Tohoku University will open the CICMI analytical measurement hub, while Shimadzu Corporation will join the initiative and invest a total of ¥1.5 billion in joint research over five years. Nobel Prize winner Tanaka Koichi (田中耕一) will take up a professorship at his alma mater, advancing the development of mass spectrometry technology targeting 1,000-fold accuracy and the practical application of technologies that make the invisible visible in society.
On 1 October, Tohoku University announced that it had opened CICMI, a hub for advancing analytical measurement technology, and that Shimadzu Corporation would participate in the initiative to promote the practical application of research results. The five-year joint research project will have a total budget of approximately ¥1.5 billion.
The key focus is the development of mass spectrometry technology offering accuracy in the “1,000-fold” range, along with Tanaka Koichi (田中耕一) taking up a position as an International Distinguished Professor at his alma mater. Tanaka Koichi (田中耕一) will help develop the next generation through lectures, research and development by young researchers, and advice on expertise.
Tanaka Koichi (田中耕一) will take on the challenge of breaking through the limits of technologies that “see the invisible,” with applications including the very early detection of disease and breakthroughs in green fields. Japan aims to attain global leadership through measurement and may also contribute to strengthening economic security.
In July, the government set out its “17 strategic fields” and highlighted the importance of measurement as a foundation for advanced technologies. Against this backdrop, CICMI aims to develop soft laser desorption ionization technology and MEMS. The initiative is intended to create new industries using ultra-compact sensors.