member corporations of the Japan-US Business Council(JUBC) with I2CNER in the form of partnership and industrial investment through the model of open
innovation whereby industry engineers are imbedded in I2CNER laboratories. Such activities of the
Platform will be a most demonstrable example of feeding the I2CNER accomplishments back into thesociety.

6. Plan for Sustaining the WPI Brand* Describe your plan for sustaining and enhancing the WPI brand.

I2CNER will sustain the WPI Brand by focusing on advancing outstanding research that setsinternational benchmarks, which brings international recognition, and by expanding global visibility.
In the area of scientific excellence, I2CNER’s research themes outlined in the three Thrusts are theones in which I2CNER already set the international benchmarks and will continue to do so in the future.
In collaboration with the IMI, I2CNER will continue involving 21st century mathematics (e.g. persistenthomology) in engineering research, which is an unprecedented fusion of disciplines initiative. As of
March 31, 2019, the Institute’s researchers were responsible for organizing, co-organizing, or serving on
the scientific committees for 207 international conferences, 278 international conference
sessions/symposia or workshops, and 68 I2CNER international workshops. Our researchers have given
565 keynote, plenary and invited presentations in international conferences and fora. Indeed, this is solid
evidence that I2CNER will strive to expand on this record of recognized international engagement andglobal visibility. I2CNER placed 45 of our researchers at various Japanese (excluding KU) andinternational institutions. I2CNER will continue fostering its WPI culture for young researchers bymaintaining and improving its WPI research environment that it has built over the past 10 years.

7. Support by Host Institution* Describe measures that the host institution will take to support and sustain your Center.

I2CNER is a permanent research Institute of KU and at the center of the KU mid-term plan to“promote leading-edge research related to the carbon-neutral energy research domain in collaboration
with the University of Illinois, which is conducted at the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral
Energy Research (I2CNER).” During the past 10 years, I2CNER has been successful at winning andKyushu University - 5
I2CNERfilling positions, and KU will make efforts to secure additional positions for the Institute. By the end of
FY18, I2CNER filled a total of 6 Associate and 4 Full Professor positions, and 2 tenure-track assistantprofessors on applied math for energy jointly with IMI. I2CNER is currently in the process of hiring
another tenured Associate Professor in FY2019. Lastly KU envisions for I2CNER to become a primaryresearch entity within Q-PIT.
The university will grant I2CNER Building I for the time being and Building II constructed with WPI
funds for 10 years (total floor space of 4,236 m2 and 5,014 m2, respectively) free of charge to provide
the I2CNER researchers with the requisite environment to continue their cutting-edge research. The
space provided by this support significantly exceeds the space allotment per researcher under theuniversity's regular policy
KU will support the salaries of the required staff members, thus securing the successful operation of
the “Three Thrust, Two Platform” new I2CNER organization
8. Resource Allocation Plan
* Describe your plans over a 5-year period for allocating resources acquired from both the host institution (e.g., financial resources andpositions) and from external research funding to execute the Center’s functions and activities described above.
* In Appendix 4, enter concrete numbers in the Resource Allocation Plan.

Financial resources and positions to be acquired from the host institution and their allocation have been
listed in the preceding Section 7. Regarding external resources, our vision is that I2CNER can remainstrong and agile by developing cores of embedded centers funded by external agencies (bothindustrial and governmental) and securing industrial projects. Drawing from the experience gained
from the establishment of the NEXT-RP Center, I2CNER will intensify its efforts to establish similarinternal research centers in response to national initiatives by government agencies such as NEDO,
METI, Riken, JSPS, and JST. Riken, for example, currently does not have a location in the Western partof Japan, making KU a strong option for a potential future center. With regard to establishing internal
research centers, I2CNER will i) rely on input from the External Advisory Board to create new ideas thatwill attract funding from international foundations (e.g. Gates Foundation, Simons Foundation), ii) utilize
the Platform for Societal Implementation and Industrial Collaboration to attract industrial projects forcollaborative efforts in the form of open innovation on topics of mutual interest, such as the ongoingproject for Mobile Energy Storage for Low-Carbon Society. Successful examples of activities that
attracted industrial funding are the workshops that were organized individually for co-electrolysis of
CO 2 and H 2 O, thermal management for fuel cells, and electrochemical energy conversion andhydrogen materials compatibility. Our ability to obtain industrial funding to support our research
operations is demonstrated by the 122 collaborative projects we have had with major corporations (seeSection 1) and the 53 projects that resulted in technology transfer events.
I2CNER will intensify the ongoing dialogue with the Japan-US Business Council (JUBC) for potential
investment in I2CNER. As a result of the meeting with the JUBC in Tokyo on Dec. 9, 2019, we are incommunication with a general trading and investing company. In general, it is our plan that all our
projects in the three Thrusts will seek industrial support.
Lastly, I2CNER researchers will leverage the established international visibility of the Institute toaggressively expand our existing research infrastructure as described in our JSPS Progress Reportsubmitted for the Center’s final evaluation, under “Ongoing Funded Research Programs,” page 14.

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Appendix 1

World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
List of Principal InvestigatorsIf the number of principal investigators exceeds 10, add columns as appropriate.
Give age as of 1 April 2020
For investigators who will not participate in the Center project at the time of this application, indicate the time that their participation
will start in the “Notes” column.

Age

Affiliation(Position title, department,
organization)

62

Ph.D.,
Micromechanics ofProf.,
materials,
Ongoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University Environmental
degradationof materials

58

Dr. of Engineering,
Catalyst and solidProf.,
Ongoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University stateelectrochemistry

3. Chihaya Adachi

56

Prof.,
Department of Applied
Chemistry,
Kyushu University

4. Seiji Ogo

56

Dr. of Science,Prof.,
I2CNER, Kyushu University Green Chemistry55

Dr. of Science andTechnology,
Prof.,
Ongoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University Fuel cell materials,
Inorganic materials

74

Prof.,
Department of Materials
Science and Engineering,
Massachusetts Instituteof Technology, USA

Dr. of Engineering
Science, Functional
Ongoing
electroceramicmaterials

7. John A. Kilner

73

Prof.,
Department of Materials,
Imperial College, London,UK

Ph.D.,
Materials for solidoxide fuel cells
and electrolysers

8. Joichi Sugimura

62

Dr. of Engineering,
Prof.,
Tribology andOngoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University
Machine Design

9. Yasuyuki Takata

63

Dr. of Engineering,
Prof.,
ThermalOngoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University
Engineering

58

Prof.,
Department of
Ph.D.,Engineering Mechanics,
Thermal Science
Tsinghua University, China

Name

1. Center Director
Petros Sofronis

2. Tatsumi Ishihara

5. Kazunari Sasaki

6. Harry L. Tuller

10. Xing Zhang

Academic degrees
and specialties(Notes)Enter “new” or “ongoing”

Dr. of Engineering,
Materials science, Ongoing
device physics

Kyushu University - 1

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

I2CNER

Appendix 1

51

Dr.,
South West ResearchInstitute, USA

76

Ph.D.,
Hydrogen inProf.,
Metals,The Institut fürThermodynamics
Ongoing
Metallphysik, University of of alloys,
Göttingen, Germany
Interstitial solution
and diffusion inglasses46

Dr. of Science,
Solid-state physicalchemistry, SolidProf.,
Ongoingstate NMR, Nano
I2CNER, Kyushu University
materials,
Catalysis,
Hydrogen storage

14. Andrew A. Gewirth60

Prof.,
Department of Chemistry,
Ph.D.,
University of Illinois at
Chemistry
Urbana Champaign,USA

15. Shigenori Fujikawa

49

Dr. of Engineering,
Associate Prof.,
Nanoscience andOngoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University
engineering40

Dr. of Science,
Earth and
Planetary Science,Prof.,
Ongoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University Resourceengineering, Space
exploration

53

Dr. of Engineering,
Solid
Prof.,
electrochemistry
Ongoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University
and Solid state
ionics54

Dr. of Engineering,
ThermalEngineering, Heat
Transfer,
Prof.,
Refrigeration and Ongoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University
Air-conditioning
Engineering,
Adsorption
Desalination

57

Prof.,
Department of Chemistry
and Applied Biosciences,
Laboratory of Inorganic
Chemistry, Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology
Zurich, and Paul Scherrer

11. Brian P. Somerday

12. Reiner Kirchheim

13. Miho Yamauchi

16. Takeshi Tsuji

17. Hiroshige
Matsumoto

18. Bidyut B. Saha

19. Thomas Lippert

Ph.D.,
Materials Scienceand Engineering

Ongoing

OngoingDr. of Science,
Ongoing
Physical Chemistry

Kyushu University - 2

I2CNER

Appendix 1

Institut, Thin Films &Interfaces Group, VilligenPSI, Switzerland

20. Tsuyohiko Fujigaya

43

21. Alexsandar T.
Staykov

41

22. Hiroaki Watanabe

47

23. Masanobu Kubota

50

24. James Stubbins

71

Prof.,
Department of Applied
Chemistry,
Kyushu University

Ph.D. ofChemistry,
Polymer Chemistry
OngoingandSupramolecular
ChemistryDr. of Science,
Physical andAssociate Prof.,
Ongoing
I2CNER, Kyushu University Theoretical
Chemistry
Associate Prof.,
Department of Mechanical Ph.D.
OngoingEngineering, Kyushu
Engineering
University
Dr. of Engineering,
Strength ofengineering
Prof.,New (As of April 1, 2019)
materials, Metal
2
I CNER, Kyushu University
fatigue, Fretting
fatigue, Hydrogenstructural materials
Prof.,
Department of Nuclear,
Plasma, and RadiologicalEngineering, University of
Illinois at UrbanaChampaign

Ph.D. Materials
Science,
Development andassessment ofmaterials forenergy systems

Kyushu University - 3

New (Proposed for FY
2020)

I2CNER

Appendix 2

World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
Number of Center Personnel
FY2020
Number of persons
Researchers％

102

Overseas researchers

34

33%

Female researchers

7

7%

Principal investigators (PIs)

24

Overseas PIs

11

46%

Female PIs

1

4%

Other researchers

58

Overseas researchers

13

22%

Female researchers3

5%

Postdocs

20

Overseas Postdocs

10

50%

Female Postdocs

3

15%

Research support staffs

46

Administrative staffs

13

TOTAL

161

Kyushu University -1

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Appendix 3

World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
Diagram of Organizational Management System- Diagram the Center’s organizational management system and its position within the host institution in an easily understood manner.

Kyushu University - 1
I2CNER