TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Integrated Research Institute (IRI)

The 21st century world where we live in is faced with many challenges, both complex and diverse on a global scale. In the world surroundings, too, seeds of issues our society and industry are likely to face in the near future are accumulating. As a university, what can we do to solve such "future issues"? We decided to make this question as our starting point.

At universities there is an accumulation of diverse knowledge as well as many researchers with highly specialized skills. However, tackling these complex and diverse "future issues" will be difficult only with the conventional seeds-oriented research style at universities where researchers pursue research themes in line with existing research systems starting with their own topics of interest.

We have therefore created a plan for developing a new pillar of university research activities which we call "solutions research"-needs-oriented research activities that start with the "future issues" society will face, and create solutions by comprehensively employing the university's vast bank of knowledge and research skills. To promote these activities, a new research entity, the Integrated Research Institute, was established in October 2005.

What future should we build? We intend to formulate our vision and, with the cooperation of society and industry, local government bodies and governmental organizations, as well as citizens, present "solutions" that society will identify with.