We need to resolve many issues resources, energy, and global warming among them. The grave damage resulting from the Great East Japan Earthquake has brought these issues to the forefront. What role should we play in these areas as Japan’s foremost research institution in the natural sciences? To help answer this question, we introduce you to valuable messages RIKEN has received from industry and outside experts.

At RIKEN we are actively engaged in research activities in many areas of science and technology. These disciplines include chemistry, physics, material science, nanotechnology, genetics, biotechnology, plant science and pharmaceutical science. As many as 2,500 highly-cited research papers are published annually by RIKEN researchers. In RIKEN Highlights we have selected research topics which have the potential to become seeds for collaborative research, with explanations given from a coordinator’s perspective.