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Professor Teruo Kishi
D.Eng. Director-General
It is said that the science and technology in Japan have reached a turning point. While some original achievements have been made in a sporadic way, Japan is required to play the top runner's role in a broad area, outrunning the catch-up phase. In addition to basic research aiming at creative works worthy of the Nobel prize, development research contributing to the cultivation of venture business is also requested. The basic guideline for science and technology has become difficult to settle, and an age of groping for is going to emerge, demanding some trial-and-error efforts. Naturally, the research organization has to be changed. Nowadays, most of attractive and promising themes are of interdisciplinary characters, and the simple extension of the conventional fields of academic category is not likely to provide bright prospects. Successful breakthrough may be expected from the concerted efforts by human resources of different backgrounds and diversified mentality, that is, joint endeavors among industrial, governmental and academic sectors as well as international collaboration are needed. In any way, the research system is requested to come out of the framework of homogeneity. Another point of essential importance is to formulate an integrated learning instead of going deep into fractioned disciplinary branches, as required in relation to the global issue and energy problem.
The role of the National Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, which aims at the integration of different disciplines through the collaboration among the industrial, governmental and academic sectors, is of great importance. Based on the concept of combining persons of different experiences, technologies of diverse origins, as well as oriental and occidental cultures, some projects have already been started and accomplished satisfactory outcomes. I hope the Institute will grow out of the idea of foundation to a challenging organization, attacking new themes and innovative systems while fearing nothing. It goes without saying that the success of an institute depends on the collective wisdom of research staff, and I swear to lead NAIR to a success through the cooperation of all the staff members, and the supports from the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology and other parties, both domestic and overseas.
