Overview

AIMR’s challenge to introduce a mathematical perspective to materials science

The Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University was launched as one of the centers established by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), aimed at developing world-class research bases in Japan. After its establishment in 2007, AIMR has been active in conducting research activities and creating new systems in order to become a global center for materials science. Since 2012, AIMR has also been conducting fundamental research by finding connections between materials science and mathematics. Through prediction, AIMR aims to formulate new scientific principles that can enable the development of materials. In order to ensure that the advanced materials that have been developed play a useful role in society, AIMR is also engaged in the development of devices and systems that make use of these materials.

In 2017, AIMR became a member of the WPI Academy, which consists of WPI centers that have achieved world-premier status. As a WPI Academy member, AIMR’s mission is to continue maintaining an international research environment and contribute to the resolution of resource and environmental problems caused by human beings.

The main characteristics of AIMR are as follows:

  • Collaboration between materials science and mathematics at the research institute level, which is the first such attempt in the world
  • An international research environment with researchers coming from around the world; over 50 percent of the researchers are from overseas
  • Comprehensive English language support, including for administrative procedures
  • Provision of an ideal research environment in all areas, including research equipment and grants