In March of 2005, I had a phone call from Dr. Kazunari Shibata who had been my colleague at Kyoto University. That was the beginning. He asked me if I was able to provide some financial assistance for the development of a new astronomic telescope. So I asked him to come to see me and explain the project in detail. He came over soon and explained the concept to me. Firstly, I felt that he was passionate about the project. Then, I asked him to come again and let me know as to how far the project was progressing and what the chances for success would be. In April, Dr. Shibata, Dr. Tetsuya Nagata and Dr. Toshinori Maihara visited me and gave me details. In short, it was to build a telescope with a segmented mirror, based on the technology called grinding. Since I believed this would work technically and scientifically and we could try something new, I visited Nagase Integrex Co., Ltd. the next month in order to examine their grinding technology. When I realized the high level of their technology, I felt that this should be developed into a business, not just on a donation basis. Consequently, in November of 2005, I founded Nano-Optonics Research Institute (Currently Nano-Optonics Energy), which is a university venture company. The company was named by Dr. Maihara, “Nano-Optonics”implying a novel scientific technology based on the concepts of nanotechnology and optics.

Because it seemed to me that the ultra-precision grinding technique I saw at Nagase Integrex could become a key element in expanded production in the years ahead. If the goal was only to build an astronomical telescope, a donation would be fine. However, since two types of developing technologies existed in this project, that is, grinding with ultra-high precision and manufacturing the segmented mirror, I determined that it should be industrialized. In other words, I did not want it to end with just a one-time donation. The ultra-precision machining technology by grinding can be applied to various other uses than telescopes. I found this unique Japanese technology to be capable of expanded production.

Awesome! I found proficient skills, like a craftsman with many years of experience. Their machines are wonderful, of course. But more importantly, those who operate the machines are wonderful. Like...saying it will be this accurate, if it is ground to this extent. Or making coils to prevent the shaft from wobbling, for a motor rotating a grindstone. They have uniquely developed high precision techniques not seen elsewhere.

An email I got from a journalist, also my close acquaintance, was the first step. He asked me whether or not I was interested in superconductivity. While reading it, I registered surprise at the research outcome he reported. I understand the phenomenon of superconductivity a certain amount as I have a background in physics, but I never thought that liquid nitrogen could trigger the phenomenon. Soon I got an introduction to Dr. Satarou Yamaguchi of Chubu University. From what Dr. Yamaguchi told me, I knew that his studies were far along, but required further research and development and was difficult to industrialize soon. I immediately thought, although it may be difficult, someone needs to industrialize it, and if anyone can do it, we at Nano-Optonics can, in line with our corporate policy of “Discover the buds of basic science and promote their industrialization.” Grinding and superconductivity are different fields, but the underlying ideas are the same.

A donation course is a framework for allocating new staff members in a university. If a research center is established with donation courses, a lot of researchers can be secured. Please take it as a means of assembling around ten researchers from universities and/or research institutes across the country and organizing a research team. By establishing a donation course, we clearly defined the separate roles for Chubu University, which is responsible for the output of the academic research, and Nano-Optonics, which is responsible for the industrialization.

No, I do not think that we are doing something in place of the government. I believe that an academic-industrial partnership is much better than government-organized ones, for scientific and technological research in an industrialized nation. Generally speaking, entrepreneurs want their money to be effectively utilized when they fund something. So researchers feel more responsibility for the money than for government funds, which inevitably leads to their seriousness and enthusiasm for research. Since I have a strong desire to develop joint research achievements into businesses, as a consequence, the researchers also become aware of their responsibilities for persisting with the industrialization. Increasing such models leads to the development of society. We need to show a successful example by all means. And since we are a public corporation, Nano-Optonics is also required to be successful.

I want to organize a cyclic structure whereby entrepreneurs fund revolutionary industrial developments and then invest profits in the most advanced scientific and technological research for the next generation. There are important issues facing us, such as the environment and rising oil prices, that have to be resolved, but simultaneously I think they have also provide opportunities for new business. The future direction for our country is toward a nation based on creativity of the most advanced science and technology. I believe that a nation that pursues the most advanced science and technology will prosper. We are now facing a transition period toward a nation based on scientific and technological creativity. That is what I think, and the areas where Nano-Optonics is working are the pressing needs of our time.