Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Overview

The NARA Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) is a Japanese national university solely made up of graduate schools. These graduate schools specialize in three integrated focal areas: (1) Information Sciences, (2) Biological Sciences, and (3) Material Sciences. With this unique configuration and specialization, NAIST has become one of the premier research institutions in the country.

NAIST was established in 1991 with the Graduate School of Information Science as its first program. In the same year, the University Library was also established. Then, the following year, the Graduate School of Biological Sciences was added, while the Graduate School of Materials Science was established in 1996.

Since then, the Institute has built a reputation for engaging in cutting-edge research in these integrated areas in the country and abroad. With the growing interconnection of these three specialized areas and the call for greater multidisciplinary approaches, all schools were merged into one research department now known as the Graduate School of Science and Technology. However, the original department triad was retained to function as divisions under the umbrella department and they function as such, albeit with conscious interdisciplinary synthetic research engagement.

Currently, NAIST offers seven education programs. They are the Programs of (1) Information Science and Engineering, (2) Computational Biology, (3) Biological Science, (4) Bionanotechnology, (5) Materials Science and Engineering, (6) Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems, and (7) Data Science. All but the first three are interdisciplinary, while the first three are considered to be the base programs.

NAIST operates a host of laboratories to aid researchers and students in their studies. These laboratories are operated and maintained by their respective divisions. The Division of Information Science runs laboratories for Social Computing, Intelligent System Control, and Dependable Systems, among others. The Division of Biological Science has laboratories for the study of Plant Symbiosis, Cell Signaling, and Gene Regulation Research, among many. Lastly, the Division of Materials Science laboratories includes those for Sensing Devices, Supramolecular Science, and Data-Driven Chemistry.

Advanced and impactful research engagements are mostly organized by the NAIST’s Institute for Research Initiatives (IRI). This unit is tasked with improving NAIST’s scientific contribution and reputation throughout the world. It offers integrated research management services from conception and planning to execution and application.

The IRI is made up of two divisions: the Divison for Research Strategy and the Division for Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration. The latter promotes cooperative research engagements among multiple institutions with the aim of publishing and applying results for the benefit of the greater society. On the other hand, the former provides researchers and research groups aid through planning and other support activities.