Greeting

The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR) was established in 1939 at Osaka Imperial University, the predecessor of the current Osaka University, in response to the passionate demand and strong support from the Kansai business community to establish a research institute in Osaka on "the basics and applications of natural sciences necessary for industry." This year marks our 85th anniversary. Our philosophy has remained unchanged through the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras. We have constantly reshaped our organization and expanded our research fields to meet the evolving needs of society and times, with a focus on developing new interdisciplinary fusion research.

In 2009, we underwent reorganization and expansion, resulting in the establishment of four divisions: Division 1 (Information and Quantum Sciences), Division 2 (Advanced Materials and Beam Science), Division 3 (Biological and Molecular Sciences), and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. In 2010, we established Japan’s first inter-institute alliance, the Network-type Joint Research Center (NJRC) for Materials and Devices, comprising RIES (Hokkaido University), IMRAM (Tohoku University), CLS (Tokyo Institute of Technology), IMCE (Kyushu University) and ourselves. This initiative aimed to leverage the outstanding research and facilities of each institute. We also initiated joint research projects, evolving into the Dynamic Alliance for Open Innovation Bridging Human, Environment and Materials (Five-star Alliance) since 2022. Furthermore, we are driving Japan's first networked "Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices," operated collectively by the five institutes (with us as the core center from 2022). By enhancing our research capabilities through collaboration with researchers from universities and companies nationwide and nurturing young researchers, we have conducted over 6,400 joint research projects and achieved an "S (top)" grade in the latest year-end evaluation by MEXT.

While the world's social conditions and industrial structure rapidly evolve, our core philosophy remains steadfast: to swiftly identify the direction of next-generation science and technology and vigorously promote the application of advanced science and leading-edge technology. For instance, in the 1970s, we established research laboratories that paved the way for the current advancement in information science, contributing significantly to academic research development and social implementation. Building upon our rich history and achievements, the Artificial Intelligence Research Center (AIRC) was launched in 2019 to drive AI-driven science and its realization by integrating interdisciplinary research in quantum science, materials science, beam science, biology, molecular science, and nanotechnology science. In 2024, the AIRC will undergo strategic reorganization through the OU Master Plan Realization Acceleration Project to further enhance its capabilities.

In June 2021, we rebranded to "SANKEN" to elevate our international recognition, and in 2023, we refreshed our logo to reflect our commitment to challenging conversions and contributing to society. SANKEN will continue to accumulate knowledge across various scientific domains and strive to be a frontrunner in addressing global social challenges and sustainable development. We will foster collaboration and co-creation with diverse academic communities, universities, research institutions, companies, and stakeholders globally, maintaining our commitment to high-quality, world-class research and education. We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support, guidance, and encouragement.