Project
Enhancing NUT’s identity as a “University of Ideas” as we look toward our 50th Anniversary
NUT will commemorate its 50th anniversary on October 1st, 2026.
The university was founded as an engineering university that emphasizes graduate-level education and research activities focused on the development of practical technologies.
Professor KAWAKAMI Masamitsu, who served as the first president of NUT, stated the following during his address at the School of Engineering’s inaugural entrance ceremony on April 18th, 1978:
“Our university aims to be a ‘University of Ideas’ built upon the three pillars of VOS. Here, V stands for Vitality, O for Originality, and S for Services. It is my sincere hope that the university’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni will never forget this concept.”
Even as times change and we approach a major milestone, we should always bear in mind this spirit of VOS that is our university’s motto: Vitality (V) to constantly implement feedback between theory and practice, Originality (O) to cultivate creative abilities related to GIGAKU (the science of technology), and Services (S) that contribute to humanity’s happiness and sustainable development through GIGAKU. In line with this philosophy, we will enhance our identity as a “University of Ideas” and strive to become a vital institution for the local community and global society.
As an initiative that links the university’s founding aspirations with its future, the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Project will be driven forward not only through the combined efforts of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni, but also of everyone involved with NUT.
Purpose of the Commemorative Project
This project aims to nurture the development of leading engineers with practical and creative skills, promote the revitalization of local industries, and contribute to innovation creation for the attainment of SDGs. To accomplish these aims, the project will advance initiatives to achieve NUT’s Future Vision, and establish facilities to promote intellectual, regional, and international exchanges that bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, companies, and local governments.
Main uses of the fund
01
Provision of financial support for the development of leading engineers who possess the practical and creative abilities to innovate and contribute to SDGs, as well as the will to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society
02
Development of open space facilities (Innovation Commons) where students, faculty, staff, company representatives, local government officials, and alumni can gather and freely engage in intellectual, regional, and international exchanges
Purpose of the Commemorative Project
This project aims to nurture the development of leading engineers with practical and creative skills, promote the revitalization of local industries, and contribute to innovation creation for the attainment of SDGs. To accomplish these aims, the project will advance initiatives to achieve NUT’s Future Vision, and establish facilities to promote intellectual, regional, and international exchanges that bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, companies, and local governments.
Main uses of the fund
01
Provision of financial support for the development of leading engineers who possess the practical and creative abilities to innovate and contribute to SDGs, as well as the will to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society
02
Development of open space facilities (Innovation Commons) where students, faculty, staff, company representatives, local government officials, and alumni can gather and freely engage in intellectual, regional, and international exchanges
Innovation Commons
National university campuses, which are supported by the public, are national assets and valuable regional public goods. NUT aims to bring about the development of co-creation hubs (Innovation Commons) that can create new value by optimizing the efforts of our students, faculty, and staff, as well as those of all people in the local community and industries who are associated with the university.
What Our University Aims to Achieve
To contribute to sustainable development, we aim to proactively apply and expand the achievements by promoting advanced research and technological development for various research facilities, including the Regional GX Innovation Co-Creation Center and the DXR Manufacturing Open Innovation Center, while also cultivating the human resource development. To achieve this objective, we will not only enhance the functionality and effective utilization of existing facilities but also encourage cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary exchanges among students, researchers, and other stakeholders, thereby establishing a hub that supports human resource development and innovation.
Co-Creation and Exchange Zone
Open lectures for the
local community
- ■ Multimedia System Bldg.
Day-to-day intellectual
exchange and formation
of interpersonal
relationships
- ■Library
- ■Commissary
Creation of new
knowledge through DX
utilization
- ■Synthetic Research Bldg.
Creation of new value
through the integration
of cyber spaces and
physical spaces
- ■Synthetic Research Bldg.
International exchanges
in the New Normal era
- ■Commissary
As part of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Project, we will establish facilities to promote intellectual, regional, and international exchanges that bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, companies, and local governments as follows.
Transforming the Library, Welfare Building, and Multimedia System Building into a Co-Creation and Exchange Zone
Create an intellectual and creative space that transcends disciplinary boundaries and can be enjoyed by everyone.
Utilize intellectual property to provide unique intellectual and interactive experiences that can only be found here.
Showcase a wealth of comprehensive intellectual property and research achievements, establishing a foundation for industrial development.
Through these initiatives
Establish a co-creation and exchange scheme focused on intellectual, regional, and international collaboration, positioning the zone as a hub for the accumulation of “knowledge (Science of Technology)” and “human resources (students and researchers).”
Enable diverse interpretations of Science of Technology through various aspects such as education, research, and entertainment, as well as different perspectives such as speaking, listening, and connecting.
Build an ecosystem relationship where the Library and Welfare Building complement each other while leveraging their respective strengths.
Co-Creation and Research Zone
- ■Regional GX Innovation Co-Creation Center
- ■DXR Manufacturing Open Innovation Center
- ■Technical Development Center Bldg. 1
- ■Technical Development Center Bldg. 2
- ■ Faculty Bldg. (Environmental Systems Engineering)
Networking events with local businesses
Open laboratories with other universities and companies
World-leading cutting-edge research
Regional revitalization through technology × local resources
Regional GX Innovation Co-Creation Center
In order to build a place where the world’s innovators in green transformation (GX) can gather and create new knowledge to resolve society’s problems, we established the Regional GX Innovation Co-Creation Center as a facility that enables verification experiments on the circulation of both resources (mainly food and agricultural products) and energy that cannot be performed elsewhere in the world. Through the establishment of this facility, NUT aims to become a driving force for social innovations that resolve society’s issues related to “GIGAKU for Carbon Management”. In addition, this facility is providing a platform that brings together top overseas universities, companies, and startups to solve problems in local communities. With this platform as its core, we will develop business producers and co-create new value based on convergence research.
First Floor
Yukimuro (Snow Cellar)
Utilizing approximately 300 tons of snow, this facility leverages the power of snow for low-temperature storage and cooling. The storage of rice at low temperatures maintained by snow prevents oxidation and produces high-quality white rice and by-products. By utilizing and recycling the unique resources of our snowy region, this initiative creates new value for rice.
Aquaponics Test Facility
By serving as an open innovation hub for aquaponics, which combines aquaculture and hydroponics, this facility aims to establish new upcycling and resource circulation systems in the Niigata region, as well as to develop safe and secure food production technologies.
Wind Tunnel Facility
Focusing on the effective utilization of wind energy, which can be available day or night, this facility aims to develop technologies for a carbon-neutral society. The facility is centered on a new concept of wind power generation systems that can be safely installed in residential areas and habitats for rare wild birds.
Energy Laboratory
To ensure the stable supply and demand of renewable energy generated from solar and wind power, it is essential to develop innovative batteries such as all-solid-state batteries that are capable of safely storing large amounts of electricity. This laboratory promotes the development of new materials and technologies required for manufacturing all-solid-state batteries with both high energy density and safety. Prototypes of all-solid-state batteries are created in a dry room with an optimized production environment.
Second Floor
Room of Creation-for-the-Future for HAKKO and Food
This facility aims to support Japan’s transformation into a self-sufficient society for food and oil production by developing single cell oil production technology using rice as a main raw material, and advancing academic research and integrated applications of solid-state cultivation and multiple parallel fermentation techniques.
Third Floor
Solar Cell Laboratory
Through scientific evaluation and technical verification aimed at improving the performance of solar power generation systems and their societal implementation, this laboratory works with local industries to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
HAKKO Joint Laboratory
This laboratory seeks to advance Japan’s unique fermentation technologies and create new global academic and industrial fields by establishing cutting-edge cultivation control technologies and non-destructive monitoring techniques through the integration of fermentation with other fields (such as sensing technology and microfabrication) and data analysis.
Human Chip Laboratory
This laboratory develops “Human Chips”, which are fingertip-sized chips that simulate human organs. By testing the toxicity and environmental impact of newly developed foods, pharmaceuticals, and implantable devices, these chips support the creation of safe and reliable products.
Function Room
This is an interactive space where visitors can experience cooking and tasting crops produced through various projects. It serves as a gathering place for people from within and outside the region to explore new possibilities in food through various events.
Roof Floor
Wind Turbine and Solar Power Testing Facilities
Through scientific evaluation and technical verification aimed at improving the performance and practical societal implementation of wind turbines and solar power generation systems, we strive to achieve a carbon-neutral society in collaboration with local industries.
DXR Manufacturing Open Innovation Center
The “DXR Manufacturing Open Innovation Center” was established with the aim of promoting open innovation by conducting education and research on DXR manufacturing technologies, which combine DX (Digital Transformation) and XR (technologies that merge the real and virtual worlds). In addition, the center engages in research and development, human resource development, business support, and startup support through industry-academia-government collaboration.
In this way, NUT is building an Open Innovation Center (OIC) that can provide a one-stop venue for research and development, human resource development, business support, and startup support centered on local universities, companies, and governments.
Furthermore, NUT has created a membership organization called the “DXR Manufacturing Platform” that is aimed at expanding DXR manufacturing technologies into various industrial fields.
First Floor
We have established facilities such as the “Prototyping FAB,” the “Product Design and Evaluation FAB,” and the “Metaverse FAB,” which are all equipped with state-of-the-art 3D printers and other advanced technologies. By providing platform members and others access to these facilities, we aim to support manufacturing companies in developing materials and components. Additionally, through the platform’s activities, we strive to incorporate applied technologies and common material needs into the university’s fundamental research.
Second Floor
As a research and development space, we have set up the “Digital Twin FAB “ to provide a practical environment for integrating IT and manufacturing. Furthermore, we have established “Rental Lab Booths,” which are divided into 5-square-meter units that can be rented out to companies and other organizations. These booths can serve as bases for local companies, thereby supporting their independent development efforts.
Third Floor
This floor provides “Rental Labs” to promote education and research on DXR manufacturing technologies, as well as to facilitate research and development, human resource development, business support, and startup support through industry-academia-government collaboration. These Rental Labs can be used on a room-by-room basis. Additionally, shared spaces such as a “Lounge,” “Remote Workspace,” and “Meeting and Lecture Room” have been set up to create an environment where university faculty and local companies can consult and interact with each other at any time.