Needless to say, academic research organizations are now under increased pressure to clarify their missions and roles, plan and implement unique activities, and effectively demonstrate their various successes.

The National Institute of Informatics (NII) has designated the following missions and roles: To create future value (create scholarship) as Japan's sole comprehensive academic research institute in the field of informatics; to attain the status of a national center for informatics research activities; and to spearhead and develop service operations related to the academic information infrastructure (academic networks and contents) ― a task vital to the research and education activities of today's academic community overall. Through the above efforts, the NII aims to realize the effective contributions internationally as well as to domestic society.

These missions have now reached a particularly important stage, after the ten-year history from the IT boom to IT bubble collapse. The field of informatics thus needs to demonstrate new theories, methodology, and applications (future value) that can generate new types of actual value for human and society. In addition, needs are growing as regards the formation of a 'Cyber Science Infrastructure (CSI)' that organically combines elements such as shared ultra-high-speed networks, research resources, and science software and databases, as well as human resources, in order to realize global competitiveness in broader-ranging research and industrial and education activities. The need is therefore urgent to develop academic information infrastructure that will lead seamlessly to that of the next generation. Science Information Network (SINET3) that launched in last year, and next generation science contents infrastructure formation by cooperation with universities is parts of the concrete result.

The NII intends to focus its efforts on fulfilling these missions by further strengthening its research structure and by making the institution more accessible.

We look forward to the continued understanding and support of all related parties.



Greeting from the Director General(.wmv From NII Video)