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Outline of the Advanced ICT Research Institute

We are aiming to create a new paradigm at the ICT frontier by uniting various research fields. We expect to provide dramatic solutions to the problems posed by an explosive increase of the transmission rate, data capacity, and electrical power consumption in the information and communications field, and thus make a contribution to society. Moreover, we are promoting research collaboration with Industry, Academia, and Government with respect to basic research on international information communication.

  • Director General

    Director General
    Wada Naoya,Ph.D.

  • Messege from Director General

    "Creating and developing innovation beyond conventional concepts”

    NICT has been engaged in R&D in five strategic areas characterized by five keywords: observe, connect, create, protect and pioneer. Five research institutes lead these R&D efforts. The Advanced ICT Research Institute is carrying out advanced basic research with a pioneering spirit, aiming to open up new horizons in ICT research.
    The Fifth Medium to Long-term Plan has been adopted in April 2021. Our area of R&D focus changed from frontier research to frontier science research. The term “science” is added to heighten expectations for us to make significant breakthroughs by performing cutting-edge R&D. We view ourselves as pioneers exploring the frontiers of science.
    CiNet in Suita, Osaka is transferred to our institute in Kobe, Hyogo and Koganei, Tokyo. This arrangement has made the Advanced ICT Research Institute the largest research organization within NICT and has expanded our R&D capabilities.
    The Advanced ICT Research Institute is working to create and develop innovation beyond conventional concepts.

　　
　　　

Fellow

About the NICT Fellow

The title of NICT Fellow is the pre-eminent scientific and technical distinction of NICT, which is granted to select members of NICT in recognition of their outstanding scientific achievements, technical achievements, and leadership in science, engineering, programming, technology, and services. Since the title was established in 2009, only six experts have earned this elite status. Two Fellows are currently carrying out their activities at the Advanced ICT Research Institute.

  • Kazuhiro Oiwa, Ph.D.

    Kazuhiro Oiwa, Ph.D.
    Distinguished Researcher

  • Kazuhiro Oiwa, Ph.D.
    Distinguished Researcher

    Dr. Kazuhiro Oiwa joined the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, former CRL) at Kobe, Japan in 1993, and he has achieved various landmark results in research on the biophysics of protein motors (biomolecular machines) using in vitro reconstitution systems and single-molecule measurements. Outstanding among his research achievements is a model of the force generation mechanism of the protein motor, dynein, which was proposed on the basis of biophysical and structural studies. His model has led to various important research projects and the results have greatly contributed to the progress of this research field. His research papers have been cited more than 400 times in leading scientific publications. As a research group leader, he has applied his knowledge and techniques to understanding the mechanical properties of protein motors and has published more than 50 papers in leading scientific journals, such as Nature and Cell. He has also applied his knowledge of protein motors to the development of nanometer-scale devices and nanometer-scale communications (also known as molecular communications) and to understanding of ensemble behavior of self-propelled particles and resultant pattern formation (tentatively named natural intelligence).After serving as the Director General of the Advanced ICT Research Institute at NICT from 2008 to 2013, he is currently a Distinguished Researcher and Fellow of NICT. He was awarded the 23rd Osaka Science Prize in 2005 and Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2020.

    2001-2008
    Group Leader, Protein Biophysics Group, CRL,Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
    2008-2012
    Director General, Advanced ICT Research Center, NICT
    2013-present
    Distinguished Researcher, NICT Fellow
    2021-present
    Associate Director General, Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet)
    learn more >
  • Toshio Yanagida, Ph.D

    Toshio Yanagida, Ph.D
    Research & Development Advisor of CiNet

  • Toshio Yanagida, Ph.D
    Research & Development Advisor of CiNet

    Prof. Toshio Yanagida has established a technique for observing, manipulating, and measuring the dynamic properties of protein motors at the level of single molecules with extremely high spatial resolution at the nanometer level, temporal resolution at the millisecond level, and force detection at the piconewton level. Based on this research, he established the "Yuragi principle," which states that biomolecules effectively utilize thermal fluctuations for energy-saving and highly efficient energy conversion. Through molecular, cellular, and brain function measurements, he showed that this "Yuragi principle" is unique to living organisms that have acquired energy-saving, flexible, and autonomous working echanisms at the expense of precision, and that it can be applied to all levels of biological activities driven by protein molecules. In 1998, Prof. Yanagida became a leader of the "Information and Communication Breakthrough Basic Research 21" project and led the Brain Function Group of the Advanced ICT Research Institute. Since then, Prof. Yanagida has pioneered a new research field at NICT that combines cognitive science and information science, and in 2011, he established the Center for Information and Neural Network (CiNet) and became its first director. Prof. Yanagida led this research for 11 years, bringing together talented individuals from around the world to establish a foundation for promoting integrated research on cognitive science and information and communication technology. Furthermore, under the slogan of "Omoroi research," Prof. Yanagida drew out the abilities of his researchers and produced many pioneering achievements in such fields as brain information decoding, computational social neuroscience, cognitive sensorimotor control and learning, and perceptual information processing. As indicated by his receipt of the Imperial Prize and the Japan Academy Prize and his election as a Person of Cultural Merit and a member of the Japan Academy, these original research achievements and leadership have been highly acclaimed in Japan and abroad. Prof. Yanagida became a NICT Fellow in 2022 and energetically continues his research on information processing in the brain using "Yuragi".

    1988-2010
    Professor, Osaka University
    1998-2003
    Leader, "Information and Communication Breakthrough Basic Research 21" project
    2011-2022
    Director General, Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), NICT
    2022-present
    NICT Fellow
    learn more >

History

History of Advanced ICT Research Institute

1989

Founded (Four laboratories)

1991

Completion of Laboratory Building 1, began fully-fledged research activities in the Kansai region

2001

Newly inaugurated as the Kansai Advanced Research Center, Communications Research Laboratory, Incorporated Administrative Agency（KARC)

Advanced ICT Research Institute（Kobe）View from the sky

1989
Founded (Four laboratories)
1991
Completion of Laboratory Building 1, began fully-fledged research activities in the Kansai region
1989
Founded (Four laboratories)
1991
Completion of Laboratory Building 1, began fully-fledged research activities in the Kansai region
1993
Increased in size to three information-related laboratories, three physicality-related laboratories, one specialist laboratory and three bio-related laboratories
1994
Completion of Laboratory Building 2
1996
Completion of Clean Room and APII Buildings
1998
Completion of Laboratory Building 3
2000
Three information-related laboratories were moved to the Keihanna Human Info-Communication Research Center
2001.1
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications was reorganized into the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
2001.3
Completion of Laboratory Building 4
2001.4
Newly inaugurated as the Kansai Advanced Research Center, Communications Research Laboratory, Incorporated Administrative Agency
2004.4
Communications Research Laboratory and Telecommunications Advancement Organization are reorganized as National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
2006.4
Reorganized as Kobe Advanced ICT Research Center
2011.4
Reorganized as Advanced ICT Research Institute (3 Laboratories at Kobe and 2 Laboratories at Koganei)
2013.4
Brain ICT laboratory was moved to the Center for Information and Neural Networks(2 Laboratories at Kobe and 2 Laboratories at Koganei)

Access

  • Map-Koganei Map-Koganei

  • Advanced ICT Research Institute

    Koganei Frontier Research Center

    Planning Office・Quantum ICT Laboratory・Terahertz ICT Device Laboratory・Green ICT Device Laboratory

    [Location]

    4-2-1 Nukui-Kitamachi,Koganei,Tokyo 184-8795,Japan
    Tel： +81-42-327-7429

    Website >
  • cinet Map-cinet

  • Advanced ICT Research Institute

    Center for Information and Neural Networks（CiNet）

    Suita Planning Office・Brain Networks and Communication Laboratory・Brain Function Analysis and Imaging Laboratory・Neural Information Engineering Laboratory

    [ Location ]

    1-4 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka, 565-0871
    E-mail: info at cinet.jp

    Website >

Contact

  • General Planning Office

    To support the research activities of the Advanced ICT Research Institute, the Planning Office is responsible for the institute’s general and financial affairs.

  • We also contribute to：

    1. supporting collaborations with other research institutes and companies
    2. managing intellectual property rights
    3. conducting public relations

    We will welcome any inquiry as to the visit to our institute, research collaborations and technical supports in the fields of information and communications technology.

    ♥ Contact Information
    Tel：　+81-78-969-2100
    Fax：　+81-78-969-2200
    mail
    Dr.Karc&MikuDr.Karc&Miku