On September 1, 2025, the Nagoya University Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS) and NGK Insulators, Ltd. (NGK) established the “NGK Advanced Nanomaterials Industry-Academia Collaborative Chair.” This new unit aims to address the challenges presented by digital society and carbon neutrality, and to promote cutting-edge research and development in the field of material technologies through industry-academia collaboration.
Due to recent progress in the fields of carbon neutrality and digital society, there has been a growing demand for higher-performance material technologies with reduced environmental impact. By collaborating with researchers at Nagoya University, NGK aims to develop foundational technologies that will pave the way for research into material technologies, leading to the development of new products. Through the establishment of this unit, NGK will also seek out new research topics and develop human resources, making use of Nagoya University’s infrastructure, such as its high-level research facilities, its information network, its libraries and its databases, as well as the support of its university research administrators (URA) and the close collaboration among faculty members.
Four researchers from NGK will be appointed as faculty (one designated professor and three assistant professors) and given dedicated laboratory space on campus. They will undertake a collaborative research project with Professor Minoru Osada of IMaSS about the development and practical use of inorganic nanomaterials. The new unit aims to develop products and businesses that will contribute to the realization of digital society and carbon neutrality.
