Incorporation
October 1, 1993：Opening of the Institute
The International Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS) was established as a foundation in 1984 with the strong support of national and local governments, industrial sectors, and the academic community in Japan.
Overview of Facilities
♦Major Facilities：Administration building, community hall, 2 research buildings A and B (library, seminar lounge, 2 seminar rooms, 26 research rooms, large research room, Japanese-style room, etc.), lecture hall (hall with about 120 seats, and lounge)
♦Annexed Facilities：Director's residence, 6 family type houses, 1 single person apartment building consisting of 8 rooms, tea ceremony room
The land is loaned by Kyoto Prefecture free of charge.
Construction funds for the facilities (including the garden) were privately donated by the founder of OMRON Corporation, Mr. Kazuma Tateishi and his son Mr. Takao Tateishi, and assistance from Kintetsu Corporation was received.
The tea ceremony room was donated by Sen Genshitsu, Grand Master and the former head of Urasenke.
Basic Philosophy (Summary)
How should we cope with the various issues that we face that arise from the time and social background in which we live? What should the proper course be for culture, science and technology in the 21st century?
The philosophy of the IIAS administration is that we should create new directivity in academic study, aim to create new concepts, combine global wisdom, and contribute widely to the development of world culture by developing research with approaches to these issues through basic studies.
Objectives
The objectives of the IIAS activity are to contribute to the development of studies by conduct of research in advanced research fields and topics, promotion of international research exchanges, creation and germination of the seeds of research and development of new fields based on the close collaboration among industry, academia, and government.
Fundamental Missions
2. The IIAS shall conduct basic studies in advanced fields and topics.
3. Research topics and researchers shall not be fixed.
4. The IIAS shall cooperate with industry.
Organization(as of April 1, 2010)
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Chairman of the Board of Trustees: Yoshio Tateishi |
| Chairman of the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman and Representative Director of OMRON Corporation |
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Director and Trustee of the Board: Kazuo Oike |
| Former President of Kyoto University Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University (Doctor of Science) ♦Born1940 ♦Major: Seismology |
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Vice Director Fumio Amano |
| Professor Emeritus of Osaka University (Doctor of Literature) ♦Born1946 ♦Major: Study of Nohgaku |
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Vice Director and Auditor: Yoshiro Shimura |
| Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University (Ph.D., Doctor of Science) ♦Born1932 ♦Major: Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics |
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Vice Director and Auditor: Shigeaki Tanaka |
| Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University (Doctor of Law) ♦Born1942 ♦Major: Legal Philosophy |
Overview of Projects
IIAS projects are operated by the management of funds through donations from about 160 companies in Japan and Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other external funds.
Research Projects
Beyond the conventional structure of studies, focusing Nature and Math & Physics including mind, society life and artifacts as the research subjects, we are to conduct various kinds of researches which are comprised of experts from wide range of disciplines.
Each project is promoted under free exchange of ideas and opinions usually for three years.
We are aiming at creation of integrated research systems based on cross-disciplinary researches and newly born concepts.
Researcher Invitation
The IIAS invites interested researchers of outside academic institutions to carry out active research programs for new realms in sciences and so on through mutual interaction among researchers from various study fields in Japan and overseas.
IIAS "Science Dojo Studio" Program
The IIAS starts out the program of the "Science Dojo Studio (Gakujutsu Dojo)" this year as a new project to foster young researchers mainly of students at senior doctor course of graduate school.
Other Projects
International Forum
International forums are held on themes closely related to the IIAS research projects under cooperation with researchers and research institutes in Japan and overseas.
Research through Private Fund
In addition to the funds of our foundation and Grants-in-Aid from the government as the major sources for research projects of the IIAS, we are making efforts to acquire other funding to secure research expenses in current severe economic situation.
Joint Research
We make efforts to promote exchange and collaboration under the memorandums concerning science interaction and joint research with universities and research institutes in Japan and overseas.
Roles of the Institute
Without interruption of our activities, the institute is continuously to develop and propose new realms of sciences for the development of human beings in the near future.
Research Projects（2010）
As shown in the figure below, in 2010, research projects of the Institute are generally classified into five research subjects and the IIAS conducts research projects by organizing cross-disciplinary study groups.
Whereas a variety of research projects are classified based on the five fields of the subjects, we always bear it in mind that through opinion exchange and discussion on the progress reports at the IIAS Planning Board and so on, we are to review the progress conditions of all the projects, to rearrange the groups of the subjects, and to promote mutual collaboration among the projects across the subject fields.
In 2010, in addition to the 12 projects which are being executed since the previous year, we newly start 6 projects, and we carry out 18 projects as shown at the right table.
Basic Principle of Research
2． Cross-disciplinary
3． Broad scope over humanities, social and natural sciences
4． Open and free community
5． International
