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The opening ceremony for International Center for Science and Innovation　at Shinshu University, a key Aqua Innovation Center (COI), was held on June 2 at Shinshu University Nagano-Engineering Campus, Nagano City. Around 250 people participated in the ceremony, including President of Shinshu University Kiyohito Yamasawa, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Kenji Kosaka (member of the House of Councilors), Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Sadayuki Tsuchiya, Governor of Nagano Prefecture Shuichi Abe, and specially appointed Professor Morinobu Endo, research leader for the Aqua Innovation Center (COI). As part of this event, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to mark the center’s inauguration.

During the ceremony, President Yamasawa expressed his hopes for the center as follows: “I am glad that Shinshu now has this international research facility. I hope that through this center, we can develop the next generation of technicians and scientists while carrying out research with a sense of responsibility.” In response to this, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Mr. Kosaka gave the following words of encouragement. “The Aqua Innovation Center (COI) Program is about saving humanity in the 21st century. I would like all involved to pull out all the stops in overcoming obstacles, and I expect to see Nobel Prize winners from Shinshu University in the future.” Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Mr. Tsuchiya had the following to say: “I was very impressed when I saw the center’s building. Water is the most serious issue facing humanity. The stakes are high and it will be difficult to obtain the desired results, but the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will take whatever risks are necessary, so please take a bold stance when tackling the issues at hand.”

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, 16 people including President Yamasawa and guests lined up and cut the tape in unison.
A commemorative lecture was delivered prior to the ceremony courtesy of Professor Shuji Nakamura of University of California, Santa Barbara, winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics. In his talk, Professor Nakamura mentioned the many hardships he faced on the road to developing the blue light emitting diode (LED): “During my days at Nichia Corporation, I had no money and had to make my experimental equipment by hand. But I never gave up, no matter how poor I became.” He also talked about his research in the United States ? “There are a variety of students: Asian students who are good at experiments and American and European students who are good at theory.” “America’s thriving start-up scene leads to increased motivation among researchers.” ? and fielded many questions from students.
Professor Nakamura’s commemorative lecture was broadcast live via a television conference system using the university’s LAN, not only to Matsumoto Campus but also to lecture rooms across all campuses, including the Engineering (Nagano City), Education (Nagano City), Agriculture (Minamiminowa Village) and Textile Science and Technology (Ueda City) faculties, with around 550 local residents and students watching the broadcast.

The center was set up under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Project for the Development of Centers of Scientific Innovation through Collaboration between Industry, Academia and Governments utilizing Local Resources etc.” (Fiscal Year 2012), and is equipped with the following facilities: (1). Laboratories and research offices that realize open innovation under a single roof; (2). The latest measurement and analytical devices; (3). An exhibition space to showcase research achievements; (4). Spaces to hold symposiums and workshops; and (5). Environmentally friendly facilities.
In addition, the center is also a key facility in the Aqua Innovation Centers for contributing to Rich Living Environments for the World and Global Sustainability (Aqua Innovation Center (COI)), selected under the Center of Innovation (COI) Program, part of the Center of Innovation Science and Technology based Radical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program (COI STREAM). Under this program, Shinshu University is conducting research through a collaborative framework between industry, academia and government, including the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), RIKEN, Hitachi Infrastructure Systems Company, Toray Industries, Inc., Showa Denko K. K. and Nagano Prefecture. This research aims to construct innovative fresh water generation and water circulation system utilizing newly developed nanocarbon film.