In 1924 Professor Kenjiro Takayanagi began research on an electronic television system at the former Hamamatsu Technical College and in 1926 succeeded in displaying an image of the katakana character "". Takayanagi’s laboratory is the forerunner of the Research Institute of Electronics. The Research Institute of Electronics was founded in 1965 as the first research institute attached to universities under the new system, in science and engineering fields. The Research Institute of Electronics began with six laboratories, later expanded to nine laboratories, and in 1989 was reorganized into three divisions comprising twelve laboratories in total. Subsequently, in 2004 it became the Research Institute of Electronics of the National University Corporation, Shizuoka University. "Creation of a Research and Education Center for Nanovision Science" proposed by Shizuoka University was accepted for a 21st Century Center of Excellence (COE) program, and the Institute played a central role in the COE program. To implement the program, the Institute was reorganized into three divisions comprising twelve laboratories—the Nanovision Research Center, the Nanodevices and Nanomaterials Division, and the Interdisciplinary Science Division—with one position for a visiting foreign professor. The Creation of a Research and Education Center for Nanovision Science has received the highest rating in the COE Program evaluation. The Institute also played an important role in the first and second stages of the Hamamatsu Area Knowledge Cluster (Optronics Cluster) Initiative, which ranked second among all knowledge clusters nationwide. In 2009, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional association in the fields of electricity, electronics, information, and communications, conferred a Milestone award in recognition of Professor Takayanagi’s research and subsequent development of electronic television. The IEEE Milestone has been likened to the combination of a Nobel Prize and a World Heritage Site designation in the field of electrical engineering. In 2013, for the purpose of more integrated operation with the Graduate School of Engineering, Graduate School of Informatics, and Graduate School of Science, the Institute was reorganized into four divisions—the Nanovision Research Division, Advanced Device Research Division, Nanomaterials Research Division, and the Biomedical Photonics Research Division—with one position for a visiting foreign professor.

Nanovision science involves the full utilization of nanotechnology to create new academic and technological fields that radically innovate conventional imaging technologies. To achieve this, fusion with various imaging-related elemental technologies and innovations and their underlying science as well as collaboration with users of the latest imaging technologies is essential. Fortunately, the Institute possesses numerous excellent materials, devices, systems researchers and facilities for electronics related to optics and imaging. In 2008, we initiated a joint use and joint research project to invite researchers to conduct research and actively engage in joint use of our facilities with the Institute’s researchers. We have received many applications, and the project has produced a rich harvest of results. In recognition of those results, in April 2013 the Institute was certified as an Imaging Device Joint Usage Research Center by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Also in 2013, a joint proposal from Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, and The Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries was selected by MEXT for the Project for the Development of International Science Innovation Centers through Academic-Industrial Collaboration Utilizing Regional Resources in which the Institute will actively be involved. In this way, the Institute is steadily building a position as a center for imaging science and technology.

International exchange programs are very important for an intellectual center like the Institute. We must engage in world-wide dissemination of the research results obtained at the Institute in a prompt manner, as well as joint research with numerous research institutions around the world. The Institute has a position for a visiting foreign professor and over the years has hosted visiting professors from many countries who have produced tremendous results. In addition, each year we utilize Special Funds for Education and Research and other funds to invite guest researchers from many countries to engage in joint research. We intend to continue to develop international exchanges through these programs and further expand and upgrade the programs.

The Institute is also expected to contribute to society. Hamamatsu is famous for being the birthplace of venture business companies, and the Institute has a tradition of contributing to these companies. Currently, four university-launched ventures in which Institute staff members are involved are working to commercialize technologies that originated at the university as well as create employment. In this way, we wish to cooperate with local industry through research and development. We intend to develop a powerful industry-government-academia collaborative structure and build a knowledge center related to imaging science and technology. Another important social contribution in addition to the abovementioned direct cooperation is the publication and disclosure of intellectual products (research results) of the university to society. Each year the Institute holds many international symposiums, such as the Takayanagi Kenjiro Memorial Symposium attended by many famous researchers and international symposiums held by staff members using funds including the Special Funds for Education and Research. We also seek to fulfill our responsibility to society with the publication of research results through patents, newspaper announcements, and other means.

April 2013

Hidenori Mimura
Director
Research Institute of Electronics
Shizuoka University