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The AIST Innovation School offers an Early-Career Researcher Development Program designed to cultivate human resources capable of driving open innovation to generate solutions to social issues and accelerate their implementation in society. The program consists of the following two courses:
Innovative Human Resource Development Course (PD Course)
Target participants: Postdoctoral researchers (Japanese-language proficiency is required)
Duration: One year, from April to March of the following year
Status: Appointed as a postdoctoral researcher (AIST Special Researcher; Type 1 fixed-term employee); research funding is provided
Curriculum: Lectures and exercises at AIST Tsukuba, research at AIST under the guidance of a host supervisor, training at companies for 2–4 months, and a presentation session at a conference in Tsukuba
Basic Research Skills Development Course (DC Course)
Target participants: Graduate students and fourth-year undergraduate students
Duration: Six months, from October to March of the following year
Status: Appointed as a Technical Trainee; no participation fee is required, and travel expenses are provided
Curriculum: Lectures and exercises online (conducted in Japanese), research at AIST under the guidance of a host supervisor, and a presentation session at a conference in Tsukuba
Track Record in Talent Development
In FY2024, 11 postdoctoral researchers and 83 undergraduate/graduate students (the highest number ever) participated, gaining practical skills and experience. Since its establishment in 2008, the AIST Innovation School has produced more than 900 graduates, many of whom have gone on to play active roles in companies, universities, public research institutions, and other sectors.
The program has been featured in the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (The Daily Industrial News) and highlighted in recommendations by the Japan Association of Corporate Executives. It is highly regarded as a pioneering initiative for the development of early-career research talent.