Construction of Japan's Largest Smart Cloud Lab 'iLIS' in Okazaki

The Natural Sciences Research Organization (President: Makoto Kawai) is constructing a large-scale smart cloud lab 'iLIS' in the Okazaki area of the Natural Sciences Research Organization (Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture), utilizing AI and robotics to integrate experiment design, execution, analysis, and data accumulation. This project aims to fundamentally strengthen the "Inter-University Research Institute for Advanced Sciences and Technology,*1" a unique research infrastructure system in Japan, in line with the digital age. Adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's 'FY2026 Joint Use and Joint Research System Formation Project - Large-Scale Aggregated Research System Formation Leading Program,*2' the project is scheduled to be implemented over four years from FY2026 to FY2029 with a total budget of approximately 9.5 billion yen. As the largest shared-use smart cloud lab*4 in Japan,*3 with a total area of approximately 11,600 square meters, the project plans to develop facilities, equipment, and data infrastructure from FY2026 to FY2027 and commence full-scale operation for researchers nationwide from FY2028. Usage methods, application periods, and handling of data and intellectual property will be announced sequentially according to the progress of the construction.

*1 Inter-University Research Institute for Advanced Sciences and Technology A unique research infrastructure system in Japan that provides large-scale research facilities and equipment, as well as vast academic data, for joint use by researchers from national, public, and private universities across the country. This project aims to further strengthen this system and construct a 'Smart Cloud Lab' that allows access to cutting-edge experimental environments without the constraints of time and place, contributing to the 'revival of science' in Japan by providing next-generation research environments.

*2 Joint Use and Joint Research System Formation Project - Large-Scale Aggregated Research System Formation Leading Program A program aimed at fundamentally reforming research systems utilizing AI for Science to enable researchers nationwide to access advanced research environments anytime and anywhere. Starting as a four-year project from FY2026, it aims to realize the 'revival of science' in Japan by automating, autonomizing, and remote-controlling research facilities to generate high-quality research data on a large scale. Specifically, it will implement the construction of automation/cloud labs, the creation and utilization of research data infrastructure, and human resource development.

*3 Largest in Japan This project will become a platform with the largest scale in Japan, where automatic synthesis, liquid handling, MRI, synchrotron radiation, cryo-electron microscopy, next-generation sequencers, mass analyzers, and other devices are networked across fields within an approximately 11,600 square meter site.

*4 Smart Cloud Lab A research facility that integrates automated and remote-controlled experimental devices, robots, data infrastructure, and AI analysis environments into a network, allowing researchers to conduct experiments and analyses without the constraints of location or time.

[Key Points of the Announcement] ● Adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's 'Large-Scale Aggregated Research System Formation Leading Program' for FY2026. Over four years from FY2026 to FY2029, approximately 9.5 billion yen will be invested to construct the largest smart cloud lab in Japan, 'iLIS,' in Okazaki. ● Centered around the Okazaki area of the Natural Sciences Research Organization (Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Yamanote Campus and Myodaiji Campus), construction will proceed from FY2026 to FY2027, with full-scale operation for researchers nationwide commencing from FY2028. ● Automatic organic and inorganic synthesis systems, liquid handling robots, MRI, synchrotron radiation facilities, cryo-electron microscopes, next-generation sequencers, mass analyzers, and other devices will be networked to promote the standardization of data in chemistry, materials science, and life sciences.

[Project Scale and Schedule] Project Period: FY2026 to FY2029 (4 years) / Total Project Cost: Approximately 9.5 billion yen (including FY2026 budget of 4.36 billion yen)