The Network Joint Research Center (NJRC) for Materials and Devices is a system of research institutions established by Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, SANKEN, Osaka University, and Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University as a cooperative usage and research center for investigators to conduct joint studies beyond their own institutes.
     Since receiving certification of activity authorization as a Joint Usage/Research Center from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2010, the NJRC has vigorously developed activities to promote cooperative research in the area of materials and devices. In the open call for proposals, which are crucial to NJRC, the center prepares various programs every year; it provides funds for joint studies to researchers at national, public, and private universities,
national research institutes, technical colleges, and elsewhere. Over the past 13 years, the center has dealt with almost 6,000 applications and selections.
     In the third term, which began in FY2022, in addition to five previous programs (joint research including Basic Research, Utilization of Facilities and Equipment, Expansion, Next Generation Young Researchers, and Collaborative Research [CORE-Lab], the NJRC established a new program (Crossover Joint Research) integrating multiple areas as well as a Flexible Joint Research program aimed at addressing social issues. The number of the accepted proposals was 470 in FY2022 and 505 in FY2023.
     The NJRC will continue to support joint research toward promoting materials innovation by strengthening ties with domestic and overseas research communities, whereby the center’s five research institutions will play a key role.

Certification period: April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2028 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website