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
    ELSIlogo
    Institute of Science Tokyo(Formerly 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

    QUP logo
    High Energy Accelerator Research Organization   International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP)
    Measurement Science
    QUP拠点長代理写真
    HANAGAKI Kazunori 


    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