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1958(Sakai)

The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (ISIR) was founded in 1939, as a part of Osaka University, basedon the strong desire of the business leaders of private enterprises in Osaka area. The purpose of the Institute is to study science necessary for industry and their applications. Since then, the institute had developed into one of the leading research organizations for science and engineering in Japan.

In 1939, ISIR had only 3 departments, however it had increased research areas and laboratories in fields of electronic engineering, computer science, metallurgy and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry biochemistry and beam science until the end of 1980's.

ISIR was restructured in 1995 to an Institute with 6 divisions with 24 departments for the purpose of promoting sciences on materials, information and biology. In 2001, the Second Research Building of ISIR was constructed. From 2002 through 2006, we have awarded as the best group in 21 Century COE Program that is originally the top 20 group plan in Japan.

In 2002, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Center has started after restructuring Research Center for Intermaterials and Radiation Laboratory. The new Center focuses its research on nanomaterials and devices, beam science for nanotechnology and industrial nanotechnology. In 2003, the Center Building was constructed. In the new Center Building, there is a Nanotechnology Process Foundry for supporting the nationwide research in the nanotechnology.

From 2006 to 2009, Materials Science & Technology Research Center for Industrial Creation between ISIR and IMRAM(Tagenken) in Tohoku Univ. was promoted. In 2007, it was expanded to the Post-Silicon Materials and Devices Research Alliance including RIES (Denshiken) in Hokkaido Univ, and CRL (Shigenken) in TIT.

In 2006, Academia Industry Relation Office (AIR-Office) has been settled in order to strengthen cooperation between the institute and industries. In 2008, Division of special project has been founded for promotion of research by young faculties.

In 2009, we have made a great restructuring since 1995 in order to develop the novel interdisciplinary research fields and exercise leadership in nanotechnology research field into 3 great divisions (Division of Information and Quantum Sciences, Division of Material and Beam Sciences, and Division of Biological and Molecular Sciences) and expand the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Center into that containing 6 full-size laboratories.

In 2010, in order to establish a core for academia-industry collaboration and open innovation, we have constructed the 5-storied SANKEN Incubation Building This building contains Osaka UniversityÅfs first on-campus rental laboratory space (Company Research Park) for private corporations, Nanoscience Techno-Core for project research, SANKEN Manufacturing Factory, and Osaka University Renovation Center for reusing the used research facilities.

In 2010, the Network Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices including ISIR (Osaka Univ.), IMRAM (Tohoku Univ.), RIES (Hokkaido Univ.), CRL((TIT) and IMCE (Kyusyu Univ.) has started under the authorization by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. ISIR is headquarter of this nation-wide 5 Institutes network. There is no precedent for such a great network of university institutes in Japan and it is greatly expected to promote the interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of materials and devices science..

Now, ISIR will further develop multidisciplinary research and academia-industry collaboration as a core of the nationwide collaboration network of university institutes.