Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

The World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) was launched in 2007 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in a drive to build within Japan “globally visible” research centers that boast a very high research standard and outstanding research environment, sufficiently attractive to prompt frontline researchers from around the world to want to work in them. These centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to revolutionize conventional modes of research operation and administration in Japan.

JSPS is commissioned by MEXT to conduct the program’s grant selection and project assessment processes and to perform support functions aimed at maximizing the WPI Program's achievements.

What's New

WPI Centers

The Center Projects Selected in FY2007

AIMR
Tohoku University Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR)
Materials & Mathematics
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点09
ORIMO Shin-ichi


Establish a World-Leading Research Center for Materials Science
IPMU
The University of Tokyo Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)
Origin of Universe
Photo:IPMU_YOKOYAMA Jun'ichi
YOKOYAMA Jun'ichi


Cross-Disciplinary Research Center for Addressing the Origin and Evolution of the Universe
iCeMS
Kyoto University Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS)
Cell Biology & Materials
iCeMS
UESUGI Motonari


Creating a new field of integrated cell-material science in the mesoscopic domain
IFReC
Osaka University Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC)
Immunology
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点12
TAKEDA Kiyoshi


The pursue of fundamental immunology research and elucidation of immune diseases
NIMS/MANA
National Institute for Materials Science   Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)
Nanoarchitectonics
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点13
TANIGUCHI Takashi


Materials Nanoarchitectonics - a new paradigm of materials creation -

The Center Project Selected in FY2010

I2CNER
Kyushu University International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I²CNER)
Energy
I2CNER_director
ISHIHARA Tatsumi


Contribute to the creation of a sustainable and environmentally friendly society

The Center Projects Selected in FY2012

IIIS
University of Tsukuba International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (IIIS)
Sleep
IIIS_Director
YANAGISAWA Masashi


World-class institute for sleep medicine, aiming to solve the mechanism of sleep/wakefulness by conducting basic to clinical research
ELSI
Tokyo Institute of Technology Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI)
Origin of Earth and Life
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点03
SEKINE Yasuhito


Globally-Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Hub for Exploring the Origins of Earth and Life
ITbM
Nagoya University Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM)
Plant Biology & Chemistry
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点04
YOSHIMURA Takashi


Changing the world with molecules: Synthetic Chemistry and Plant/Animal Biology

The Center Projects Selected in FY2017

IRCN
The University of Tokyo International Research Center for Neurointelligence (IRCN)
Origin of Intelligence
IRCN_director
HENSCH Takao


Tackling the ultimate question – "How does human intelligence arise?"
NanoLSI
Kanazawa University   Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI)
Nano Life Science
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点05
FUKUMA Takeshi


Understanding nanoscale mechanisms of life phenomena by exploring “uncharted nano-realms”

The Center Projects Selected in FY2018

ICReDD
Hokkaido University Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (ICReDD)
Chemistry & Information
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点06
MAEDA Satoshi


In-depth understanding and efficient development of chemical reactions
ASHBi
Kyoto University Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
Human Biology
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点07
SAITOU Mitinori


What key biological traits make us ‘human’, and how can knowing these lead us to better cures for disease?

The Center Project Selected in FY2021

KEK/QUP
High Energy Accelerator Research Organization   International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP)
Measurement Science
世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム_研究拠点08
HAZUMI Masashi


QUP integrates particle physics, astrophysics, condensed matter physics, measurement science, and systems science

The Center Projects Selected in FY2022

PRIMe
Osaka University  Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (PRIMe)
Human Metaverse Medicine
PRIMe_director
NISHIDA Kohji
 


Comprehensive understanding of human disease mechanisms and realization of ultra-personalized medicine by utilizing biodigital twins
SKCM2
Hiroshima University  International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (SKCM²)
Knotted Chiral Metamatter
SKCM2_director
Ivan I. SMALYUKH


Artificial knotted matter overcoming limitations of natural systems for sustainability
Bio2Qロゴ
Keio University Human Biology-Microbiome-Quantum Research Center (Bio2Q)
Microbiome & Quantum Computing
Bio2Q_director
HONDA Kenya


Integrating human biology, microbiome research, and quantum computing to explore the foundations of healthy longevity

The Center Project Selected in FY2023

AIMECロゴ
Tohoku University・Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC)
Ocean Physics & Marine ecology
WPI-AIMEC_拠点長 須賀 利雄
SUGA Toshio


Elucidate and project the response and adaptation mechanisms of marine ecosystems to Earth system dynamics