Message from the president

The goal of the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) is the "maximization of research and development results" for improving disaster resilience. As of April 2016, we commenced the 4th mid-to-long term plan period that will last 7 years, with a new English name for our institute.

The mission of NIED is "to conduct comprehensive fundamental basic study and fundamental research and development in order to increase the level of science and technology for disaster risk reduction" as stipulated in the "National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience Law."

Thus, the greatest characteristic of the current period is that NIED is required to become a "core institute for innovating science and technology for disaster risk reduction." The roles that this research institute should fulfil are explicitly stated in the objectives of the current period: to become a comprehensive research institute regarding science and technology for all disciplines and domains of disaster risk reduction, and to maximize research and development results for the whole country encompassing the research and development results of universities, other national research and development agencies, and private sector research institutions.

Specifically, NIED must fulfill the following 6 roles: i) Promote industry-academic-government cooperation as a core institution, ii) Provide and promote communal use of a foundational observation network and advanced research facilities, iii) Diffuse R&D accomplishments/promote the practical use of intellectual property, iv) Expand R&D internationally, v) Develop human resources, and vi) Contribute to administration of disaster risk reduction.

To fulfill these roles, NIED will promote R&D projects with 3 research targets: i) R&D for real-time observation and prediction of disasters, ii) R&D aimed at improving prevention and mitigation capabilities of social infrastructure, and iii) Foundational R&D aimed at improving capacities for effective response and build-back-better. Pursuant to effectively implementing these R&D projects, I have re-examined NIED's organization and instituted 7 research divisions and 6 foundational R&D centers.

I will continue to establish a flexible and efficient management structure to promote operational efficiency to maximize research and development results, so that everyone will recognize this research institute as a "true" core organization for innovating science and technology for disaster risk reduction. I look forward to on-going collaboration and cooperation with all related parties.

HARUO HAYASHI
President