Meijo University was selected to receive the support funding of "Private University Research Branding Project (Global Development Category)" in the 2016 fiscal year as a result of "Meijo University Research Branding Project for Development of New Optical Devices Based on Blue LED Technology." Also in the 2017 fiscal year, "Meijo University Research Branding Project for Cultivation and Invention of New Nanomaterials," which was led by tenured professor Sumio Iijima's research group and consisted of global level basic research conducted on a university-wide scale, was selected for the same support funding as well.
The university is the only institution in the Hokuriku and Tokai regions selected for this global development project 2 years in a row.
At Meijo University, a strategic plan has been developed with a target completion year of 2026, the 100th anniversary of the university's founding, called "Meijo Strategy-2026 (MS-26)." A variety of initiatives are in progress related to this plan.
The research mission of this strategic plan is "bringing achievement back to education and society through applications of academic study and theory," and one of the action objectives is education and reinforcement of international research bases.
The fact that the university has been selected 2 years in a row shows that its action goals are moving toward realization and also that it is being recognized as a legitimate international research center.
Through the twin brands of "blue LEDs" and "nanomaterials," the two projects selected in the 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, the university is aiming to become a global Meijo University and expand its activities still further.

President, Meijo University
Akihiro Ohara

"Hayashi Ultrafine Particle Project" for the first ERATO was carried out at this university, and this was the start of our nano-scale particle research. Afterward, the discovery of "carbon nanotubes" was a great leap forward in nanomaterial research, and along with the nitride semiconductors currently used in blue LEDs, this material is the second major contribution the university has made to the world.
In the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's 21st century COE program, "Nanofactory," in 2002 as well, research centers were formed with nanocarbon and nitride semiconductors as the two main pillars at this university and subsequently achieved a variety of results.
Research activities are conducted through "Cultivation and Invention of New Nanomaterials" as part of this project, strengthening the brand power of this university, drawing in highly ambitious students with broad perspectives, and establishing the university's traditions as a global research center for nanomaterials.
At the same time, due to the university's fundamental strategy for "creating a learning community," we aim to give back to education and society through the results of scholastic pursuits and their applications. In addition, a twin brand development structure was created along with the "Meijo University Research Branding Project for Development of New Optical Devices Based on Blue LED Technology."
We will appeal to the progression of our two global-level material research programs and spread our diverse and advanced research widely throughout society.
Conducting cooperative research branding activities with these two programs has a synergistic effect, promoting concerted branding and creating a firm impression of the global Meijo University.

Honorary Director, Nanomaterial Research Center
Sumio Iijima

Nanoparticles (nanodots), nanotubes, nanosheets, and other nanomaterials have diameter and thickness ranging from a few to a few dozen atoms. Due to the discovery of the quantum effect, these materials have properties different from bulk materials, and can be used for applications such as producing high levels of luminescence or excellent electrical conductivity. This research field is booming, and since the start of this century, a wide variety of nanomaterials have been invented and developed all over the world.
Research into the applications of these materials is expanding to not only electronics, information, and communications fields, but also environment, energy, and bio-medical projects. The discovery of "carbon nanotubes" by Honorary Director Sumio Iijima in 1991 occurred in advance of these developments, and his dedication to uncovering new nanomaterials through his research is inherited by all researchers at this university.
By promoting the tradition of nanomaterial research at this university and producing results at a global level, the goal of this project is to express the presence of the global Meijo University not just within the Tokai region but both inside and outside of Japan.
Currently, nanomaterial research has branched off into a wide variety of fields such as physics, chemistry, engineering, and computer science, and at this university as well, researchers in a variety of fields are working with a variety of themes day to day.
In order to make use of this research potential, we have established a nanomaterial research center to collect the expertise of our nanomaterial researchers in one place. This in turn has strengthened the promotion of this project. We are also building an international research network at the same time and hope to use it to carry out coordinated research activities that cross over borders.
In addition, public symposia and mock lectures are being held as part of this project, and these venues are used to provide easy to understand explanations of the fascinating properties and future applications of nanomaterials to elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as the general public while also introducing them to Professor Iijima's insatiable pursuit of the unknown materials and Meijo University's role in nanomaterial research.
Through this project, we hope to inspire passionate young people with an interest in nanomaterials to enroll in Meijo University in the future and take part in research related to the discovery and manufacturing of new nanomaterials.

Director, Nanomaterial Research Center
Takahiro Maruyama