Promotion of materials research through integration with data science -- Materials Informatics
In order to promote the project to support the creation of innovation hubs of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), a research center by information integration, was established in April 2015. In response to a change in trends from materials research to data-driven research (research by information integration), this research center provides a place to combine data science with conventional materials science and accelerate new materials research. The satellite office for the project titled MI 2 I: ”Materials research by Information Integration” Initiative was established at The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University. The office provides a place for industry-university-government collaboration and plays a major role in activity by consortiums in the Kansai region.
The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, in collaboration with this satellite office, advances work in materials informatics, or a computation–based method in material design and development. At the Research Park in the institute, two NIMS post-doctorate researchers are on duty at all times. A group led by Professor OGUCHI Tamio at the Department of Theoretical Nanotechnology, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Center of the institute, together with this satellite office, aims at effective promotion of magnetic materials such as magnets and spintronic materials.
The MI 2 I Project aims not only to develop and improve the database, but also to build an industry-university-government system ranging from materials research to mathematical science. It also encourages involvement of a wide range of businesses and aims to become a hub for open innovation. Specifically, researchers aim to develop and commercialize epoch-making (1) materials for rechargeable batteries, (2) magnetic materials, and (3) materials for heat transfer control. This project also promotes the development of new materials science methods and performs packaging and systemization of development methods of new materials by information integration in order to support to accomplish these goals. In the future, this project aims to expand its research range to a wide range of materials. While incorporating basic technologies of artificial intelligence, researchers will put their efforts into the advancement and diffusion of materials development by information integration, as well as active cultivation of human resources for these activities, which will lead to the sustainable development of this hub.
The establishment of the satellite office for the MI 2 I Project at Osaka University's Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research will give the institute new opportunities for academic research activities and expand the industry-university-government collaboration in the MI 2 I Project. It will also provide synergistic effects through collaboration with Osaka University's Institute for Datability Science.
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