# Development of a “highly visible research center” –World Premier International Research Center (WPI) Initiative

## Background:

Over recent years, global competition in recruiting the best and brightest researchers has intensified. To maintain and improve Japan’s scientific and technological standing, we will need to position ourselves within the global flow of outstanding human resources while creating research platforms that will naturally attract and amass such human resources in Japan.

Given this imperative, it is the aim of the WPI Initiative to establish research centers of high caliber that will win high esteem throughout the world for the outstanding results they produce. Like Bio-X at Stanford University, the MIT Media Lab, Janelia Farm at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), or MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the United Kingdom, these research centers should be capable of attracting frontline researchers from around the world and of advancing research that integrates cutting-edge fields while pioneering new domains of scientific pursuit.

## Program Overview:

Based on the 3rd Science and Technology Basic Plan and a long-term strategy initiative “Innovation 25,” this initiative aims, through focused support on advanced research institutions in Japan and promoting the independent measures of each institution such as bringing in organizational reforms and others, to establish “globally visible research centers” which attract world-class researchers willing to work in a superb research environment.

## Program Content:

○ High caliber research = Critical mass (a mass over a certain limit) of outstanding researchers

• Bringing together top-level researchers within a host research institution in the research field in which Japan is strong.

• Inviting top-notch researchers from all over the world

☐ Attractive research environment of top international standard

• Strong management system and director leadership.

• Use of English, performance-based remuneration system

• Strong support functions

• Facilities and equipment appropriate for a top world-level research center

Open recruitment for FY2007

Support period: 10 years (Interim evaluation at every five years)

*Possible 5-year extension for projects with outstanding results

• Bring universities and research institutions to the world standard.

• Fostering world–class researchers through globally competitive research environment

• Creating seeds of innovation by advancing cutting-edge research

## Overview of WPI Centers

## Kyoto University

## I nstitute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS)

## ■ Research Overview:

An interdisciplinary field is being created that integrates material and cell sciences, with an emphasis on stem cells. It seeks to elucidate phenomena on the mesoscale of 10-100 nm, which cannot be predicted using empirical knowledge. Applications of this research will include environment-friendly, energy-saving chemical reaction systems, artificial photosynthesis, in vivo drug synthesis and detoxification technology, and world-leading regenerative medicine.

## Osaka University

Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC)

## ■ Research Overview:

Highly advanced imaging technology is being developed to allow in vitro observation of in vivo immune cell behavior and inter-cellular communication. Using this technology to fully elucidate the dynamic immune system, breakthrough advances will be sought in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and cancer.

## Tohoku University Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR)

## ■ Research Overview:

Research Overview: By integrating Tohoku University's fundamental research capacity in such fields as material science, physics and chemistry, methods are being developed to freely manipulate atoms and molecules. They will be used to produce new forms of matter and new materials—e.g. nano-patterned metallic glass with hard magnetism and eco-model emission of light materials—with novel, highly advanced functions.

## National Institute for Materials Science

## I nternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)

## ■ Research Overview:

Research Overview: By introducing "nanoarchitectonics"—that is, a new system for arranging nanoscale units in an intended configuration—effort is being made to shift the paradigm of materials development. Being sought are new materials that can sustain the ongoing advancement of materials science. These include the development of revolutionary super-conductive materials, novel materials for advancing neural information processing, and innovative materials for fabricating photoelectric conversion devices.

## The University of Tokyo

## Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (IPMU) ■ Research Overview:

Research Overview: Research on dark energy, dark matter, neutrinos, the grand unified theory (e.g., superstring theory, quantum gravity) is being combined synergistically with knowledge derived from mathematics, cosmology and physics in an effort to elucidate the forces acting on elements and the relationship between time-space structure and the origin of gravity, and, in turn, to unravel the mysteries of the universe's birth and evolution.