Green Cross-Tech Research Center Establishment

One of the Largest National University Science Parks
Creating a New Industry-Academia Collaboration Hub in the Green Sector

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Director's Message

Prof. Okabe Tomonaga

Research Center for Green X-Tech, Tohoku University Institute for Green Goals Initiative

Established:
January 1, 2023
Location:
Aobayama East Campus, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University
Director:
Tomonaga Okabe (Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering)

The Green X-Tech Research Center promotes research through industry-academia co-creation with green technology-related companies. We focus on the analysis and application of various types of big data obtained from cutting-edge facilities such as the next-generation synchrotron radiation facility, NanoTerasu, and actively plan and implement strategies for the social deployment of research outcomes. These efforts are part of our broader mission to realize Society 5.0. Globally, increasing attention is being paid to green initiatives, including environmental conservation and the recycling of finite resources. These initiatives emphasize not only reducing environmental impact, but also driving economic growth and job creation through industrial strategies—a significant departure from traditional environmental measures. However, in Japan, collaboration among industry, government, and academia in this area remains insufficient, resulting in a lag behind global trends. In leading green regions such as Europe, vast environmental datasets are being collected and integrated, and initiatives that utilize IoT-driven digitalization are accelerating. These initiatives are transforming advanced scientific and technological insights into tangible products and applications. In light of these developments, our center aims to build a green innovation ecosystem through industry-academia co-creation. We are committed to attracting diverse management professionals from outside academia and introducing advanced technologies capable of analyzing a wide range of data. By doing so, we seek to seamlessly bridge academic seeds with solutions to social and business challenges.

Our Strengths

Five Key Advantages

  1. Inviting internal and external researchers engaged in socially impactful research with a strong record of industry-academia collaboration.
  2. Collaboration with world-unique research platforms such as the next-generation synchrotron radiation facility (NanoTerasu) and cryo-electron microscopy.
  3. Research and development activities within one of the largest science park-style campuses among national universities.
  4. On-campus corporate activities through a cluster of co-creation research institutes.
  5. Building on strong initiatives to develop a startup ecosystem,
    the center has a proven track record sufficient to establish a Fraunhofer-style research center.

グリーンクロステックセンターの有する５つのアドバンテージ

Research Projects

Green X-Tech Research Project Based on the Integration of Advanced Measurement, Computing, and Data Science

Under an industry-academia co-creation framework, we promote cross-disciplinary research that addresses green challenges by leveraging advanced measurement data—obtained from facilities such as the next-generation synchrotron radiation source (NanoTerasu)—through sophisticated analysis, enabling high-quality data preservation and utilization. Based on fundamental research that is difficult to conduct within companies, we aim to establish an industry-academia co-creation innovation center that systematically organizes and platformizes Green X-Tech research to solve industrial challenges.

Research Division of Systems and Quantum Devices

足立 幸志 教授 Prof. Koshi Adachi

Development of Devices Based on Functional Materials

Innovation in Optical and Terahertz Wave Control through Metamaterials

[Research Topics]
Atom and Nanoscale Characterization of Metamaterials Using NanoTerasu and the Realization of a Cyber-Physical Society

Bulk Metamaterials
Bulk Metamaterials
High-Efficiency Beam Steering
High-Efficiency
Beam Steering
Ultrathin Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Material
Ultrathin Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Material
High-Efficiency Light Source
High-Efficiency Light Source
Polarization Control
Polarization Control

Development of Tribology-Based Fundamental Systems

Innovation in Green Tribological Systems through Self-Healing Friction Interfaces

[Research Topics]
Establishment of Fundamental Science on Tribochemical Concerted Reactions and the Development of Materials, Surface, and Interface Design Technologies for Their Control

Research Division of Soft and Functional Materials

Prof. Tomonaga OkabeProf. Tomonaga Okabe

Advanced Circular Materials (SIP)

Developing Sustainable Soft Materials for Resource Circulation

[Research Topics]
Evaluation of the Circularity Characteristics of Plastic Materials Using NanoTerasu

Composite Materials (Nano and Tire Applications)

Integrated Measurement and Simulation of Composite Materials to Accelerate the Realization of a Circular Economy (CE)

[Research Topics]
Development of Analytical Tools for Deformation Response of Dissimilar Materials (Inorganic Fillers and Organic Materials)

Research Division of Next-Generation Infrastructure

久田 真 教授　Prof. Makoto Hisada

Environmentally Friendly Construction Materials (GI)

Development of Environmentally Friendly Construction Materials that Contribute to Local Production and Consumption and Carbon Neutrality (CN)

[Research Topics]
Evaluation of the Physical Properties and Reaction Mechanisms of Concrete Materials Using NanoTerasu

Development of Environmentally Friendly Construction Materials that Enable Local Production and Consumption Free from Raw Material Procurement Constraints

＜01_CO2_SUICOM＞
To Achieve global Carbon Neutrality - Dynamic Innovation
Capture of the Japanese Government's Promotional Video at COP26
URL：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdZiz-Egt9g

Performance Evaluation of Next-Generation Infrastructure Materials

Performance Evaluation of Construction Materials Enabling Information/Energy Integration

[Research Topics]
Establishment of Next-Generation Performance Evaluation Techniques for Magnetic and Other Advanced Properties Required in Concrete Materials

Performance Evaluation for the coordination of Mobility and Transport Infrastructure in the Context of Society 5.0

＜02_Society5_0＞
Screenshot from the Cabinet Office's Society 5.0 Video 'Future Society' – Part 1 (6:53)
URL：https://wwwc.cao.go.jp/lib_006/society5_0/society5_0_mirai1.html

Research Division for Fundamental Materials in Green Energy

高村 仁 教授　Prof. Hitoshi Takamura

Energy and Functional Materials

Development of Green Hydrogen, Solar Fuels, and Battery Materials toward CN

[Research topics]
Developing Energy Generation, Conversion, and Storage Materials such as Batteries and Catalysts Using NanoTerasu and Solid-State NMR

Foundational Materials for Advanced Electronics and Information Technologies

Development of Functional Materials for Next-Generation Electronics

[Research topics]
Development of Semiconductor, Memory, Sensor, and Actuator Materials through Computational Science and Advanced Materials Processing Technologies

Members

Research Division for Systems and Quantum Devices

Research Division of Soft and Functional Materials

Research Division of Next-Generation Infrastructure

Research Division for Fundamental Materials in Green Energy

Data Science Unit

Planning Office for Industry–Academia–Government Co-Creation

Academy of Young Researchers

Co-Creation Research Institute

Seiko Epson × Tohoku University Co-Creation Research Institute for Sustainable Materials

Menicon × Tohoku University Co-Creation Research Institute for the Future of Vision

Kashima × Tohoku University Co-Creation Research Institute for Environmentally Friendly Construction Materials

Ebara Corporation × Tohoku University Co-Creation Research Institute for Shaping the Future through 'Flow

CoSMIC

Research Overview

The Materials Integration (MI) System is an integrated materials development platform designed to accelerate materials innovation by leveraging data science based on experimental and theoretical approaches in materials engineering. It enables the virtual reproduction of processes, microstructures, properties, and performance on computers, significantly reducing both the time and cost of materials development. CoSMIC (Comprehensive System for Materials Integration of CFRP) is an MI system specifically developed for carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), led by Tohoku University. To date, twelve modules have been developed targeting the design of CFRP for aircraft structures. These modules enable multiscale and multiphysics simulations from the atomic/molecular level to full-scale structural components. Moving forward, module development will expand to support product development in industries beyond aerospace, in response to increasing user demand.

CoSMIC Development Vision

Green X-Tech Research Center Research Support Fund

To promote the social implementation of research outcomes that address global challenges such as environmental conservation and the recycling of finite resources, we have established the Green X-Tech Research Center Research Support Fund.

For individuals, please apply via the Tohoku University Fund page. For corporations and organizations, please apply via the Tohoku University Fund page for Corporations and Organizations.
We sincerely ask for your generous support for the Center’s various green initiatives from all those who share our vision.

  • グリーン未来創造機構
  • 東北大学　岡部研究室
  • 戦略的イノベーション創造プログラム