The mission of the New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), which was established in April 1998, is to propose practical applications of new technologies and products for society and to create new industries that meet society’s needs by utilizing Tohoku University’s world-leading research seeds. To achieve this goal, NICHe has launched cutting-edge research projects selected from all fields in Tohoku University. Staff in the Planning Office for Development work with project leaders to promote projects and to implement technological development and its social application.
Industry-academia collaboration is now very common in most universities and departments, but the structure of NICHe, which can be described as a community of industry-academia collaborative projects spearheaded by faculty members devoting themselves to research and development, is an original idea of NICHe. Management is characterized by a flexible personnel system with external funding, in addition to securing dedicated research space with an emphasis on security, such as access control and high-performance information network systems.
We also have a comprehensive support system that includes practical application-oriented R&D planning, such as securing external funding and entrepreneurship, research integrity management such as conflict of interest and security, and appropriate fund management.
Research projects in NICHe were redefined in FY2022 and have been promoted under a new system since FY2023. There are five types of projects: (1) research and development projects that in principle last five years (full-fledged type); (2) projects in the preparatory stage (preliminary type); (3) human resource development for the purpose of re-educating and skill-upgrading and training of working people (educational type); (4) academic activities that contribute to improving the research status of Tohoku University (academic type); and (5) challenges that are expected to “make it big” thereafter (dawn type). A total of 21 projects, both old and new, are underway in FY2025.
Tohoku University was accredited as the first University for International Research Excellence in November 2024. The “University for International Research Excellence” is a new system under which the Japanese government recognizes and supports universities that are expected to develop internationally outstanding research and use research results to make a difference in the economy and society. A 3GeV Synchrotron Radiation Facility (called “Nano Terasu”) has been constructed on the new Aobayama Campus and the coalition beamline has been fully-operational since April 2024. The public beamline has been in operation since March 2025. From these developments, the university with backing from the public will further strengthen its international competitiveness in a wide range of research fields and develop many new types of applications. We envisage that NICHe will challenge to stimulate and nurture industry-academia collaborations and to develop advanced research with even greater effectiveness and social impact than before.
NICHe is located near the entrance of the subway (Aobayama Station) on the Aobayama campus of the University, which is only two hours from Tokyo Station. We hope you will take advantage of this facility, as it is conveniently located for access to the Nano Terasu and university departments and it is physically well-equipped for project research in many areas.
Please come to see us to learn about opportunities at NICHe and to catch a glimpse of the future.
April 2025