Fostering of Researchers

Organization of international interactive collaboration

Since before 1995, the University of Tokyo has been inviting international researchers with the support from JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan and Juten Kenkyu Kokusai-kyoryoku Jigyo and has been conducting international collaborative research activities based in IIS (Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo). The first generation of young foreign researchers have launched new MEMS/NEMS research in their home countries and are seeking continuous joint research with us for the years to come.

Under the principle that we should foster the next generation of MEMS/NEMS researchers by utilizing their vitality, we offer the following three fostering programs for the young researchers.

• Implementation of international collaborative research with the dispatch of young researchers.
• Holding joint research workshops with the participation of young researchers.
• Holding a week-long international school for the domestic and foreign researchers with the lectures by the researchers and faculty members of the international research institutes.

Sending young researchers abroad for conducting international collaborative research and holding workshops

The University of Tokyo has been enhancing young researchers’ capabilities and conducting international collaborative research with overseas research institutes by sending graduate students and postdoctoral young researchers to overseas partner research institutes supported by JSPS International Training Program for young researchers (ITP, Fiscal year 2007 to 2011) and Core-to-Core Program (A. Advanced Research Networks）(Core-to-Core, Fiscal year 2012 to 2016).  Overseas dispatching and participation in workshops with these supports had achieved to enhance young researchers’ motivation to pursue doctoral degrees and get research posts at the universities and other institutions after finishing graduate school. Therefore, our program continues to send young researchers to overseas research institutes to conduct joint research in order to reproduce distinguished young researchers. We also give young researchers the opportunity to lead the organization of workshops and present their research there to have deeper discussion than presenting it at the international conferences, which promotes the enhancement of young researchers’ international presence.

Holding international schools for young researchers

Every year we hold a week-long international school with the combination of practical training and lectures for young researchers since MEMS/NEMS requires highly specialized knowledge and technique in a variety of research areas. So far, about 50 researchers have participated each time and collaborative research institutes take turns organizing it.

Exchange program, Accommodation with the use of research facilities, Training (Mentor system)

In November 2005, based on the successful achievement of researcher exchange with CNRS,  IIS established NAMIS (Nano and Micro Systems), an international multilateral collaborative research network on MEMS/NEMS, with international partner institutions in France, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, South Korea, Canada and United States by utilizing CNRS IRG (International Research Group) system. In our agreement, we advocate (1) Exchanges of researchers, (2) Management of joint research, (3) Joint application for external funds, (4) Jointly hosted workshops, and (5) Educational program for young researchers. Partner institutions, which had accepted the researchers including graduate students sent with the support from the previous Core-to-Core program, have established the system to provide the necessary materials and facilities for conducting research and the guidance by local researchers for their research and experiments (Mentor system).  

Drastic medical-engineering collaborative education program

In the evaluation of our predecessor Core-to-Core program A “International Research Hub on Bio-fusion Micro-nano Mechatronics” (2012-2016), it is mentioned that “Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo has an excellent tangible/intangible environment in MEMS/NEMS as an international research hub” and “(Partner institution) SMMiL-E base is highly expected to develop as a new MEMS/NEMS applied medicine collaborative research hub.”　Meanwhile, it is advised that we need to “include medical researchers on the University of Tokyo side.” Based on those comments, our program included Prof. Teru Okitsu, a medical researcher and doctor, as a core researcher and we conduct drastic medical-engineering collaborative research in a medical field, and regularly hold a seminar for young engineering researchers to provide medical knowledge and technique.