TOP > Message from the Director

Message from the Director

Dr. Hideki Hosoda

Room: R2-108
E-mail：director(at)first.iir.titech.ac.jp
Please replace “(at)” with “@”.

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of the Institute of Innovative Research (IIR), Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST).

In October 2024, Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University merged to form Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo). In April 2026, the university was selected as one of Japan’s Universities for International Research Excellence, following Tohoku University, marking a significant new stage in its development. As a member of the Institute of Innovative Research, FIRST is committed to contributing to the enhancement of research excellence and the promotion of internationalization across the university.

FIRST is one of the largest research laboratories at Science Tokyo, bringing together researchers and engineers from a broad spectrum of disciplines, including mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, materials science and engineering, information and computer science, environmental and disaster prevention engineering, and social engineering. Our mission is to create new interdisciplinary research fields, develop technologies that can be applied in the real world, and contribute to both academia and industry.

Today’s societal challenges are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected. Achieving carbon neutrality, building sustainable industrial systems, advancing digital transformation, ensuring safe and resilient infrastructure, and creating innovative solutions in healthcare and welfare all require the integration of knowledge and expertise from diverse fields. Leveraging our multidisciplinary strengths, FIRST promotes interdisciplinary research aimed at creating new technologies and academic fields that will support the future of society.

FIRST was established in April 2016 as one of the four research laboratories of the former Tokyo Institute of Technology. It was founded primarily on the strengths of the Precision and Intelligence Laboratory, the Imaging Science and Engineering Laboratory, the Quantum Nanoelectronics Research Center, and the Research Center for Building Physics. Its roots can be traced back to pioneering research organizations established in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Research Laboratory of Precision Machinery and Electronics，Research Laboratory of Electrical Science, the Research Laboratory of Building Materials, and the Research Laboratory of Printing Technology. The accumulated achievements and traditions of these institutions form a valuable foundation for our current activities.

Over the years, researchers associated with these organizations have made numerous contributions of both academic and industrial significance, including the development of quartz crystal resonators, gear engineering technologies, numerical control systems for machine tools, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), holography, electrophotographic photoconductors, and semiconductor lasers for optical communications.

Today, FIRST continues to promote research spanning the spectrum from fundamental science to applied technology and societal implementation. We actively engage in collaborative research with industry and emphasize the translation of research outcomes into societal value. Through events such as the annual Institute Open House and FIRST Seminars, we also share our research achievements and emerging technologies with industry partners and the broader public.

One of the distinctive features of FIRST is its strong commitment to collaboration in biomedical and healthcare-related research. Since 2016, we have played a central role in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)-supported Network-type Joint Usage/Research Center for Biomedical Engineering. Working together with Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering at Hiroshima University, Research Institute of Electronics at Shizuoka University, and the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering at Science Tokyo, we promote the integration of medicine, dentistry, and engineering to create new research fields and advance healthcare technologies. The establishment of Science Tokyo has created a unique environment in which engineering, medical, and dental sciences can collaborate within a single institution, opening new opportunities for innovation in healthcare and life sciences.

In addition, FIRST conducts cutting-edge research in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum nanoelectronics, and heterogeneous functional integration. We also promote large-scale industry-academia collaborations through research centers including the Komatsu Collaborative Research Cluster for Innovative Technologies, the NSK Tribology Collaborative Research Cluster (N-TRIBO), the LG Material & Life Solution Collaborative Research Clusters, the Rohto Mathematical CPS Innovation Collaborative Research Cluster, and KAYABA Collaborative Research Cluster for Data-Driven Mechanical Component Engineering. Other research initiatives, such as the Nanospace Catalysis Unit and the Digital Twin Research Unit, further contribute to the creation of new academic disciplines and solutions to societal challenges.

The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of FIRST. We are deeply grateful for the generous support, guidance, and collaboration that have enabled the division to grow and thrive over the past decade. To commemorate this milestone, we will hold a special 10th Anniversary Event in November in conjunction with the annual Institute Open House.

We are also delighted to celebrate a remarkable achievement by two distinguished members of our community. Honorary Professor Kenichi Iga, former Director of the Precision and Intelligence Laboratory and former President of Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Honorary Professor Fumio Koyama, the first Director of FIRST, have been awarded the 116th Japan Academy Prize for their pioneering contributions to the realization, performance enhancement, and application development of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). We extend our heartfelt congratulations and profound respect for their outstanding accomplishments in research and education. Commemorative lectures by Honorary Professors Iga and Koyama are planned as part of the anniversary event.

The greatest strength of FIRST lies in its people. Researchers from diverse academic backgrounds pursue world-class research in their respective fields while working collaboratively across disciplinary boundaries to create new knowledge and address emerging societal challenges. Social contribution and international collaboration remain central to our mission, and we are committed to helping build a sustainable and prosperous future through research and innovation.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support and partnership, and we look forward to working together to advance science, technology, and society.

April, 2026
Director, Professor

About FIRST