Message from the Dean

Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) was established in October 1991 as a national graduate university without undergraduate programs. Its mission is to advance world-class research in frontier areas of science and technology while providing high-level education based on these research achievements, thereby fostering talented individuals who will contribute to the future of society.

For more than three decades since its establishment, NAIST has pursued cutting-edge research centered on three core fields: Information Science, Biological Sciences, and Materials Science. By deepening expertise in each field while actively promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, the university has pioneered new academic frontiers and has produced many researchers and highly skilled professionals who contribute to global science, industry, and society. In 2018, building upon the achievements accumulated in these three fields, the university integrated them into the Graduate School of Science and Technology. The Graduate School now offers educational programs based on the three core disciplines, together with interdisciplinary programs such as the Data Science Program and the Digital Green-innovation Program. These programs enable students to design their own academic paths based on their interests and aspirations, while cultivating both advanced expertise and a broad perspective that transcends disciplinary boundaries.

One of NAIST's distinctive strengths lies in its highly international academic environment, symbolized by a high proportion of international students and researchers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Intellectual exchange and collaboration in such a diverse community serve as a powerful driving force for the creation of new scientific knowledge and technological innovation. To address increasingly complex global challenges such as demographic change, climate change, and energy sustainability, in 2024, the Center for Digital Green-innovation was located within the graduate school, alongside the establishment of the Medilux Research Center in the graduate school. Building upon these initiatives, NAIST launched the Advanced Information Specialist Course in 2025. This course promotes the integration of advanced information technologies, including artificial intelligence and data science, not only within the field of Information Science but also across Biological Sciences and Materials Science. Through this initiative, NAIST strengthens interdisciplinary education and research, fostering highly specialized professionals capable of leading emerging interdisciplinary domains in advanced science and technology.

Looking ahead, the Graduate School of Science and Technology will continue to pursue new scientific frontiers through the integration of knowledge across disciplines and to cultivate talented individuals who contribute to the sustainable development of society. Through collaboration with partners around the world, we remain committed to advancing science and technology for the benefit of humanity and the realization of a sustainable future.