Twelve major corporations opened labs at Kyushu University’s Next-Generation Fuel Cell Research Center. This is the first time in Japan that companies have established fuel cell research facilities on a university campus. The university hopes to “transcend institutional boundaries in order to create technologies and products that will become the global standards of the future”. Partner companies include TOTO (Kitakyushu), Saibu Gas (Fukuoka), Kyocera (Kyoto), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Tokyo) and JX Nippon Oil & Energy (Tokyo). Completed in November 2012, the Center is equipped with a cutting-edge electron microscope and X-ray CT scanner as well as lab space for each company. With 30 faculty and technicians on hand, the Center will begin developing low-cost, durable next-generation fuel cells this spring. Researchers from the partner companies will be dispatched to the Center to test their fuel cell samples using the university’s equipment. Center Director Kazunari Sasaki expects to add more partners in the future and believes this research has the potential to change the energy landscape. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun Jan. 6, http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/wordbox/word/5772/9371
Image: Kyushu University
