With Regions and Society

Contributions to Society

Social Contribution by the Academic Promotion

Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), LLC is a foundation that is fully supported by SII. ATI’s mission is to contribute to the promotion of learning, which is fundamental to the progress of human society, by creating new research concepts in nanoscience and performing research studies to promote the integration of different research areas. Their activities include promoting research committees on everything from nanometrology technologies to biology, as well as research assistance for young researchers and a public lecture called the ATI Forum.

Since FY 2012, ATI has been seeking to conduct projects for more unique scholarly activities as a public interest incorporated foundation under a new corporate system.

ATI Research Grant for Young Researchers

The ATI research grant is a project around the keyword of nanoscience that publicly solicits contributions for young researchers who have the potential to spawn embryonic, creative, and new research fields in the natural sciences.

This project has subsidized about 260 research themes since its launch in 1993. About 100 researches have applied for grants, and 12 themes ranging from nanometrological technology to bioscience were selected by a selection committee. The ATI research grant is expected to make a contribution to advances in research.

Joint Research Committee: Integration of Different Research Areas

With the aim of creating new scientific concepts through the integration of different research areas, five research committees owned by ATI hold a joint research committee. In FY 2012, the future prospects for spintronics, which is making significant progress, and one of its applications, namely bioresearch (bio-spintronics), were examined based on the theme of the "integration of spin and life."

Technical Advancement in Singapore

As our overseas research and development base, the SII Singapore Office* has promoted joint development in cooperation with national research institutes under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research of Singapore and universities in the country.

The office has launched a joint project with the National University of Singapore with the aim of improving productivity by innovating conventional production processes, enhancing high added value, and drastically reducing the amount of materials. Young researchers employed in the local area are advancing the development of new technologies, and this development also serves as guidance on research that is provided to the local students.

In collaboration with the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, the development of precision parts processing technologies is also being promoted to improve accuracy and minimize material waste. This aims to create eco-friendly processing technologies at low cost and with a high degree of resource efficiency.

* Currently it is the Research & Development Division of Seiko Instruments Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Development of new technologies by local researchers

Social Contribution through Mechanical Watches -Mechanical Watch Seminar-

Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. sponsors a seminar that provides the public with an opportunity to participate in a hands-on mechanical watch assembly workshop. This seminar was launched in 2007 with hopes of increasing interests in watches and inspiring more mechanical watch enthusiasts. A total of 139 people have joined the seminar up to now.

The seminar consists of two courses: a hands-on course for beginners and a more advanced course, using watches as educational materials in which SII-made mechanical movements are incorporated.

The sixth seminar was held in FY 2012 and the 16 participants experienced and enjoyed disassembling and assembling mechanical watches.

Passing Down Expert Techniques -Iwate Mechanical Watchmaker Skills Assessment System-

Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. established a regional mechanical watchmaker skills assessment system in 2006 to expand and improve watch making skills, as well as to pass on the techniques to future generations. This system is designed to revitalize Japanese-made mechanical wristwatches and is recognized as a technical assessment system in Iwate prefecture.

The assessment consists of lectures, practical skill tests and interviews, and 10 applicants have passed the assessment in FY 2012. The successful applicants receive certificates issued by the Iwate governor.

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