Tohoku University and UBE Corporation have established a co-creation research center, which began operations on January 1, 2026. Officially called the UBE x Tohoku University Co-Creation Research Institute for Future Driven Technologies, the new research initiative is located within the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM).

The center aims to leverage Tohoku University’s world-class research capabilities and burgeoning industry-academia collaboration in conjunction with UBE’s advanced technical capabilities in specialty chemicals to address challenges in the fields of life sciences, environment and energy, and electronics. For Tohoku University, the launch of the center will help develop new academic approaches to solving society’s most pressing problems, in line with its accreditation as Japan’s first University for International Research Excellence (UREX).

The center will also serve as a platform for cultivating the next generation of talent.

IMRAM Professor Takaaki Tomai, who will support the running of the center, says the creation will bridge the knowledge creation of Tohoku University with the industrial know-how of UBE. “I hope to further advance comprehensive materials and materials process development that goes beyond the mere discovery of new materials, encompassing mass production and societal implementation.”

For UBE, teaming up with Tohoku University is part of its push to strengthen its research and development and expand collaboration with universities.

Tohoku University launched the “Co-creation Research Center” collaboration scheme in April 2021. As of December 2025, it has established 46 centers. Under the program, companies can leverage Tohoku University’s academic and research expertise to facilitate the development of valuable technological innovations that solve varying regional and global problems.

• UBE Corporation
• Tohoku University