Visionary Initiatives ― Shaping the future with science
VI news
About the Visionary Initiatives
Science Tokyo introduced a new vision-driven integrated research framework across the Institute in April 2025 to create enhanced societal impact across various key areas. Driving the model forward are newly established Visionary Initiatives (VIs) — international, multi-sectoral hubs that strive to solve critical societal issues based on “visions for the future.” These VIs are significantly transforming Science Tokyo’s current research framework, which was vertically divided by disciplinary fields such as the medical and dental sciences, science and engineering, informatics, and the liberal arts, into a cross-disciplinary approach.
This is accelerating integrated research, boosting collaboration in fields such as medicine and engineering — one of the goals of the merger between Science Tokyo’s predecessor universities — and creating an ecosystem that generates innovations together with diverse partners and organizations across society.
Science Tokyo's eight Visionary Initiatives
Under its three visions—Better Life, Better Society, and Better Planet—Science Tokyo has established a total of eight Visionary Initiatives (VIs). Researchers across the Institute engage in one of the VIs that best aligns with their vision, working with each VI’s program director (PD) to advance interdisciplinary research.
As of May 2026, 1,742 faculty members (approximately 97%) are conducting their research within the VI of their choice. As more researchers from diverse backgrounds join these initiatives, the scope and impact of the VIs will continue to grow.
Program Directors
PD: Fumihiko Ishikawa
Key Visions
-Effortless health management
-A life without knowing the anxiety of illness
-Creating and providing rapid, optimal medical care driven by AI
-Protecting overall health via oral science
PD: Kumi Kuroda
Key Visions
-A society that fosters mental wellbeing
-Brain science unlocking human potential
-Healthy living and joyful aging for all
-Enabling body movement that brings joy
PD: Hiroshi Asahara
Key Visions
-Foundations of knowledge for shaping the future
-New frontiers in science and technology for future predictions
-Exploring the evolution of life and consciousness
-Social system design informed by future predictions
PD: Kei Sakaguchi
Key Visions
-Future of co-creation with AI and robots : industry, healthcare, and welfare
-Stable food supply and healthy, abundant food culture creation
-Building healthy, safe and comfortable future cities
-Future of society supported by next-generation healthcare
PD: Yasuhito Sekine
Key Visions
-Uncovering the truths of deep space and life through convergence knowledge
-Social systems on the Moon and Mars
-Health and habitation in space and human biological potential
-Earth, low-Earth-orbit (LEO), and the Moon as a single living zone
PD: Masanao Inokoshi
Key Visions
-Materials that make life and society better through continued use
-Eco-positive manufacturing
-Design of materials for orchestration with living systems
PD: Mika Goto
Key Visions
-Mitigating climate change
-Finding optimal solutions through Earth monitoring
-Finding new energy sources and resources
-Realizing nature positive
PD: Shinjiro Kanae
Key Visions
-Infrastructure that withstands natural disasters
-Social systems to protect human safety and dignity in disasters
-Global collaboration for a pandemic-resilient society
-Science-based forecasting and promotion of proper public response
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