Green innovation for safe and secure transport means and systems with minimal environmental load (hereinafter ‘Green Mobility’) is a matter of urgency for Japan.

Based on collaboration between industry, academia, and government, such innovation requires promotion of research & development for the creation of innovative technologies, promotion of personnel development to nurture human resources capable of leading in these fields, and the formation of an international research hub for Green Mobility.

The Nagoya University Green Mobility Collaborative Research Center (hereinafter “the Center”) was established within this context as an inter-departmental education and research center to ensure a rapid and strong response.

The Tokai Region is one of the few areas in the world focusing on the transportation manufacturing industry.

The Green Mobility academic complex supporting the transportation industry is a new fusion of the conventional fields of research in materials engineering, machinery engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, traffic engineering, and social science.

In implementing this fusion research, it is essential to develop the Center to extend beyond the departments and specialties of the Nagoya University, and to employ it as the core for collaboration between industry and academia, between universities, and for overseas collaboration.

We see the role of Nagoya University as contributing to the establishment of international competitiveness in the field of Green Mobility, and developing research and technical personnel capable of participating in the field at an international level, through this fusion research.

The Graduate School of Engineering and the EcoTopia Science Institute currently form the core of activities at Nagoya University, and in 2009 received a subsidy under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Innovation Center Establishment Assistance Program (Green Vehicle Materials Research & Development Core).

Furthermore, the Schools/Graduate Schools applying for establishment (Graduate School of Engineering, EcoTopia Science Institute, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Information Science, Graduate School of Economics) have a considerable track record in Green Mobility research and personnel development.

Work in research and personnel development throughout the entire Nagoya University for the purpose of innovation as noted in the outline is much in demand from industry, local authorities, and universities and research organizations both within Japan and overseas.

On this foundation, the Center has been established as an inter-departmental education and research center for the promotion of the above research, and development of personnel.