Nara Institute of Science and Technology Division for Research Strategy

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International Collaborative Laboratories

The Division for Research Strategy leads a project to establish International Collaborative Laboratories in overseas research institutions and NAIST to promote the sophistication and globalization of NAIST’s research.

The International Collaborative Laboratories located overseas (International Satellite Laboratories) not only promote joint research with overseas partner institutions but serve as hubs for expanding the NAIST’s international network. On the other hand, the International Collaborative Laboratories located in NAIST promote international joint research by inviting overseas researchers and develop the NAIST’s international network by collaborating with other NAIST’s laboratories.

International Collaborative Laboratories (International Satellite Laboratories)

NAIST-UC DAVIS International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Science & Bioinformatics
  • Term: Mar. 2016 –
  • Collaborators: Profs. Oliver Fiehn, Ye Chen-Izu, Leighton Izu, Kyria Boundy-Mills and Glen Fox (University of California, Davis)
  • Research Aims: Medical- & Bio-Informatics Group conducts research on bioinformatics and medical informatics ranging from molecular biology to clinical applications and addresses the underlying universal principle of “living systems” by excavating the strata of cumulated layers of multiomics approaches. Yeast Amino Acid and Brewing Sciences Group conducts research on the underlying regulatory mechanism of proline utilization in yeast cells and its application to screening and breeding of yeast strains that can improve the brewing performance, taste and flavor of wine and beer.

University of California, Davis: A renowned university, founded in 1905 at Davis, California, which boasts of world-level life-sciences related research facilities. An agreement on academic exchange was established with NAIST in the year 2003. NAIST has taken in many of their researchers and exchange students, and has also dispatched a large number of researchers and students to University of California, Davis.


NAIST-NYCU International Collaborative Laboratory for Photonics Biotechnology
  • Term: May 2023 –
  • Collaborators: Profs. Teruki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Masuhara and Ian Liau (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)
  • Research Aims: The laboratory develops methods for producing and evaluating protein crystals/aggregates and related molecular materials, which are essential materials in bioprocess engineering, at the nano- and micro-levels using laser technologies. Ultimately, the laboratory aims to deepen the scientific principles of bioprocess engineering and related fields and apply optical science to biotechnology, as well as medical technology.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University: A top-class Taiwanese research university, established in 2021 through the merger of National Yang Ming University and National Chiao Tung University. NAIST has concluded academic exchange agreements with NYCU, and there are active exchanges and interactions of researchers and students between them.


International Collaborative Laboratories (in NAIST)

NAIST-École Polytechnique International Collaborative Laboratory for Energy Materials
  • Term: Feb. 2016 –
  • Collaborators: Profs. Pere Roca I Cabarroca and Yvan Bonnassieux (École Polytechnique)
  • Research Aims: The perovskite solar cell can be manufactured easily through printing technology without the need of a vacuum, and is promising relatively high efficiency. However, many problems and issues remain that need to be dealt with, such as its instability and environmental impact. Through collaboration based on École Polytechnique’s forte in printing technology and NAIST’s strengths in vacuum process technologies, the laboratory conducts research to enhance the efficiency of perovskite solar cells.

  • École Polytechnique: France’s oldest grande école and a higher education institution that produces elites in sciences and engineering. Napoleon converted it to a military school in 1794 to deal with the problem of insufficient numbers of technical commissioned officers after the French Revolution. It has now become a grande école of sciences and engineering. There are active exchanges and interactions of researchers and students with NAIST.


    NAIST-UBC International Collaborative Laboratory for Plant Cell Walls
    • Term: Feb. 2017 –
    • Collaborator: Prof. Lacey Anne Samuels (University of British Columbia)
    • Research Aims: Plant cell walls are the actual components of wood biomass, which is receiving attention for being a next-generation reproducible energy and material source. The laboratory conducts research to shed light on how plants create cell walls, and the functions of various structures exhibited by cell walls.

    • University of British Columbia: Founded in 1908 in British Columbia, Canada, being the largest comprehensive university in western Canada, with 40,000 undergraduates and 10,000 graduate students. It is one of the top universities in Canada, and is also recognized as a renowned institution worldwide. An agreement on academic exchange was established with NAIST in the year 2012, and there are active exchanges and interactions of researchers and students with NAIST.