Throughout its history RIKEN's policy of adopting new initiatives to ensure it's research activities go beyond contemporary scientific boundaries has resulted in many significant achievements in a diverse range of research fields, including not only physics and chemistry, but also engineering, biology and medical sciences.
This independence and flexibility has enabled RIKEN to establish new institutes in areas of potential importance. One such institute is the Brain Science Institute (BSI) which opened in October 1997. In addition to explicit strategic targets, the BSI has a strong sense of research purpose and possesses the technologies and capabilities to become a global leader in brain science research.
Concern about understanding the brain is a worldwide issue; the US and Europe have already established initiatives to steer brain research into the next century, which promises, without a doubt, to become the century of the brain. Given this international commitment towards researching neurological functions, I am extremely proud that RIKEN Brain Science Institute is at the forefront of this field, being open to both Japanese and overseas researchers.
The Japanese economy is currently experiencing difficulties and the key solution to these problems is through science and technology. In addition, the lengthening life expectancy is leading to the prevalence of new diseases and disorders. Thus, there are high expectations of business like the BSI. We hope the BSI can respond to the attention and expectations of humanity by providing the scientific foundations for a healthy society.
The BSI aims to uphold the RIKEN tradition of cutting edge research and we welcome any opinions which can help direct and guide us towards our ultimate goal of understanding human beings through understanding the brain.
